INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL TOURISM CHARTERManaging Tourism at Places of Heritage Significance(1999)
Adopted by ICOMOS at the 12th General Assembly in Mexico, October 1999.

INTRODUCTION
The Charter Ethos
At the broadest level, the natural and cultural heritage belongs to all people. We each havea right and responsibility to understand, appreciate and conserve its universal values.
Heritage is a broad concept and includes the natural as well as the cultural environment. It
encompasses landscapes, historic places, sites and built environments, as well as biodiversity, collections, past and continuing cultural practices, knowledge and livingexperiences. It records and expresses the long processes of historic development, forming
the essence of diverse national, regional, indigenous and local identities and is an integral
part of modern life. It is a dynamic reference point and positive instrument for growth andchange. The particular heritage and collective memory of each locality or community isirreplaceable and an important foundation for development, both now and into the future.
At a time of increasing globalisation, the protection, conservation, interpretation andpresentation of the heritage and cultural diversity of any particular place or region is an
important challenge for people everywhere. However, management of that heritage, withina framework of internationally recognised and appropriately applied standards, is usually
the responsibility of the particular community or custodian group.
A primary objective for managing heritage is to communicate its significance and need for
its conservation to its host community and to visitors. Reasonable and well managed
physical, intellectual and/or emotive access to heritage and cultural development is both aright and a privilege. It brings with it a duty of respect for the heritage values, interests andequity of the present-day host community, indigenous custodians or owners of historic
property and for the landscapes and cultures from which that heritage evolved.

The DynamicHeritage

Interaction

betweenTourismandCultural

Domestic and international tourism continues to be among the foremost vehicles for culturalexchange, providing a personal experience, not only of that which has survived from thepast, but of the contemporary life and society of others. It is increasingly appreciated as apositive force for natural and cultural conservation. Tourism can capture the economic
characteristics of the heritage and harness these for conservation by generating funding,
educating the community and influencing policy. It is an essential part of many national andregional economies and can be an important factor in development, when managed
successfully.
Tourism itself has become an increasingly complex phenomenon, with political, economic,

social, cultural, educational, bio-physical, ecological and aesthetic dimensions. The
achievement of a beneficial inter-action between the potentially conflicting expectations andaspirations of visitors and host or local communities, presents many challenges andopportunities.
The natural and cultural heritage, diversities and living cultures are major tourism
attractions. Excessive or poorly-managed tourism and tourism related development canthreaten their physical nature, integrity and significant characteristics. The ecologicalsetting, culture and lifestyles of host communities may also be degraded, along with thevisitor's experience of the place.
Tourism should bring benefits to host communities and provide an important means andmotivation for them to care for and maintain their heritage and cultural practices. The
involvement and co-operation of local and/or indigenous community representatives,conservationists, tourism operators, property owners, policy makers, those preparing
national development plans and site managers is necessary to achieve a sustainable tourism
industry and enhance the protection of heritage resources for future generations.
ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, as the author of this Charter,
other international organisations and the tourism industry, are dedicated to this challenge.

Objectives of the Charter
The Objectives of the International Cultural Tourism Charter are:
• To facilitate and encourage those involved with heritage conservation andmanagement to make the significance of that heritage accessible to the host communityand visitors.
• To facilitate and encourage the tourism industry to promote and manage tourism
in ways that respect and enhance the heritage and living cultures of host communities.
• To facilitate and encourage a dialogue between conservation interests and thetourism industry about the importance and fragile nature of heritage places, collections andliving cultures, including the need to achieve a sustainable future for them.
• To encourage those formulating plans and policies to develop detailed, measurable
goals and strategies relating to the presentation and interpretation of heritage places andcultural activities, in the context of their preservation and conservation.
In addition,• The Charter supports wider initiatives by ICOMOS, other international bodies andthe tourism industry in maintaining the integrity of heritage management and conservation.
• The Charter encourages the involvement of all those with relevant or at times
conflicting interests, responsibilities and obligations to join in achieving its objectives.
• The Charter encourages the formulation of detailed guidelines by interestedparties, facilitating the implementation of the Principles to their specific circumstances or
the requirements of particular organisations and communities.

