How can the local community benefit from heritage?
The World Heritage Convention encourages the States Parties to involve local communities in planning and management of properties. Successful protection of heritage depends on the ability to provide opportunities and benefits to the local communities. Properly managed tourism development that involves local communities can help to: stem the out-migration of youth and other marginally-employed members of the community, alleviate poverty by providing new employment opportunities, revitalise traditional building and craft industries, enhance both the physical and intangible heritage while encouraging pride and promoting enterprise and contributing towards alleviating poverty.
