OVPM OWHC OCPM

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐒 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬

Following the work done on the Framework about Cultural Tourism from ICOMOS ICTC, ICOMOS would like to forward to OWHC member cities this invitation for a webinar series to promote the application of their ICTC Tourism Charter:

From Principles to Practice: Operationalising the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022).

Their aim is to create a focused space for exchange where ICOMOS members and key partners can share experiences, present ongoing work, and engage in discussion on the practical application of the Charter across different contexts.

The webinars will take place monthly at 13:00 CET on the following dates:

• 25 February – Introduction to ICTC, the Charter & Charter Operationalisation (ChOp)
• 25 March – Principles 1 & 2 (Planning, Visitor Management, Inclusive Governance)
• 22 April – Principle 3 (Knowledge, Interpretation, Education)
• 27 May – Principles 4 & 5 (Community, Local Development, Benefit-sharing)
• 24 June – Principles 6 & 7 (Climate Action, Sustainability, Long-term Management)

Webinar on Cultural Heritage Tourism: Principles to Practice - ICOMOS Engage with experts in cultural heritage tourism through the ICTC Webinar Series and help examine the practical implementation of the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022).

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

As we enter the new year, the General Secretariat would like to warmly thank all member cities for their intense and generous participation in the Organization's activities in 2025. The Quebec Roadmap and the Cordoba Path have reached a decisive stage that brings us closer to the New Urban Project.

In 2026, we will meet in Marrakech for the 18th OWHC World Congress. This event will mark the culmination of an unprecedented collaborative effort undertaken in 2022 and will open a new phase of cooperation for our members.

During this festive season, the entire team at the General Secretariat wishes you peaceful, convivial, and sharing holidays, as well as a 2026 filled with dialogue, cooperation, and shared ambition.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑊𝐻𝐶

The OWHC held its first-ever meeting dedicated to Sub-Saharan African World Heritage Cities in Lamu, Kenya. Over two days, representatives from seven cities gathered for a workshop to contribute to the development of the New Urban Project (NUP), the Organization's program aimed at regenerating historic centers through urban strategies focused on habitability.

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝

The discussions highlighted several challenges common to the participating cities:
• rising sea levels and desertification;
• the impacts of the climate crisis on built heritage and infrastructure;
• mobility management in cities not designed for motor vehicles;
• waste management and health issues;
• the balance between tourism development and quality of life;
• reconciling new urban needs with the preservation of authenticity.

𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Several non-member cities expressed their desire to join the Organization. Together, the participants agreed to create a regional collaboration framework—the Lamu Group—to actively contribute to the ongoing work leading up to the presentation of the New Urban Project at the 18th OWHC World Congress, to be held in Marrakech from October 26 to 29, 2026.

𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

The OWHC warmly thanks the mayors and representatives of the cities of Agadez (Niger), Chinguetti (Mauritania), Cidade Velha (Cape Verde), Harar (Ethiopia), Saint-Louis (Senegal), and Timbuktu (Mali) for their rich and generous contributions.
Our thanks also go to CHiFA, a partner of the OWHC, as well as to the institutions and organizations that participated in the workshop: Lamu Museum, Friends of Lamu Cultural Heritage, UNESCO – Regional Office for East Africa, UN-Habitat-Regional Office for Africa, and World Monuments Fund.

𝐼𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑑𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑁𝑈𝑃 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 - 𝑁𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝑈𝑃, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑢𝑔𝑢𝑠𝑡 2025 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑒𝑦 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠.

𝐍𝐔𝐏 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝟑.

The practical tools needed by member cities form what the OWHC refers to as its “New Urban Project” (NUP). The work currently underway should culminate, at the 18th OWHC World Congress in Marrakech in the fall of 2026, in:

• A cultural shift to exploit heritage as a resource;
• A structural change to be more effective and responsive in a context of profound urban change;
• A broadening of perspectives for action on the city and a decompartmentalization of approaches to unleash potential;
• Synergies offering cities better guarantees of success in developing their vision for the future.

The program offered under the NUP will strengthen the OWHC network, linking member cities even more closely based on the shared issues that bring them together, the priorities that guide them, and the operational nature of the actions they need to take.