Co-organised by UTM, the 8th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference 2024 recently unfolded in Zhuhai and Macao, uniting scholars globally to explore the impact of world heritage on catalysing tourism resurgence. Experts also underscored the distinctive setting of Macao and the Greater Bay Area, illustrating how heritage can drive community development.
Experts and leading researchers worldwide recently convened at UTM to share cutting-edge insights on heritage preservation and its role in post-Covid tourism and community revitalisation.
The 8th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference 2024 was held from 26 to 30 November in Zhuhai and Macao with the theme of “World Heritage as Resilience for Tourism Recovery”. Organised by the UNESCO UNITWIN Network “Culture, Tourism, Development" and the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites, the event was also co-organised by the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, Fudan University and Sun Yat-Sen University in Mainland China, and UTM.
Following the first four days in Zhuhai, the Macao section of the event unfolded on 30 November, comprising presentations and panel discussions at the UTM Mong-Há Campus and a field inspection of Macao's Historic Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for conference delegates.
Professor Maria Gravari-Barbas from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, who is also the Coordinator of the UNITWIN network – UNESCO “Culture, Tourism, Development”, underscored the event's importance in exploring the interplay between heritage and tourism. The conference also showcased a wide range of perspectives from seasoned and young researchers, engaging in interdisciplinary and intergenerational discussions, she added.
“We should not only consider heritage in the context of conservation but also think about how to integrate it as an active part of contemporary life, engage citizens in participation, and associate it with local communities,” she articulated.
Since 2010, the UNESCO UNITWIN Network "Culture, Tourism, Development" has been organising biennial international conferences on the topic of world heritage. Professor Gravari-Barbas, in emphasising the significance of hosting the event in Zhuhai and Macao, highlighted the necessity of comprehending how heritage-tourism dynamics operate across varied contexts, encompassing Europe, America, and Asia.
“The Chinese context is particularly interesting as China is one of the most important countries in terms of the number of world heritage sites," she remarked.
Cultural heritage as identity
The Macao section of the event featured a presentation by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR government on recent revitalisation projects in the city and a keynote from UTM on a new philosophical approach to heritage studies. Meanwhile, a panel drawn from UTM scholars and Macao community and industry explored case studies and strategies addressing contemporary heritage site challenges, alongside exploring Macao’s distinctive cultural context in sustainable tourism and heritage preservation.
A moderator of the event, Professor Joseph Cheer from Western Sydney University in Australia, emphasised the significance of heritage, particularly in the post-Covid era. “Cultural heritage is often a primary means through which a country and a place define themselves. Heritage is part of identity,” he stated. "We could leverage cultural heritage to not only revitalise and recharge tourism development but also to stimulate the resurgence of community and business.”
In his view, these discussions hold paramount importance for Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, where tourism stands as a key industry. He further highlighted the potential for the Greater Bay Area to collaborate in crafting multi-destination tourism offerings that integrate heritage sites, drawing both international and domestic travellers.
Beyond tangible cultural heritage like buildings and monuments, Professor Cheer stressed the significance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, such as Macanese cuisine in the city.
Following the successful conclusion of the 8th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference 2024, Professor Gravari-Barbas underscored the plethora of collaboration opportunities between regional institutions like UTM and global counterparts in heritage research and education such as student exchanges.
“It offers an incredible opportunity for students to explore different heritage contexts in different parts of the world,” she added.