21 November 2018
Bahrain Culture Authority Participates in the 21st Edition of Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism
Dr. Mounir Bouchenaki, former director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), representing Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, took part in the 21st edition of the “Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism” in Paestum, Italy. The meetings kicked off on 15 November and concluded on 18 November 2018.
The Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism meeting, organized by UNESCO, in cooperation with Italy’s Ministry of Culture, was attended by high level officials representing tourism and culture sectors, as well as international organizations former directors, such as former UNESCO Director-General, Irina Bokova, Ministers of culture and tourism in Asian and European countries.
During his speech, Dr. Mounir Bouchenaki stressed the importance of investing in culture and historical heritage of countries, and how it enhances sustainable investment and quality cultural tourism, shedding lights on the current UNESCO plans and policies to communicate and share expertise with World Tourism Organization. Dr. Bouchenaki also shed light on the role of sustainable tourism in the protection of archaeological sites and encouraging the management of these sites effectively.
The Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism confirms itself as an unique international event: home of the only exhibition hall in the world dedicated to archaeological heritage and to ArchaeoVirtual, the first international event dedicated to multimedia, interactive and virtual technologies; place for the study and debate on cultural heritage and tourism issues; meeting place for professional business, touristic and cultural operators and for travellers; business opportunity inside the inspiring location of the Archaeological Museum with the Workshop between foreign buyers and cultural and archaeological tourism offer. Worth to mention that H.E Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa was awarded in 2013 Paestum Archaeology Award, in the presence of renowned diplomatic and cultural figures, for efforts to preserve the Kingdom of Bahrain’s heritage and in recognition for H.E’s constant preoccupation to serve and advocate culture as a universal humane communication tool between different races and peoples of the globe.
Worth to mention also that the Mediterranean Exchange of Archaeological Tourism is a successful format, as testified by the collaboration of international organizations such as UNESCO, UNWTO and ICCROM, but also by thousands of visitors from around the world, as well as exhibitors, conferences and meetings, speakers, offer operators and journalists. Italy’s Paestum, a UNESCO World Heritage List site since 1998, presenting an outstanding cultural landscape, is a main destination to discover an important part of Italy’s history .
