Charting the role of digital platforms for cultural heritage tourism in India

Purpose With the growth of number of smart phone users in India, digital interfaces such as android applications are easy to access and operate. While conventional websites have been in existence over the past few decades, government schemes as well as non-government entities have emerged over the recent years that create opportunities for connecting digital interfaces with cultural heritage tourism. The purpose of this study is to attempt to cover the various facets of interaction between the two dimensions, in an attempt to identify possibilities in the near future. Design/methodology/approach The research process included review of government scheme guidelines and proposal documents, and various digital interfaces as available on the World Wide Web and in the form of mobile applications. The data collection and analysis process included interviews with the founders of two mobile application developing start-ups in India. Findings India is positioned to take the leap into the creating unparalleled visitor experiences and opportunities for local communities and other stakeholders through use of technology and digital interfaces that can sustain the cultural heritage resources and create new developmental models that have not been possible otherwise. The need is to create synergies across the various opportunities, not only though time bound schemes and projects but embedding the same into the heritage management and governance model. Originality/value This paper provides an insight into the issues and opportunities in developing digital interfaces towards enhancing cultural heritage tourism in India.