The question this raises therefore is that, given the widespread acceptance of the sustainability concept in the academic literature and increasingly in heritage discourse, are the principles of sustainable development being adopted in the day- to-day management of heritage sites. The need for a study that offered some insights into this issue was evident. As the variables acting on the management process are complex and difficult to isolate, a focussed study was called for that would provide the foundation for a more extensive multi-dimensional study in the future.