On the 22nd December 2020 two online regional panel discussions were organised within the project “Cultours”. The virtual events discussed the topic of “Shared cultural heritage, factor for intercultural dialogue in the Balkans” and “Memorial tourism, potential for local development and cultural understanding”. The debates gathered around 40 participants, 9 speakers and 4 experienced moderators from the Balkan region and European Union.
This was a possibility to explore how to develop a local tourism based on its cultural and memorial heritage by looking at various examples of other localities inside and outside the Balkan region. The cultural heritage can be a powerful tool in order to foster intercultural dialogue and reconciliation.
Cooperation between different countries should be based on equality, reciprocity and respect to the shared cultural heritage. Regional cooperation is needed to preserve and manage this shared cultural heritage and make it accessible. Public participation at local level is essential for the sustainable economic development.
This activity is organized within the project CulTours implemented by the Balkan Network for Local Democracy and the LDA in the Balkans, and supported by the Western Balkan Fund.