Towards developing tour guides as interpreters of cultural heritage: the case of Cusco, Peru.

This chapter looks at the role tour guides play in developing more sustainable tourism at archaeological sites in Peru. The first part of the chapter outlines why Cusco's archaeology requires skillful interpretation and sensitive visitor management, but it also highlights how a lack of quality assurance and a lack of integration of key stakeholders have created operational issues in the region. The second part focuses on interpretation as a strategic planning tool in order to overcome some of the key issues facing less developed world regions promoting heritage tourism. The final section recommends the design of tour guide training to encourage quality assurance in both curriculum design and delivery. The need to develop training that enables guides to be interpreters of their heritage is discussed in the context of the need for tourism and interpretation to work for conservation.