Silk Routes Reimagined: Tourism, Heritage Stewardship, and the Visitor Economy under the Belt and Road Initiative

Enhanced transport connectivity and policy coordination under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) significantly boost tourism and visitor economies along the Silk Roads, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor. While these improvements increase arrivals, receipts, and itinerary diversity, they also intensify stewardship demands and risks such as environmental externalities and commodification. The study synthesizes institutional analyses and case signals from projects like the China–Laos Railway to highlight rapid demand growth alongside capacity pressures in fragile cultural sites. It advocates for rigorous governance standards, diversified markets, data-driven visitor management, and cross-border coordination to ensure inclusive, conservation-compatible growth. These findings align with UNESCO–ICOMOS guidance on sustainable tourism and community participation.

Prathyusha, R., John, A., & Naik, V. M. (2025). Silk Routes Reimagined: Tourism, Heritage Stewardship, and the Visitor Economy under the Belt and Road Initiative. International Journal of History, 7(11), 16–18. https://doi.org/10.22271/27069109.2025.v7.i11a.557