Appropriate Levels of Restoration and Development at Copán Archaeological Park: Setting Attributes Affecting the Visitor Experience

Abstract

We looked at how differing levels of restoration and development within, and intensifying development next to Copan Archeological Park would affect the visitor experience at this World Heritage Site in Honduras. Surveys and interviews with visitors and expert observation revealed that Latin Americans, North Americans and Europeans all show a preference for a mixture of restored ruins and those being reclaimed by nature. Visitors describe how this juxtaposition adds to their experience. A majority of these visitors also indicated a strong preference for maintaining agricultural or forested lands between the Park and the town of Copan Ruins and described how the intensification of development would affect their experience. Implications for Park management and cross-boundary involvement in land use decisions at this and similar site are discussed and recommendations given.

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