'Good to think': social constructions of Celtic heritage in Wales

The adoption of Celtic themes in the presentation of heritage sites in Wale s builds upon identifiable features of British history and the belief that 'Celtic-ness' has some basic appeal to modern visitors. Whereas such presen tations have significant economic impacts, particularly through tourism, th ey rest more firmly on the bases of myth and nostalgia rather than upon any dynamic vision of a Welsh heritage. Visitors, who are often not Welsh, are drawn to such places as a means of knowing the past and encounter an exper ience that engenders interest and may help them relate to their own identit y. Visiting heritage places is a meaningful act of consumption which assert s the importance of roots and the attractions of a representable past.