ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Charters 1976-2021: evolution, contributions and trends in cultural heritage protection

Abstract

Since its establishment in the sixties, the standard setting texts produced by ICOMOS have become the most reputed, influential and distributed documents concerning cultural heritage protection worldwide. An examination of all ICOMOS charters and recommendations makes clear the indispensable role of this organisation to disseminating best conservation, restoration and management practices during the last sixty years. It also demonstrates its persistence to never give up to the countless pressures that challenge heritage preservation around the world. Tourism is undoubtedly one of the most important and global of these pressures due to its considerable influence at all levels of cultural heritage management and decision-making. This paper analyses the early, pioneer and crucial role of ICOMOS to promote responsible tourism through an evaluation of its international cultural tourism charters from 1976, when the first was adopted, until 2021, when the Advisory Council of the organisation has approved the ICOMOS Draft International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2021): Reinforcing cultural heritage protection and community resilience through responsible and sustainable tourism management for its adoption at the ICOMOS General Assembly in 2022. The long process for drafting and approving this Charter and its new conceptual approaches show the emerging trends affecting cultural heritage globally and allow reflecting more broadly about the future of standard setting texts on this subject.