| Abstract: |
This chapter examines the history of heritage tourism in Southeast Asia, identifying factors in its earliest period of development. Looking especially at Angkor in Cambodia, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai in Thailand, Borobudur in Indonesia and Pagan (Bagan) in Myanmar (Burma), the chapter traces the growth of tourism between the late nineteenth and mid twentieth centuries, noting the significance of such heritage sites for Western tourists. Further examining the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, it also describes national and colonial governments’ efforts to stabilize historic places and make them accessible to visitors. Key players among Southeast Asian governments were Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia and independent Thailand, as well as organizations such as the École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO). Varied approaches are also identified as important to understanding the evolution of tourism over time. A third section covers the history of post-World War II interventions and efforts to tie heritage sites to economic development. The chapter further treats the changing tourist population and the growth of other types of tourist venues, and finally looks at the emergence of new sensibilities and interests among middle class residents of Southeast Asian counties and their own acceptance of heritage as part of leisure activities.
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