Finding A Harmonious Balance Of Tourism In The Lost City

Heritage tourism is becoming more and more popular, with journeys to locations of historical note being increasingly sought after. Located in the deep jungle bush of Northern Colombia’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, the ruins of The Lost City, or Ciudad Perdida, is certainly an historical site that has received an abundance of curiosity and interest.

However, is too much tourism to an area possible? What would the consequences of this be? Global Heritage Fund’s partnership with Ciudad Perdida reveals the importance of preserving historic archaeological sites, whilst also regulating tourism to such areas to allow for responsible travel, and the protection of the world’s ancient history.

Ciudad Perdida was first built in the middle of the 6th or 7th century AD and it started out as a small village, likely set up by agricultural colonists. Around 1100 to 1200 AD the land underwent further construction, acquiring? the shape and form we can see today. The unusual terraces at Ciudad Perdida are unlike any other architectural feature in the world, seemingly constructed as an open space living area in extremely broken topography.?

The Lost City was given such a mysterious name as it was hidden for over 400 years by thick jungle of the surrounding mountains. It wasn’t until 1970 that the site was found by a team of looters who were hunting in the area. Now, the official name of the site is Teyuna Ciudad Perdida Archaeological Park, Teyuna being the name of a mythical hero of the indigenous Kogi people, one of the local communities.

When site opened to the public in 1981, the Colombian Institute of Anthropology realized one of the first lines of conservation defence would be that of keeping access difficult. Many historical sites around the world suffer from simply too many people. Excess numbers and too much visitation is detrimental to the site itself as well as visitor experience. Too much tourism to an area can become unmanageable, placing strain on resources and potentially contributing to the destabilization of the local ecosystem.?

The Global Heritage Fund, (GHF) are a non-profit organization that helps to transform communities by investing in cultural heritage. By partnering with Ciudad Perdida they were able develop and implement a site management plan to preserve the historic metropolis, guide the tourism industry in a sustainable direction, address decay of vegetation, and to empower and engage with the indigenous communities through the preservation work. ?

Ciudad Perdida sees about 25,000 visitors a year which may seem low when compared to other historical sites such as Machu Picchu, which sees 1.5 million tourists per year. However, neither the communities of The Lost City nor the Colombian Institute of Anthropology want too much tourism for the area. Rather, they wish to find a harmonious balance which will allow for sustainable tourism and the protection of the historical site.?

The Global Heritage Fund believe that engaging the indigenous communities in the conservation development is vital, along with ensuring they feel a sense ownership over the area. To provide these communities with the tools and training they need, the GHF established the Ablezni School at Ciudad Perdida, so they can continue to protect the heritage sites on their own.

All guides at The Lost City are local, often part of the Kogi or Wiwa tribes, along with all cooks, mule drivers, porters, and lodge owners. Each visit to Ciudad Perdida has a high degree of impact on local revenue, as visitor money goes back into the community, allowing the indigenous people to earn a stable income.

Ciudad Perdida perfectly illustrates two of the most important angles heritage tourism must be viewed from, livelihoods of the local people and environmental conservation. A site can be a monument of historical importance but it is still within an environmental and social context which must not be neglected over the preference of tourism as an economic driver. It is vital to consider how tourism to these heritage sites will impact the local environment and people.

Historical tourism sites are so popular because they revel to us the secrets of the past and its people, creating unforgettable journeys through time and space. The partnership and collaboration between The Lost City and the Global Heritage Fund remined us that we must be mindful on our adventures to these places otherwise they could be lost forever.

In what ways can the industry support tourism in historical sites so they are able to support indigenous people and generate revenue for these communities? Furthermore, how can this be done without eroding the area of historical importance and the ecosystem?

Written by Katie Wilson, EP Business in Hospitality