{"id":35756,"date":"2019-08-01T07:18:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T06:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travindy.com\/?p=35756"},"modified":"2019-08-01T09:26:06","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T08:26:06","slug":"safeguarding-cultural-heritage-assets-communities-and-belief-systems-interview-with-chris-flynn-founder-president-and-ceo-of-wtach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/2019\/08\/safeguarding-cultural-heritage-assets-communities-and-belief-systems-interview-with-chris-flynn-founder-president-and-ceo-of-wtach\/","title":{"rendered":"Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">A community of like-minded organisations and individuals, the&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.wtach.org\/\">World Tourism Association for Culture &amp; Heritage<\/a> (WTACH) seeks to ensure that the unique attributes, history and cultural values of the world\u2019s communities are celebrated and preserved for generations to come. Chi Lo interviewed WTACH CEO Chris Flynn.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"251\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8559-1.jpg\" alt=\"Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH\" class=\"wp-image-35760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8559-1.jpg 251w, https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_8559-1-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 251px) 100vw, 251px\" \/><figcaption>WTACH CEO Chris Flynn<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: Hi Chris, for starters, the World Tourism Association for Culture &amp; Heritage acronym is WTACH. Can you tell me how you pronounce it?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHRIS: WEE-Tack. The obvious question is: why didn\u2019t you call it WATCH? Well, as an acronym it doesn\u2019t quite make sense, plus the domain is already taken. The other issue is if you enter \u201cWATCH\u201d into a Google search you\u2019d get Seiko or Rolex etc., not our tourism organisation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: What was the driving force and inspiration for creating WTACH, and why is it important?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHRIS: Over the past several years, I\u2019ve been seeing the effects of unrestricted tourism growth and how it impacts local communities, cultures, heritage sites, and the ancestry of these particular areas. For example, the sheer volume of anticipated Millennial travellers over the years coming is quite terrifying. Just this one demographic has the potential to massively impact culture and heritage sites around the world because the consistent key aspirations of Millennial travellers is to have true authentic cultural experiences. They don\u2019t want to be tourists; they want to be travellers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s anticipated that we will see 100 million Millennial travellers from Asia alone over the next five years, yet there is currently no organisation that has recognised this surge of visitor numbers and its potential impact on the world\u2019s culture and heritage assets, so there was a gap to be filled to protect the reason why we visit these places. Once a culture is impacted, it\u2019s over \u2013 it can\u2019t go back to what it was.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/shutterstock_overtourism-estonia.jpg\" alt=\"Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH\" class=\"wp-image-35766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/shutterstock_overtourism-estonia.jpg 320w, https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/shutterstock_overtourism-estonia-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption>Tourists in Estonia<br>Source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To give an example, the Jarawa Tribe in the Andaman Sea lived in isolation for thousands of years. Even though there are signs prohibiting trespassing, visiting, and interacting with the tribe, of course over time, it\u2019s happened. Due to development on the island, the tribe has been pushed out of much of its ancestral lands. There are illegal tours running human safaris and because there\u2019s no currency, tourists give them cake and trinkets and things they don\u2019t need. As a result&nbsp;they\u2019ve had to build a hospital purely to deal with diabetes, conjunctivitis, measles, and various other foreign illnesses that have been brought in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary goal then for WTACH is to raise awareness of these issues at both the industry and consumer level as to the impact that we have as tourists on these unique and often sacred places and communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This commercialisation of heritage and ancestry, is becoming a major problem because once you step into these territories with no checks and balances, no plan nor process for how communities will be impacted, no thought nor consideration for long-term impact and consequences of these actions, then effectively, the game is over. So, WTACH is here to raise awareness of the implications of this and the effects of overtourism. We intend to conduct studies and provide resources on the management of cultural heritage assets with effective Codes of Conduct and Ethical Standards for both destinations and the travel and tourism industry to embrace and follow.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: What do you hope to achieve in the next five years and what or who do you need to accomplish this goal?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHRIS: I\u2019m interested in making sure that people and industry do the right thing. We hope to foster relationships with the broader side of corporate society, bring together institutions that hold a position within tourism but don\u2019t necessarily recognise it, for example,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/icom.museum\/en\/\">ICOM<\/a> (International Council of Museums), which sees itself more as an academic institution; however, a significant portion of its paying customers are tourists. WTACH will be the bridge between such organisations and the industry. We plan to hold events that will have key decision makers and influencers at the table; in fact the bidding process for the WTACH&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtach.org\/gs20\" rel=\"nofollow\">Global Summit<\/a> is already under way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"179\" src=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pixabay-nike-66681_640.jpg\" alt=\"Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH\" class=\"wp-image-35772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pixabay-nike-66681_640.jpg 320w, https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Pixabay-nike-66681_640-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption>Tourists at the Louvre<br>Source: Image by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/users\/LoboStudioHamburg-13838\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=66681\" rel=\"nofollow\">Thomas Ulrich<\/a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=66681\" rel=\"nofollow\">Pixabay<\/a>&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: What role does the local community have in preserving culture and heritage, and how can it work with its visitors?