Raising Awareness and Capacity Building as a Way Ahead to Revitalising Tourism Industry in Sudan

Abstract

This article discusses the links between the tourism industry and the world heritage context using raising awareness and capacity building as a driving force to promote economic growth. Albejrawiah pyramids’ world heritage site in Sudan will be used as a case study, with a special focus on local communities’ role and participation in enhancing tourism growth. This paper analyses the effect of using the conservation of world heritage sites as a tool for tourism attraction in order to consequently gain economic development. Furthermore, it examines the basic role that local communities at the Albejrawiah pyramids’ world heritage site can play in promoting the tourism industry. The article points out, maybe for the first time, the importance of the local communities role in enhancing the tourism industry. The response by the site director ensured that the governmental investments in tourism infrastructure would promote the country’s economy extensively. The article concludes that a shift from current traditional heritage management strategies to a new one could contribute effectively to enhancing tourism infrastructure and consequently promote economic aspects and quality of life in Sudan. The data used for this research were collected via questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and during field trips to the Albejrawiah pyramids world heritage site in 2014 and 2016, updated in 2018.