Grupo de depósitos con proyecciones en cortezas parietal posterior,

Definitions and notions of what heritage tourists understood by the term ‘heritage’ varied enormously. Strong themes that came out of the qualitative, content and thematic analysis were identified and categorised. These have both commonalities and distinct differences with other international studies that were highlighted in Chapter Two. Direct quotes from individual respondents⁶, which capture the essence of that particular theme or definition, are used to illustrate what heritage tourists understand by the term ‘heritage’. From the thematic analysis seven core themes can be differentiated. These are discussed below.

The first theme is that heritage is about personal inheritance and the influences we have acquired from our ancestors. Heritage is “what our ancestors left for us. If our children aren’t aware of heritage, we are lost. Heritage is both the physical and non-physical aspects of our culture, faith and our past” (CD/13). Furthermore, many respondents commented on how important heritage is to understanding who we are as individuals. “Heritage is very broad… it encompasses so many things, both physical as well as emotional or psychological” (SF/4).

Heritage is what makes us ‘South African’ and is strongly linked to nationalism, patriotism and pride in your particular cultural group within South Africa – “dit wat voorgeslagte vir ons nagelaat het… uniek aan elke individuele groep mense (that which our ancestors left behind for us… unique to each individual group of people” (CD/43). Many respondents identified that heritage is longstanding and influences many aspects of our lives, “it is what we have

6 The verbatim quotes from individual respondents are identified as follows: BF=Battlefields; BH=Big Hole, Kimberley; CD=Cullinan; MP=Maropeng; and, SF=Sterkfontein Caves.

inherited from our ancestors over millions of years, either through our cultural and genetic traits or the environment that we are shaped by” (MP/47).

The second major theme relates to heritage encompassing history and how heritage has shaped our present. “Heritage is history and cultural influences which build the perceptions, behaviours, values, roles and habits of humans – for positive or negative impacts on life.

History informs and encourages respect, but can also hold back open dialogue between cultures” (BF/46). Many respondents commented on how some heritage attractions in South Africa are not perpetuating cultural tolerance, but rather advocating one cultural group’s importance over another (see Chapter Seven). Most respondents saw heritage as being a very positive force suggesting, “heritage is the concept of remembering one’s past, and what makes one special and unique. Heritage is about appreciating historical and cultural differences” (MP/41). A large proportion of the respondents from across the three case studies expressed a personal and unique, appreciative and reflexive side to heritage and cultural influences, as depicted at that particular heritage site which they were visiting.

A third theme relates to heritage being about cultural origins and practiced traditions, as well as our individual heritage. “Heritage is a word to describe culture, traditions or people of different ethnicities and origins. One has to know where they are from in order to know who they are and where we are going” (BH/8). Again, much emphasis amongst respondents focussed on using heritage to understand the past in light of the present. This was especially evident at the ‘Cradle of Humankind’ heritage sites of Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves (part of the Fossil Hominid World Heritage Site, in South Africa). Although this theme was also well versed at both the industrial heritage sites surveyed, in respondents’ surveys, as well as amongst the Battlefields Tourism questionnaires.

The fourth major theme sees heritage as being engaged with the tangible aspects of our culture, specifically: artefacts, buildings and places, and sites of national significance.

“Heritage is a physical or abstract domain of things, places, and even people which are considered worthy of preservation (hypothetically in perpetuity)” (MP/51). Many respondents identified the Cullinan Diamond Mine as well as the ‘Big Hole’ in Kimberley, as

significant heritage sites – the De Beers Museum at the Big Hole, being a provincial heritage site in the Northern Cape.

The fifth theme centres on heritage including the intangible aspects of our culture – like music, dance, and stories. A significant number of respondents said that heritage was both the physical and non-physical aspects of our past. “Heritage is our traditions, customs and past events which have influenced our present lifestyles” (BF/31). Heritage encompasses “the cultural environment of people – artefacts, memorabilia, dress, arts, crafts, dance and even music” (BF/32). Many of the respondents made reference to both tangible and intangible aspects of their culture impacting upon their heritage; it is “the historical and cultural background of a country or area. It includes physical things (buildings, monuments etc.);

topography of the landscape, like historical sites such as battlefields etc.; as well as non-tangible things like music, objects, rock art and historic collections” (BF/4). South Africa has

“a broad variety of cultural inheritances (e.g. food, interpersonal relationships, religions (or lack of it), impacts of ‘outside cultures’ over many years, and tangible artefacts like buildings and places of significance” (BF/5).

The sixth theme relates to how heritage is worth preserving for future generations. A large proportion of people at these various heritage sites pointed to heritage preservation and/or the conservation of cultural practices, for the benefit and enjoyment of their children and their descendants. It was stated as follows that: Heritage is “any place of natural and cultural interest, which needs to be protected for future generations” (SF/31). Heritage “means valuable things which are to be preserved by generations, for those generations to come”

(BH/25).

The final theme is that heritage is the natural environment and all its beauty. Heritage in South Africa includes all “our culture(s), our natural resources and all the natural beauty within our country. [Heritage] describes who we are as a people and country, something we should be proud of” (BH/67). “The landscapes/streetscapes, trees, floral kingdom, buildings, icons that are worth preserving at a municipal, provincial or national level, as they remind us of what went before us, or what is indigenous to South Africa” (BH/68).