The World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities is a unique forum that brings together, every second year, government officials, politicians and experts who are involved in the preservation of historic cities, particularly those cities that are part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Since the first symposium, which took place in 1991, this event has allowed the participants to discuss various themes, to share their experiences and to acquire new knowledge about the strategies to overcome the difficulties connected with the preservation of world heritage cities and with the issues of a municipal government. The Congress is also evidence that the OWHC is a dynamically developing organization opened to any questions.

The Theme of the Congress: "HERITAGE AND ECONOMICS"

The theme of the 9th World Congress is "Heritage and Economics", a timely and stimulating subject that the mayors and the conservation professionals will analyze together. The cultural heritage of historic cities is often perceived to be a major asset for economic development and an important source of income for the city and its inhabitants. Tourism is playing an increasingly important role in this regard. However, the protection and management of a city's cultural heritage also embodies other values, cultural as well as monetary, which must be understood and safeguarded. These include social values that impart a sense of identity, spiritual values that provide insight, and historical values that enhance a connection to the past. As mayors and others strive to find practical and sustainable solutions to problems within historic cities, they often confront the dynamic linkage between heritage and economics. The 9th World Congress will examine this linkage in greater depth and, in so doing, will explore the complex relationships between heritage and economics. Participants will leave the 9th World Congress not only with a clearer understanding of those relationships, but also with an overview about what kind of tools and guidelines can help them confront with greater insight the inevitable challenges associated with heritage and economics. The central question regarding the theme is: "How can heritage preservation contribute to the sustainable economic development of a city while safeguarding its cultural identity?"

02.- World Heritage Convention