World Culture Heritage in sustainable development. The case of Wismar and Stralsund

Abstract

Gradually realizing the consequences of development related solely to economic growth, modern cities are turning their attention towards the concept of sustainable development. Using the World Heritage Cities of Wismar and Stralsund as an example, this study examines how the concept of sustainable development relates to World Heritage status. This paper aims to identify what is the implementation of the World Cultural Heritage (WCH) protection program in urban policies and the limitations of sustainable development programs related to.The innovation of this research lies in the fact that the article considers how local governments make decisions regarding the implementation of WCH programs or sustainable development programs in cities similar in structure and historical past. The materials for the study are expert interviews with the author’s city administration, local activists, employees of museums and tourist centers, representatives of local businesses. Based on the obtained data, the main directions were identified why the city administration implements the WCH and restricts the sustainable development programs.The study showed that urban policies are formed in a situation where the status of the WCH cannot be considered solely as a benefit to the city. Today, the city administration sees the strategy of implementing the WCH program as more beneficial in the time perspective and implements sustainable development programs only with significant limitations.