International Journal of History

Author(s): DRRS Pratyusha, Arjala John and Vankudavathu Mallikarjuna Naik

Abstract: This review examines how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reshape tourism and heritage along the Silk Roads through enhanced transport connectivity, policy coordination, and route-wide branding, and how these forces translate into visitor-economy outcomes across diverse destinations. It synthesizes institutional analyses and recent literature showing that improved accessibility and facilitation can raise arrivals and receipts while extending itineraries to serial UNESCO Silk Roads properties, intensifying both opportunities and stewardship demands. New inscriptions such as the Zarafshan‑Karakum Corridor expand the transnational heritage canvas and require coordinated visitor management to uphold Outstanding Universal Value amid rising exposure. Economic perspectives underscore that corridor investments and people‑to‑people initiatives can generate local multipliers for MSMEs and creative industries, conditional on governance quality, transparency, and safeguards. Case signals from the China–Laos Railway and Luang Prabang’s World Heritage context illustrate rapid demand growth and spillovers, alongside capacity and authenticity pressures typical of fragile cultural sites. The review identifies risks—environmental externalities, commodification, uneven benefits—and aligns mitigation with UNESCO–ICOMOS guidance on sustainable tourism, impact assessment, and community participation. It concludes with a governance agenda linking corridor economics to heritage stewardship: rigorous environmental and social standards, diversified markets, data‑driven visitor management, and cross‑border coordination to ensure inclusive, conservation‑compatible growth along the Silk Roads.

DOI: 10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i11a.557

Pages: 16-18 | Views: 93 | Downloads: 49

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