The impact of tourism on the conservation of archaeological heritage. The case of the Nerja Cave, Málaga

Abstract

This article deals with the impact of tourism on a specific archaeological site: the Nerja Cave, located in Malaga, and how it has been adapted for public visitation. This adaptation and the traffic of visitors that it entails is causing injuries to a property declared an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Archaeological Zone. It is therefore necessary to analyse the processes that can lead to it being at risk, such as exceeding its load capacity and its conditioning. To this end, we have analysed the evolution of the Nerja Cave from its tourist development in 1959 to the present day, we have investigated how these processes have affected or are affecting its conservation and we have proposed solutions so that this deterioration does not continue to increase and so that its conditions can be improved and so that tourist visits to the cave can continue and it does not have to be closed in the future.