UNESCO heritage workshop focuses on sustainable tourism in waterside ASEAN communities

The UNESCO workshop, 'Integrating Living Heritage and Creative City to Sustainable Tourism in Waterway Cities of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand' ('Integrating Living Heritage' workshop) was held in the heritage destination town of Nan Old City, Thailand, from 4 to 7 February 2024. The workshop was designed for tourism professionals from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand to engage in an exchange of knowledge and expertise towards developing sustainable tourism models for waterside cities in the three regional Member States-and others, by extension-of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

UNESCO/Development Nan Youth Club/City Connext

The workshop for trans-boundary networking among the three neighboring countries was made possible with the generous support of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), ASEAN-Türkiye Cooperation, K11, International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO (CRIHAP), and ONYX Hospitality Group. The workshop was facilitated in collaboration with The City Connext and b.Consulting Cambodia.

The 'Integrating Living Heritage' workshop aimed to foster meaningful connections among its participants and catalyze various mechanisms for sustainable tourism initiatives in the region, with Nan Old City serving as an illustrative case study. At the core of the workshop was a series of UNESCO-curated activities designed to foster cross-cultural exchange and empower local communities. Led by experts from UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, the Thailand Community-Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I), Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), panel sessions delved into the essence of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and its pivotal role in shaping inclusive tourism experiences, sustainable tourism, creative cities, and creative tourism.

UNESCO/Development Nan Youth Club/City Connext

The workshop explored various interconnected topics such as the role of Community-based Tourism (CBT) as a catalyst for sustainable development, and the creation of the CBT social business model. Immersive field visits complemented the programme to allow participants a firsthand experience of Nan's vibrant culture. In addition, hands-on workshops provided participants with practical skills and tools to navigate the complexities of sustainable tourism development, such as the crafting of compelling narratives that might resonate with diverse audiences, to designing innovative tourism experiences rooted in the local culture and community.

UNESCO/Development Nan Youth Club/City Connext

Throughout the workshop, participants learned how to integrate elements of ICH into tourism practices, while building robust networks for future collaboration. Interactive group activities, such as community-based inventorying simulations and role-playing exercises, provided experiences in navigating the complexities of sustainable tourism development. Networking sessions facilitated knowledge-sharing among professionals from diverse backgrounds, including fashion brands, hotels, restaurants, universities, and local municipal authorities and NGOs, reflecting the role of all stakeholders in collaboratively shaping the future of sustainable tourism in the region.

UNESCO/Development Nan Youth Club/City Connext

With a large enrollment of youth, the workshop highlighted UNESCO's priority in empowering young leaders to actively contribute to cultural preservation efforts while embracing innovative approaches to tourism development. Youth participation further underscored the importance of intergenerational dialogue in driving sustainable change.

UNESCO/Development Nan Youth Club/City Connext

UNESCO is organizing more seminars on sustainable tourism for ASEAN professionals until June 2024. Receive the latest update on planned events and more information by visiting the project portal and the project page.

#SustainableTourism #IntangibleCulturalHeritage #CreativeCities #ASEANWaterwayCities

UNESCO/Development Nan Youth Club/City Connext

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