Heritage routes and multiple narratives. The Inca Road System (Qhapaq Ñan, Camino principal andino / Andean road system): a specific case of a non-tourism heritage route?

The Qhapaq Ñan, a 4,000 km Andean road system spanning six countries, offers a unique case study of transnational cultural heritage and its complex narratives. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, this ancient Inca route reveals conflicting interpretations of its historical significance, with shared but contested remembrance among stakeholders. The study highlights the geopolitical dimensions of heritage development, where tourism—particularly ecotourism—is both embraced and rejected, reflecting broader tensions in the appropriation and preservation of fragmented heritage routes. By analyzing multiple narratives, this research underscores the challenges of consensus-building in transnational cultural landscapes.

Salin, E. (2021). Heritage routes and multiple narratives. The Inca Road System (Qhapaq Ñan, Camino principal andino / Andean road system): a specific case of a non-tourism heritage route? (U. Bretagne Occidentale, Trans.). Via Tourism Review, 20. https://doi.org/10.4000/viatourism.7364