Abstract:

Transport is usually viewed as means to get tourists to their destinations and to move about the destinations. Hence, transport projects intended to improve access by tourists to and within destinations are largely assessed according to their contribution to visitors' satisfaction. Yet, not all tourist destinations are the same. Heritage and religious destinations are particular sets of destinations. This paper seeks to identify the issues that have to be discussed when considering transport projects to such destinations. To this end the proposed cable car to the City of David and Western Wall in Jerusalem is discussed. On the basis of some of the objections raised against this project the underlying dilemmas are identified. The main dilemmas and issues raised are whether it is indeed desirable and appropriate to improve access to historic sites that may be over-crowded, what are the equity facets of such transport projects, particularly the distribution of benefits and cost between locals and tourists, and to what extent do the transport projects contribute to the heretization of such site – the social and political processes involved in presenting the story of such sites.