D7 - Give consideration to heritage in sustainable tourism development policies

The development of sustainable tourism requires both the satisfaction of visitor expectations and the preservation of the heritage, as well as local inhabitants’ quality of life. It is essential to diversify and publicise tourist attractions of the less well-known areas and offer an authentic cultural experience while strengthening the local identity.

D7 Challenges

Development challenges

Building a more inclusive and cohesive society
Developing Europe’s prosperity by drawing on its heritage resources
Ensuring that Europeans enjoy a high quality of life, in harmony with their cultural and natural environment
Implementing the principle of integrated conservation
Ensuring that heritage is taken into account in sustainable spatial development strategies and programmes
Developing the ability of public services to address sustainable spatial development issues by means of better use of heritage

Societal challenges

Preserving the collective memory
Promoting participatory management
Promoting an inclusive approach to heritage

Knowledge challenges

Raising awareness of the values conveyed by heritage
Encouraging heritage research
Enlisting the commitment of young people to heritage

D7 Target audience

local
regional
national

Recommended courses of action for D7

Draw up culture-heritage-tourism agreements at national level
Set up tourism activities incorporating heritage assets and local know-how
When promoting tourism in an area, showcase its cultural heritage in a reasoned way
Organise consultations with local populations to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, based on the values of cultural heritage
Inform and raise the awareness of those involved in tourism (professionals, suppliers) regarding the cultural heritage, its potential and its vulnerability
Develop interoccupational and intersectoral co-operation
Jointly devise material for tourists (guidebooks, virtual tourist guides, local visitor guides, etc.)
Assess the negative impacts and envisage limitation regulations