Sensory Ecofeminism for Heritage, Tourism, and Sustainability in Mauritius

Worldwide, UNESCO provides a global and authorized set of protocols for the conservation of heritage. The organization has long framed the discourse and practice of cultural heritage management. At the Hangzhou International Congress in 2013, UNESCO declared culture as key to development, thereby confirming the role of culture and cultural heritage in sustainable development. In this article, attention is given to emerging sensory ecofeminism and its links to heritage and tourism in Mauritius, specifically in unauthorized heritage management locales and hotel settings. The research problem engaged in this study is that globally, heritage conservation is perceived as being of primary interest to UNESCO, the prerogative of authorized professionals and nominated heritage sites. The goal of the research is to understand the manifestation of cultural heritage and its management in coastal locales and how coastal sites and unauthorized heritage managers, hitherto not included in national heritage discourse and practice, may advance inclusive heritage management. Using the anthropological research methods of semi-structured interviews and participant observation to produce ethnographic data in 2022, this study finds that a selection of luxury hotels in Mauritius advances a gender-influenced and ecofeminist discourse that supports heritage, tourism, and sustainability in Mauritius. The conclusion of this study is that unauthorized heritage management processes and practices in luxury hotels and tourism establishments can be gender and community inclusive, sensitive to various social hierarchies, and required to achieve environmental sustainability. It is recommended that national heritage institutions and practitioners give more attention to the diverse, often unexpected locales for heritage conservation and inclusion.

Automated summary

Worldwide, UNESCO plays a crucial role in setting protocols for global heritage conservation and shaping the discourse of cultural heritage management. This article focuses on the intersection of emerging sensory ecofeminism, heritage, and tourism in Mauritius, particularly in unauthorized heritage management locales and luxury hotels. By using anthropological research methods and collecting ethnographic data in 2022, the study reveals that some luxury hotels in Mauritius promote a gender-influenced ecofeminist discourse that supports heritage, tourism, and sustainability. The study suggests that national heritage institutions and practitioners should pay more attention to diverse and unexpected locations for heritage conservation and inclusion.