Tourism and the symbols of identity

This article discusses some of the issues surrounding the relationship betw een heritage tourism and national identity (focusing upon England). It argu es that heritage tourism is a powerful force in the construction and mainte nance of a national identity because it relies upon the historic symbols of the nation as a means of attracting tourists. Thus, the tourism industry, through its use of 'our heritage', becomes yet another means by which conte mporary concepts of nation-ness are defined. Such a position has implicatio ns for the way in which sites are managed and promoted. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience Ltd. All rights reserved.