Understanding the relationships between tourism, and heritage conservation at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront

The aim of this thesis is to investigate Jetty 1 Museum, a heritage site at the Victoria and Alfred (V&A) Waterfront, in order to understand how it is shaped by tourism and heritage imperatives and to discover how they interact against the backdrop of commercial waterfront development and the City of Cape Town's vision. Jetty 1 Museum holds immense cultural, historical, and social significance, serving as a repository of collective memory and a symbol of past struggles. Tourism is increasingly recognized as a dominant economic sector in South Africa. However, the rise of tourism at V&A Waterfront has introduced new dynamics and challenges. The influx of tourists could potentially threaten the very heritage aspects that make these sites valuable, through wear and tear, overcrowding, and the commodification of cultural narratives. According to Rahman (2012), even though the development and exploitation of cultural sites for tourism can be advantageous, visiting cultural sites can also harm cultural heritage. I was guided by Rahman's argument and wished to see if it was applicable to the Jetty 1 site at the V&A Waterfront. This thesis employs a mixed-methods approach, incorporating qualitative interviews with heritage managers responsible for the preservation of Jetty 1 Museum, as well as an analysis of relevant secondary sources. The need to continuously balance waterfront tourism and heritage conservation has been well established and documented internationally. However, in South Africa, that balance has not yet been well established, and to date, there have been very few studies focusing on establishing the balance between waterfront tourism and heritage conservation approaches. This thesis will address issues regarding waterfront development, heritage conservation and management, tourism, sustainability, and gentrification. This thesis establishes that striking a balance between commercial viability and cultural authenticity remains a persistent challenge, necessitating thoughtful strategies and collaboration between stakeholders, including museums, tourism bodies, heritage organizations, and local governments like the City of Cape Town. Only through such harmonious coordination can museums effectively contribute to both the economic and cultural vibrancy of their surroundings.

Grantor

School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Mokobane, Mack Michael

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Roux, Naomi

• Conservation of the Built Environment

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39677

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39677