About partners for livable

Partners believes strongly that 
promoting culture and heritage is the 
key for any country that wishes to 
forge a more sustainable, genuine, 
and at the end of the day, successful 
tourism strategy. Developing 
countries, in particular, that might not 
be on the “hot” list of international 
tourist destinations must offer the 
visitor something unique, not a pre-
The twentieth cavity of Yungang Grottoes. One of China’s four most famous “Buddhist Caves 
Art Treasure Houses,” is located Datong, Shanxi. Buddha is 13.7 metres high. Photo credit: 
Meiqianbao.

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Cultural Heritage Tourism
packaged beach holiday that is on offer everywhere else. Fortunately, culture and heritage is never in short 
supply, and when following the principles articulated in the previous chapter, these resources can be put to 
use to create tourism that is meaningful for the visitor and the local community.
For developing countries, creating a sustainable tourism model based on culture and heritage can also 
lead to sustainable development. In fact, over the last several decades, a chorus of international NGOs and 
other institutions have come to greatly appreciate the role that cultural tourism can play in harnessing the 
resources needed for economic development. 
A key example is UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), which 
has always advocated for culture and heritage, but more recently began promoting culture as a primary 
tool for sustainable economic development. In a 2011 essay titled “Why Development Needs Culture”, 
UNESCO’s Assistant Director for Culture highlighted the progress that countries such as Cambodia, 
Ethiopia, and Mozambique have made by showcasing their cultural heritage to a growing number of 
tourists. 
Machu Picchu, in Peru, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo credit: Anton Ivanov.

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