This workbook is a complement to the publication by the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) and Ecologic on interpretation for professional tourism guides (Interpretive Guide for Sustainable Tourism, 2020). The Centre’s work on interpretation is based on the belief that sustainable tourism can be maintained and even enhanced by understanding better and implementing interpretation practices at the levels of both management and field (e.g. guided tours). This workbook targets the people at
the management level.
This workbook provides an overview of an interpretive master plan, also called an interpretive management plan or interpretive plan. It is not about planning or designing an interpretive program, such as a guided walk, talk, presentation, exhibit, sign or brochure, but about planning an approach to interpretive programs overall in a particular site.
A site may be a bounded area, such as a national park, heritage site, protected area or trail that usually involves multiple locations to visit within the boundary. It may be also a facility, such as a museum, nature centre, science centre, gallery or visitor center that typically has a collection of targeted tourism resources. On such a site, interpretive programs are planned in terms of theme (what), target audience (who), type of media (how), and need and outcome (so what), within the management goals of the site (why).
Interpretation in tourism signifies the revelation of the value and meaning of a natural, cultural and historical resource that a tourist is seeing, hearing or experiencing. The planning to embody that interpretation at tourism sites is necessary to sustainably protect and manage the site. This workbook will help you develop an interpretive plan for visitor services and resource protection at a site you manage or work at. It will help you determine
• The most efficient and effective approaches to communicate the purpose, significance and themes of the site
• Appropriate means to achieve desired visitor experiences and provide opportunities for audiences to make meanings of the resources at the site
• Logical approaches to sustaining the tourism use of the site
The workbook was prepared by Naoko Yamada (former staff at AJC, currently assistant professor at Kanazawa University) under the direction of Masataka Fujita (AJC). The author appreciates AJC staff members for their assistance and comments. The manuscript was edited by Lise Lingo and typeset by Laurence Duchemin. All errors are those of the author.
