ICOM'S Activities: Cultural Tourism

The resolutions of the General Assembly in Melbourne, 1998 recommending " to continue the dialogue on the development of a policy position on the sustainable and holistic approach to heritage tourism," and "to collaborate with UNESCO, UNDP, ICCROM, ICOMOS and other agencies for establishing standards for heritage conservation within the context of tourism development, and for ensuring host community benefits". This recommendation is confirmed by ICOM's abiding concern with issues affecting the protection and conservation of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage as expressed in the Strategic Plan 2001- 2007, obj. 1.

Tourism can make a significant contribution to economic prosperity of a country, it enables its Cultural Heritage to be recognized, but unfortunately can also harm it especially in culturally and naturally vulnerable regions.

The necessary interaction between Cultural Heritage protection and cultural development can be achieved through the key role of museums of preserving and conserving the Heritage itself and of fostering cultural diversity and mutual understanding.

Museum Heritage and Cultural Tourism in Latin America (Trujillo, Peru and La Paz, Bolivia, 21 - 26 May 2000)