PRINCIPLES OF THE CULTURAL TOURISM CHARTER
Principle 1
Since domestic and international tourism is among the foremost vehicles for
cultural exchange, conservation should provide responsible and well managedopportunities for members of the host community and visitors to experience andunderstand that community's heritage and culture at first hand.
1.1
The natural and cultural heritage is a material and spiritual resource, providing a narrativeof historical development. It has an important role in modern life and should be madephysically, intellectually and/or emotively accessible to the general public. Programmes forthe protection and conservation of the physical attributes, intangible aspects, contemporary
cultural expressions and broad context, should facilitate an understanding and appreciationof the heritage significance by the host community and the visitor, in an equitable andaffordable manner.
1.2
Individual aspects of natural and cultural heritage have differing levels of significance, somewith universal values, others of national, regional or local importance. Interpretation
programmes should present that significance in a relevant and accessible manner to thehost community and the visitor, with appropriate, stimulating and contemporary forms ofeducation, media, technology and personal explanation of historical, environmental andcultural information.
1.3
Interpretation and presentation programmes should facilitate and encourage the high levelof public awareness and support necessary for the long term survival of the natural andcultural heritage.
1.4
Interpretation programmes should present the significance of heritage places, traditions andcultural practices within the past experience and present diversities of the area and the hostcommunity, including that of minority cultural or linguistic groups. The visitor should always
be informed of the differing cultural values that may be ascribed to a particular heritage
resource.

Principle 2
The relationship between Heritage Places and Tourism is dynamic and may involve
conflicting values. It should be managed in a sustainable way for present andfuture generations.
2.1
Places of heritage significance have an intrinsic value for all people as an important basis for
cultural diversity and social development. The long term protection and conservation ofliving cultures, heritage places, collections, their physical and ecological integrity and theirenvironmental context, should be an essential component of social, economic, political,legislative, cultural and tourism development policies.
2.2
The interaction between heritage resources or values and tourism is dynamic and everchanging, generating both opportunities and challenges, as well as potential conflicts.
Tourism projects, activities and developments should achieve positive outcomes andminimise adverse impacts on the heritage and lifestyles of the host community, whileresponding to the needs and aspirations of the visitor.
2.3
Conservation, interpretation and tourism development programmes should be based on acomprehensive understanding of the specific, but often complex or conflicting aspects ofheritage significance of the particular place. Continuing research and consultation areimportant to furthering the evolving understanding and appreciation of that significance.
2.4
The retention of the authenticity of heritage places and collections is important. It is an
essential element of their cultural significance, as expressed in the physical material,collected memory and intangible traditions that remain from the past. Programmes shouldpresent and interpret the authenticity of places and cultural experiences to enhance theappreciation and understanding of that cultural heritage.
2.5
Tourism development and infrastructure projects should take account of the aesthetic,
social and cultural dimensions, natural and cultural landscapes, bio-diversity characteristics
and the broader visual context of heritage places. Preference should be given to using local
materials and take account of local architectural styles or vernacular traditions.
2.6
Before heritage places are promoted or developed for increased tourism, management plans
should assess the natural and cultural values of the resource. They should then establish
appropriate limits of acceptable change, particularly in relation to the impact of visitor
numbers on the physical characteristics, integrity, ecology and biodiversity of the place,
local access and transportation systems and the social, economic and cultural well being of
the host community. If the likely level of change is unacceptable the development proposal
should be modified.
2.7
There should be on-going programmes of evaluation to assess the progressive impacts oftourism activities and development on the particular place or community.

