The 2nd International Congress on World Civilizations and Historical Routes held on 16 and 17 September in the city of Sofia explored how tourism along historic routes can help to safeguard and promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage and concludes that historic routes can play a major role in revealing the unique history, culture and natural assets of territories along them, becoming a powerful promotional tool and a unique instrument to increase tourism competitiveness for many destinations.
Discussions centred on identifying best practices in tourism development, management and promotion that can help to harness the tourism potential of historic routes, enhance the value of their cultural heritage, and preserve their authenticity and successful examples were exchanged of well-developed and managed historic routes, with a focus on ways to maximize tourism’s socio-economic impacts for local communities and contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Congress also concludes thati n recent years cultural tourism has emerged as a major driver of demand, in line with travellers’ growing interest to immerse themselves in tourism ‘experiences’ such as local rituals and traditions.
The 2nd International Congress on World Civilizations and Historical Routes was organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria. ENPP was represented in the Congress by Ms. Mariana Assenova, former Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria and member of the Scientific Council of Places of Peace Route and by Ms. Bonka Yordanova, project expert on the Municipality of Kaynardzha, a Bulgarian member of ENPP.
