Describe and Evaluate the Region’s Natural and Cultural Assets.

Htoo Htoo Aung

HTM 424-02

Feb 28, 2019

Reflection paper

Describe and evaluate the region’s natural and cultural assets.

Matera, which is located in the southern Italian region of Basilicata is an ancient city that has been alive for 8000 years, sheltering 60,000 people on top of Italy’s high heel. Although Matera used to be extremely poor, famine, plague with disease and malaria, it is an astounding fact to find out that it is going to be announced as the European “Capital of Culture” in 2019 (Pergament D., 2018). It would be a source of great honor and pride for the people to come out of poverty and become known by people throughout the world as the World Heritage Site. It will have festivals all around the season, but the mayor and some locals do not want tourism in their city because it would rob them off their ancient culture and the authenticity that made the city what it is today. It is understandable because festivals and old traditions are unique events that are performed once a year for special reasons. If they are performed throughout the year, the events, which are special and mean something to the people would become meaningless because the value and priority people have for these events become something you see every day and is no longer exciting to look forward for.

According to the author, Matera is a place that makes you work for it. For it is located in the “misshapen, green, rocky, mountainous piece of land” (Pergament D., 2018) that stretches over two coasts. It is said that there is no easy way in since there are no airports or trains to get there. The scenery that the author got to experience is the nature which one cannot experience in the city with wide landscape and beautiful wild flowers embracing the nature. As for the culture, it is very well preserved for nearly 8000 years. People still cherish their little city despite the fact that they have gone through a roller coaster kind of ride. They have their ups and downs and bad history, but it didn’t stop them from preserving the place. For instance, rather than building high rise building and become like the rest of the big major cities around the world, they integrated their ancestors’ heritage with modern style. Instead of tearing down old and worn buildings, they try to preserve the culture by mixing up with the modern lifestyle. From what the author talked about in this particular article, I can feel that the place makes him feels like he is part of the community and really feel at home and understand their culture vividly. Unlike many major cities where tour guides talks about what it used to be before all the high rise buildings were build, in Matera one could experience first-hand without anyone talking into detail of its history.

Which of these assets would you emphasize and why?

I would emphasize on natural assets because I believe that the natural assets are depleting due to rapid modernization and a lot of tourists’ attraction. Especially small city like Matera, where there are plenty of natural resources and well preserved cultural and natural heritage. If tourists know about the place and go flooding the place because of its beauty, many major changes will be made. Not many people are willing to experience the city as it is; rather, they want to relax and enjoy the view from high rise building and luxurious scenery from 5 stars hotel and such. Most people travel for leisure and scenery, but not many people are willing to comprise the way the city it is right now. Even if they said they do, it is only a matter of time before businesses go flooding into the city damaging its natural resources. In order to build and accommodate the tourists, they would have to cut down trees and build buildings that meet their customers needs and wants. As a matter of fact, nowadays it is hard to find a place that is full of natural assets and enjoy the mother nature in its simplest form. Just look around us, all we can see are high rise buildings and trees that are planted by people. It is not natural and does not have the same feel as “nature”. People like me, like quiet and nice place and just enjoy the view without changing anything to it. I would say some things are better left alone then changing it. Having wide landscapes full of nature and wilds things to observe is refreshing because everywhere we go, it all looks nearly the same in major cities; everywhere high rise buildings, restaurants and attraction sites, which can be very boring sometimes.