Tourism- Herculaneum & Pompeii

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TOURISM- Pompeii & Herculaneum. To what extent has tourism impacted on the management of the sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum? Over the years the most significant negative impact in Pompeii and Herculaneum according to both Bradley (2004) and Cameron and Lawless (2006) are the millions of tourists who visit these two ancient sites each year. The damage caused by tourists has impacted greatly on the management of the sites. Source G is a prime example of how tourists are causing damage to these two sites. As you can see in this source, there are no special walkways or viewing platforms provided for tourists to walk on. Ancient stone paths are being worn down and floor mosaics fading just by the footsteps of the millions of tourists who visit the sites each year. In many cases the ancient lead water piping laid underneath the footpaths have now been exposed and damaged. Paths along the Via dell’Abbondanza in Pompeii have been worn down to the same level as the road. Walking on the tiled floors can cause them to come lose, many tourists are inclined to take these tiles home with them as souvenirs. In Source G, many of the tourists are wearing backpacks. In confined spaces backpacks like these can scratch and chip walls and frescoes when turning. Even just the moisture from tourists’ sweat and breath are causing decay among the ancient city. Superintendant Guzzo, who is the present archeologist in charge, states that the complete destruction of Pompeii is ‘slow, but sure.’ As a result, only a fraction of what could be seen initially can be experienced today. This is an attempt to preserve the as much of the site as we can. Not all damage caused to the site is unintentional. Amongst the tourists there is a small minority of thieves and vandals who cause deliberate damage to the sites. In 1977, 14 frescos were hacked out of the walls of the House of the
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