The UNESCO Chair for World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Management in the Arab Region at the German University of Technology in Oman is organizing a workshop from December 14-17, 2024, titled “Local Community Empowerment at World Heritage Sites: Design, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.” The workshop is held under the patronage of H.E. Engineer Ibrahim bin Said Al-Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, with support from the Research Council of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the SMEs Development Authority, and the Omani Women’s Association.
The workshop aims to raise awareness about the significance of World Heritage, stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism and creative industries, and actively engage the local community in developing projects that support heritage preservation and sustainable development.
The workshop seeks to enhance awareness about World Heritage importance by providing a comprehensive introduction to its concepts and significance in tourism and sustainable development. The workshop will discuss the role of Oman’s Vision 2040 in supporting the heritage and tourism sectors. The workshop also aims to develop entrepreneurial ideas and projects by presenting inspiring examples from local, regional, and international experiences, such as the rehabilitation of heritage homes in Islamic Cairo, the restoration of Harat Al-Aqr in Nizwa, the revival of traditional Omani culinary arts, the rehabilitation of the Pearling Path in Muharraq, and innovation in traditional crafts and arts in Egypt and the UK. Dr. Alaa El-Habashi, Professor of Architecture at Menoufia University, shared his inspiring experience in rehabilitating Beit Yakan. Dr. Mamdouh Sakr, Director of the Jameel House of Traditional Arts in Cairo, presented a wonderful example of innovation in traditional arts and crafts.
This workshop is part of the annual plan of the UNESCO Chair and the research program focused on activating World Heritage Sites in Oman, enhancing the role of local communities in managing them, and developing community-led tourism in alignment with their Outstanding Universal Value, in accordance with UNESCO’s vision for sustainable development and heritage preservation.
More than 25 participants from the Bahla region, representing various segments of society, including job seekers, members of municipal councils, neighborhood elders, and investors in forts and castles, took part in the workshop.
Dr. Heba Abdel Aziz stated that the Chair chose to hold this workshop in Bahla to maximize the benefits for the local community from the inclusion of Bahla Fort on the World Heritage List and to enhance their involvement in managing the first World Heritage Site listed in the Gulf region.
