Selling the Waterfront: A critique of the tourism industry's representation of Millers Point, Sydney

Resumo

This paper analyzes the consequences of tourism development as a strategy to revitalize coastal areas. The availability of economic space in these areas is a consequence of the accumulation of capital that has a strong expression at the local level. The construction of port infrastructure to serve commercial and industrial activities is not economically viable for today's contemporary economies, characterized by a flexible and diversified production and a great development of transportation. A viable alternative and of greater importance than the construction of large infrastructures for the revitalization of coastal areas is the remodeling of coastal landscapes that will allow the arrival and accumulation of capital and, consequently, emphasize consumption. There are three alternatives to remodel this coastal landscape: the first is to highlight the cultural elements or curiosities in terms of spaces and places; for example. a church with traditional architecture, open spaces, etc. The second considers a redevelopment of the tourist potential to celebrate summer festivals and events of different nature or the creation of shopping centers in old buildings. The third refers to the use of new places built especially for tourism, such as hotels, tourist circuits and rest and recreation centers. Within these mechanisms of remodeling the landscape, the attributes of the places constitute assets of great attraction, easily marketable, where the location is a valuable element from the point of view of tourism. This article analyzes the first of the three alternatives. where the aim is to promote and develop the past as cultural heritage. taking as an example "Millers Point", a bay near Sydney, Australia.