Urban heritage tourism - The global local nexus

Heritage tourism is seen as a way to bolster struggling urban economies and redevelop municipal spaces. Attempts to understand the processes and outcomes associated with urban heritage tourism development usually fall into one of two groupings: a ''top-down'' perspective stressing the role of global factors and external actors in driving urban redevelopment; and a ''bottom-up'' perspective focusing on local influences. This paper argues for an integrative approach. The case studies of Montreal and Singapore show that while similar macro-scale processes have pushed both cities to adopt heritage tourism as an urban redevelopment strategy the final outcomes reflect important local influences.