2019 Baku
07/06/2019 - 09/06/2019
Mass Tourism in Historic Cities
The UIA International Forum on Mass Tourism in Historic Cities took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the Heydar Aliyev Centre, 7 – 9 June 2019. The event brought together architects, tourism professionals, heritage conservation experts and city representatives.
The Forum was launched with an introductory presentation entitled “Tourism in Numbers: Managing sustainable tourism growth”, from Michel Julian, Senior Officer at the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Read the opening speech from Michel Julian (UNWTO).
Over the course of the following days, experts discussed the challenges and benefits of tourism, and the role that architects and heritage conservationists have to play in rehabilitating, reconfiguring and protecting historic sites and cities, in order to optimise the relations between residents, tourists, and the place itself. View all speaker presentations.
On the final day of the Forum, the UIA released a declaration detailing the conclusions of discussions, notably the ways in which architecture, planning and design can be used as tools to safeguard heritage in the age of mass tourism.
Main auditorium of the Heydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, Azerbaijan, which was the main venue for the Baku Forum on Tourism in Historic Cities, 2019.
Group photo of the expert panellists that took part in the panels over the three days of the Baku Forum.
On the final day, the Baku Declaration was signed by UIA President Thomas Vonier and UAA Chairman Elbay Gasim-Zada