Territorial Identity and Sustainable Tourism; Resurrection of a Ghost Town: The Vernacular Town of Zriba Oliya as a Case Study

Abstract

AbstractOnce retreated to the mountain, the indigenous inhabitants of Zriba Oliya were organized in one ethnic and anthropological group closed upon itself. This old village was deeply marked by the total abandonment of its old establishments in favor of some more comfortable and practical industrialized constructions. Consequently, the village was left in ruins; a phantom village despite the feeble restoration attempts made by interveners. It is a cultural patrimony marking such a specific territorial identity being lost and disappearing. The association responsible for the safeguard of the medina of Zriba Oliya in collaboration with the local community has launched a recovery program in order to integrate it into the dynamics of sustainable tourism. With the development of mass leisure activities, how would this preserving orientation advocate “softer” tourism, more respectful of nature, endogenous heritage, and the cultural traits of the populations?KeywordsTerritorial identityVernacular architectureSustainable tourismPréservationRevitalisation