THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN PRESERVING NATURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Tourism is one of the possibilities of making people throughtout the world aware of their rich cultural and natural heritage. It also frequently offers the first incentive, as well as the financial means, for preserving and protecting this heritage. The theme of tourism is not closed with this second Forum. Tourism will lead to further developments which will not be exclusively financial : to dialogue and understanding between people of different cultures; to a strengthening of ones own cultural identity; to increased international collaboration on problems of cultural and environmental protection; to new influences on a variety of population groups such as craftsmen, women and young people.