VALUE ASSESSMENT OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCE THROUGH TOURISM: THE YERBA LOCA CASE

Abstract

Assessing value to archaeological resources requires a series of independent factors, among them: theory and its development and tourism education and training. The lack of theory-oriented development concerning the assessment of value to archaeological resources along with academic plans based on European experiences, makes archaeological tourism plans in Chile be responsibility of professionals who often fail in the application of foreign theories to our reality.
On the other hand, education is presented as a key element concerning value assessment of a resource, either tourist value or others; finally the Yerba Loca Nature’s Sanctuary case is taken, which is a study area of “Lo Barnechea Archaeological Patrimony Program” (PALB from it’s name in Spanish) and through examples the plans and bases of such program are shown.