Page 150 - JCAU-7-3

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Cultural tourism and lessons from China

as well as the conservation of natural heritage (Idajati by creating employment opportunities in the hospitality,
& Nugroho, 2019). In this regard, a study conducted catering, and tourism sectors, as well as promoting the
in Indonesia emphasized the need for a monitoring revaluation of different heritage sites. Similarly, He et al.
system in tourism ecosystems to prevent environmental (2020) mention that the economic dimension involves the
degradation caused by the irresponsible overexploitation effective management of resources through investment
of resources (Muhamad et al., 2021). In Peru, the natural strategies aimed at improving tourist attractions and local
wealth of Uchuraccay – characterized by its landscapes infrastructure to attract more tourists, conserve resources,
and ecosystems – represents a key resource for tourism and establish a sustainable tourism-based economy.
development. However, it faces challenges due to Research conducted in Turkey has shown that the economic
inadequate planning and insufficient environmental dimension of tourism is subject to constant change, as
conservation efforts (Ortiz Calopino et al., 2023). Unlike tourism development fosters increased participation of
Indonesia, where monitoring systems benefit from a more local communities in economic affairs (Özer et al., 2022).
developed institutional framework, Uchuraccay requires a In the case of Uchuraccay, this transformation presents
strategy that not only includes environmental monitoring both opportunities and challenges. It is important to
but also integrates community education and incentives for critically evaluate the potential effects of tourism on the
conservation. The implementation of a monitoring system local economy, particularly in terms of the equitable
in collaboration with local communities would allow for distribution of benefits and the impact on natural and
sustainable resource management, thereby mitigating cultural resources. In addition, consideration should
environmental degradation and promoting ecotourism. be given to how communities can be empowered to
It is important to note that social tourism development leverage these opportunities without leading to resource
differs from the environmental dimension in that it focuses overexploitation or the erosion of cultural identity.
on the impact of tourism on society rather than its effects Despite the growing recognition of cultural heritage
on the environment. In this regard, Aji (2020) argues that management in tourism development, there remains a
the social dimension of tourism development encompasses gap in the literature specifically addressing the challenges
the activities of different social groups in relation to and shortcomings in implementing tourism strategies in
tourism, including leadership roles, project management, sites with diverse cultural heritage, such as Uchuraccay.
power distribution within the system, and interactions The current research has highlighted the importance of
between tourists, businesses, and the local community. For evaluating local perceptions of cultural heritage and its
example, Liao et al. (2021) state that an important factor relationship with tourism development. However, there is
within the social dimension of tourism development is a lack of studies examining how these perceptions translate
the intense process of cultural exchange facilitated by into concrete measures and effective strategies.
tourism activity, along with modernization efforts aimed Therefore, this research seeks to address this gap by
at improving infrastructure to enhance the destination’s focusing on three key research questions: (i) evaluating
appeal and attract more visitors. Recent studies in Latin the current level of implementation of tourism strategies
America suggest that tourism can contribute to reducing in Uchuraccay, Ayacucho, Peru, to boost economic
disparities in living standards and improving social development, (ii) identifying specific deficiencies in the
opportunities. However, studies analyzing these effects in management of tangible and intangible heritage, and
specific rural regions, such as Uchuraccay, remain limited (iii) providing a comparative framework that can serve
(Sánchez-Miranda et al., 2022a). A study conducted in as a reference not only for Uchuraccay but also for other
Russia highlights the importance of the social dimension regions facing similar challenges in cultural heritage
of tourism in addressing social inequalities by reducing management and tourism development. This approach
disparities in living conditions across different sectors of not only fills critical gaps identified in the literature but
the country through the expansion of economic and social also contributes to the academic narrative with original
opportunities (Kukharenko & Gizyatova, 2018). and relevant research, strengthening the understanding
It is important to note that economic tourism of how tourism strategies can be effectively designed and
development differs from the other two dimensions implemented in diverse cultural heritage contexts.
in that it focuses on the monetary income generated
by tourism. In this regard, Wawo et al. (2020) point out 2.1. Study area
that the economic dimension of tourism development The district of Uchuraccay, shown in Figure 1, is located
encompasses the impact of tourism on local economic in Huanta province, in the Ayacucho region of Peru, at
activity, improving the standard of living of the population an altitude of 4,000 m above sea level. It lies at the border

Volume 7 Issue 3 (2025) 4 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.5862