Interpretation and tourism

There is a close relationship between interpretation and tourism. Interpretation is concerned with providing information to visitors about the place they are in and encouraging them to appreciate and care for this place. Many tourist activities are focused on interpretation. Despite the relationship, little has been written about the functions and importance of interpretation for the success of tourist attractions and products. This essay will provide a definition of interpretation and will set out some examples of the ways in which effective interpretation can assist in the development of special interest tourism in Australia. The essay will also address the issue of the effectiveness of interpretation and suggest some future directions for discussion about the relationship between interpretation and tourism.

Interpretation is known to be a communication process that forms emotional and intellectual connections between the interests of the audience and the natural meanings in the r...