World Heritage & Cultural Tourism Development: Inclusive Approaches to Dissonant Heritage & Conflicting Interpretations
Organised by ICOMOS ISC Cultural Tourism (ICTC) and ICOMOS Seychelles In partnership with Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture & Seychelles Heritage Foundation
What?
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of ICOMOS ICTC and ICOMOS Seychelles 2015 international workshop takes this pivotal moment to address future challenges for culture and development in the context of the world heritage. Our focus is on natural and cultural World Heritage sites, their planning and management as sustainable tourism destinations both in the Seychelles and wider region of East Africa and Macarene islands of Mauritius & Reunion. Mission Lodge, Sans Soucis – our field case study located within the Morne Seychellois national park – was where 19th century missionaries set up Venn’s town and ran a school for liberated African slaves. A site with unrivalled panoramic views across the Indian Ocean, it has been confirmed by the Seychelles government as a candidate for World Heritage nomination.
Colonialism and slavery sit uncomfortably in seemingly idyllic landscapes. We examine the types of engagement and protection it is possible for communities to offer when places are uninhabited or no longer living landscapes. We address the role of communications policies and interpretation in enabling communities across this region to explore their history and its legacy. By sharing often discordant stories, diverse languages, creative craft traditions and celebrations of their culture with visitors, we ask whether individual and collective identities are channelled into stereotypes or encouraged to evolve and flourish with greater confidence and, in parallel, provide communities with significantly enhanced social and economic benefits.
Official contacts :
Patrick Nanty, CEO, Seychelles Heritage Foundation, Victoria, P.O Box 1411, Mahe, Seychelles Email: ceo@shf.sc ; Tel:(+248) 4 224893