Principle 3
Conservation and Tourism Planning for Heritage Places should ensure that theVisitor Experience will be worthwhile, satisfying and enjoyable.
3.1
Conservation and tourism programmes should present high quality information to optimise
the visitor's understanding of the significant heritage characteristics and of the need fortheir protection, enabling the visitor to enjoy the place in an appropriate manner.
3.2
Visitors should be able to experience the heritage place at their own pace, if they so choose.
Specific circulation routes may be necessary to minimise impacts on the integrity andphysical fabric of a place, its natural and cultural characteristics.
3.3
Respect for the sanctity of spiritual places, practices and traditions is an importantconsideration for site managers, visitors, policy makers, planners and tourism operators.
Visitors should be encouraged to behave as welcomed guests, respecting the values andlifestyles of the host community, rejecting possible theft or illicit trade in cultural property
and conducting themselves in a responsible manner which would generate a renewed
welcome, should they return.
3.4

Planning for tourism activities should provide appropriate facilities for the comfort, safety
and well-being of the visitor, that enhance the enjoyment of the visit but do not adversely
impact on the significant features or ecological characteristics.

Principle 4
Host communities and indigenous peoples should be involved in planning forconservation and tourism.
4.1
The rights and interests of the host community, at regional and local levels, property
owners and relevant indigenous peoples who may exercise traditional rights or
responsibilities over their own land and its significant sites, should be respected. They
should be involved in establishing goals, strategies, policies and protocols for theidentification, conservation, management, presentation and interpretation of their heritage
resources, cultural practices and contemporary cultural expressions, in the tourism context.
4.2
While the heritage of any specific place or region may have a universal dimension, theneeds and wishes of some communities or indigenous peoples to restrict or manage
physical, spiritual or intellectual access to certain cultural practices, knowledge, beliefs,
activities, artefacts or sites should be respected.

Principle 5Tourism and conservation activities should benefit the host community.
5.1
Policy makers should promote measures for the equitable distribution of the benefits of
tourism to be shared across countries or regions, improving the levels of socio-economic
development and contributing where necessary to poverty alleviation.
5.2
Conservation management and tourism activities should provide equitable economic, socialand cultural benefits to the men and women of the host or local community, at all levels,
through education, training and the creation of full-time employment opportunities.
5.3
A significant proportion of the revenue specifically derived from tourism programmes toheritage places should be allotted to the protection, conservation and presentation of thoseplaces, including their natural and cultural contexts. Where possible, visitors should beadvised of this revenue allocation.
5.4
Tourism programmes should encourage the training and employment of guides and site
interpreters from the host community to enhance the skills of local people in thepresentation and interpretation of their cultural values.
5.5
Heritage interpretation and education programmes among the people of the hostcommunity should encourage the involvement of local site interpreters. The programmes
should promote a knowledge and respect for their heritage, encouraging the local people totake a direct interest in its care and conservation.

5.6
Conservation management and tourism programmes should include education and training
opportunities for policy makers, planners, researchers, designers, architects, interpreters,conservators and tourism operators. Participants should be encouraged to understand andhelp resolve the at times conflicting issues, opportunities and problems encountered by theircolleagues.

Principle 6
Tourism promotion programmes should protect and enhance Natural and Cultural
Heritage characteristics.
6.1
Tourism promotion programmes should create realistic expectations and responsibly inform
potential visitors of the specific heritage characteristics of a place or host community,
thereby encouraging them to behave appropriately.
6.2
Places and collections of heritage significance should be promoted and managed in ways
which protect their authenticity and enhance the visitor experience by minimisingfluctuations in arrivals and avoiding excessive numbers of visitors at any one time.
6.3
Tourism promotion programmes should provide a wider distribution of benefits and relieve
the pressures on more popular places by encouraging visitors to experience the wider
cultural and natural heritage characteristics of the region or locality.
6.4
The promotion, distribution and sale of local crafts and other products should provide a
reasonable social and economic return to the host community, while ensuring that theircultural integrity is not degraded.