Seminar "Cultural Tourism" and Committee 3 meetings

Committee 3 Spring meeting

Cultural Tourism offers a unique opportunity to combine regional economic development with the preservation of regional culture and heritage.

Continuing the Cultural Tourism Initiative, which has been launched at the beginning of 2008, AER’s Committee on Culture, Education and Youth will be organizing a Seminar on the topic “Fostering Entrepreneurship in Cultural Tourism”, which will take place in Dürres (Albania) on the 2nd and 3rd of April, 2009.

Getting locals involved and encouraging them to start their own small cultural tourism oriented business can contribute to the economic development of the area and improve standards of living of the local population, as it can reduce unemployment and create additional income. Furthermore, it increases the likelihood of sustainable tourism initiatives, because the benefits of tourism will be reaped by the local population rather than by big tourism operators.

Therefore, at this seminar we will discuss the importance of local entrepreneurs in shaping a cultural tourism profile for regions. Cultural heritage has a strong human dimension and only becomes authentic if its owned and driven by locals and integrated in their every day life.

But how can regional governments facilitate and promote entrepreneurship in cultural tourism? What are the problems that can be encountered in the process and how can they be overcome? These and other questions will be discussed by a number of experts on the issue and we are looking forward to your participation on the topic!