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHRIS: Well, the local communities are the ones that are being impacted. They are the ones we are trying to support but they seem to be at the bottom of the list. They are often forgotten in the whole equation \u2013 they have very little control over tourism planning and development, which is why an organisation like WTACH is so important. The key influencers \u2013 the government, the local tourism authority, and tour operators need to fully engage with local communities to ensure the benefits of tourism receipts are passed on, that cultural heritage assets are protected and that communities and our fragile ancestry and belief systems are respected.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: Many \u2018woke\u2019 tourists are seeking more \u2018authentic\u2019 tourism experiences; many are partaking in community-based experiences. Do you see issue with that? What&nbsp;<em>is<\/em>authentic and how do you deal with the commodification of culture in community tourism?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHRIS: Authenticity, in my opinion, is an experience that hasn\u2019t been devalued.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are some wonderful examples, such as the adaptation of the traditional Maori war dance, the Hakka, which was incorporated by the All Blacks, who perform the dance before every rugby match. This simple act of incorporating the Hakka into every game has created a different level of excitement for each and every All Blacks match. Many people attend just to experience it \u2013 it gives you chills. This modern adaptation of a traditional war dance has helped outsiders understand who the Maori are: their culture, their history and ancestry. It\u2019s helped drive responsible tourism growth and boosted the kiwi brand and tourism in New Zealand significantly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"176\" src=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/shutterstock_All-Blacks-performing-Hakka.jpg\" alt=\"Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH\" class=\"wp-image-35763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/shutterstock_All-Blacks-performing-Hakka.jpg 320w, https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/shutterstock_All-Blacks-performing-Hakka-300x165.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption>New Zealand All Blacks performing the Hakka<br>Source: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The commodification of culture in tourism can be a positive thing \u2013 people who would otherwise be isolated are able to share their culture, and it builds pride in their communities. It makes them feel less isolated, so soft experiences, such as participating in a wedding show respect for culture and heritage. It creates a different more meaningful engagement for visitors&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are ways to create authenticity of culture without destroying it. Every community in the world is different and there is no prescription for what works, and what doesn\u2019t. It\u2019s really about understanding what and how you want to showcase and protecting the most critical part of your ancestry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authentic is authentic. The problem is that the word, \u201cauthentic\u201d is now used too often, when it should be about protecting and respecting the rights and properties of the local people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: Last question: what is your favourite heritage site and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CHRIS: My favourite heritage site in the world is the Colosseum. When I was fifteen I found myself playing Irish music in a local band. Somehow, we got invited to play in L\u2019Aquilla in Italy as part of an international folk festival. Until this point I\u2019d never been anywhere in my life, ever! I was just a young kid, who was somehow lucky enough to travel to this amazing place \u2013 a stunningly beautiful historic town in the Apennine Region. As we headed towards the mountains, we drove through the centre of Rome, right past the Colosseum. As it was late in the day the Colosseum was illuminated orange in the glow of the setting sun. Having only ever seen it in magazines, I was so excited. That memory and that whole experience has always stuck with me.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was the first historic site that I had seen that I recognized.&nbsp;&nbsp;And it left an imprint on me that is just as clear today as it was back then. It was this experience that got me hooked on culture.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"161\" src=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/source-pixabay-colosseum-792202_1280.jpg\" alt=\"Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH\" class=\"wp-image-35769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/source-pixabay-colosseum-792202_1280.jpg 320w, https:\/\/travindy.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/source-pixabay-colosseum-792202_1280-300x151.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><figcaption>The Colosseum in Rome<br>Source: Image by Pascal Weimers from Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHI: It really makes you smile, doesn\u2019t it? Thanks so much, Chris!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WTACH seeks to ensure that the unique attributes, history and cultural values of the world\u2019s communities are celebrated and preserved for generations to come. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":339,"featured_media":35766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[551],"tags":[48],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Safeguarding cultural heritage assets, communities and belief systems: interview with Chris Flynn, Founder, President and CEO of WTACH<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"WTACH seeks to ensure that the unique attributes, history and cultural values of the world\u2019s communities are celebrated and preserved for generations to come.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, 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