Towards developing a framework thatoptimizes innovation in heritage tourism in Zimbabwe: A Conceptual Paper

Despite Zimbabwe being home to a rich and diverse cultural heritage, it is imperative to note thatinnovation in cultural heritage remains glaringly absent and under researched. In the meantime, evidence from the emerging compartments of research in developed countries brightens the significancy of cultural heritage innovation to cultural tourism and tourism development in general. Noteworthy is that the significance a framework for for optimizing innovation in cultural heritage tourism may at no time be valued unless its welfare are well articulated, understood and unpacked. An analysis based on the focus of several studiesthat were conducted to date on cultural heritage reveals the existence of a gapor break in the search for a framework for enhancing the innovation in cultural heritage tourism in developing countries that include Zimbabwe. Despite a rich array of frameworks for both tangible and intangible cultural heritage development none has been able to achieve set policy targets in developing observe that tangible cultural heritage tourism has been under-researched such that the product has become tired yet a lot can be done to keep sites attractive to tourists. Using content analysis, this conceptual analysis paper seeks to develop a framework for enhancing innovation in cultural heritage tourism in Zimbabwe. The conceptual analysis paper also may provide insights on the basic tenets of an ideal framework for enhancing innovation in cultural heritage tourism. The conceptual analysis paper also is used to explore literature that will led to the contribution on cultural heritage innovation in terms of scope and veracity and also to craft informed policy on cultural heritage tourism development. Laura Simbisai Dongo who is a PhD student at Chinhoyi University of Technology researching on the topic: Developing a framework for innovation in cultural heritage tourism in Zimbabwe. The study findings would inform and enable policy makers to adopt appropriate policies that would enhance innovation in heritage tousim in Zimbabwe. The development of a framework for optimizing innovation in cultural heritage tourism products will be a major call to developing countries/nations to take suitable action in the planning and utilisation of limited cultural heritage resources, especially in Zimbabwe.