RCTDD in Armenia
The Pilot Project Roads of Culture and Tourism for Development and Dialogue in Armenia launched in March 2009 in Lori Marz Toumanian Region.
The main goal of the project was to strengthen conservation and protection of historical and cultural heritage including its tangible and intangible dimensions and development of cultural tourism involving communities in Lori Marz of Armenia, where the monuments included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO - Sanahin Monastery Complex - 10th – 13th centuries (included in UNESCO list of World Heritage in 1996), Sanahin Bridge – 10th century (included in UNESCO list of World Heritage in 1996), Haghpat Monastery Complex - 10th – 13th centuries (included in UNESCO list of World Heritage in 2000) are situated.
The Pilot Project was coordinated by the Ministry of Economy of the RA in close cooperation with the Armenian National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture of the RA. Local authorities, communities and public organizations had also their great contribution to the implementation of the Project.
The Pilot Project mainly involved the youth and women from local populations in communities around the monuments. Seminars were organized for the local communities aimed at raising public awareness on importance of conservation of historical and cultural heritage, conceptual approaches of UNESCO and development of tourism in their communities.
During the Project the participants were also engaged in revealing new tangible and intangible cultural values typical for the region and developing new tourist products. Another outcome of the seminars will be the database on tourist attractions and services, which will serve as a ground for development of tourist activities in the region, contribute to local economy and reduce poverty.
The Pilot Project is a successful example for other communities in Armenia where there are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The authors are responsible for the choice and the presentation of
the facts contained in this publication and for the opinions expressed
therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not
commit the Organization
© Ministry of Economy of the RA, 2009
© Ministry of Culture of the RA, 2009
© UNESCO Moscow Office, 2009
