The Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Barcelona, Jordi Suriñach, stressed during the First Conferences on Conservation and Cultural Management in World Heritage Monuments, Landscapes and Sites, the “important” induced direct/indirect effect, that the Alhambra generates on the city of Granada, estimated at being of EUR 450 million and in thousands of jobs. The event, held at the Palace of Carlos V until this Thursday, is organized by the Euro-Arab Institute for Education and Training Foundation and the Patroato de la Alhambra and Generalife, in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The Palace of Carlos V becomes, until next Thursday, a scenario of debate and knowledge exchange with the holding of the 1st Symposium on Cultural Conservation and Management in Monuments, Landscapes and World Heritage Sites. Overcoming the challenges of conservation in the 20th century: The Alhambra, a case study, organised by Euro-Arab Institute Foundation for Education and Training and the Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife in collaboration with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the World Tourism Organisation (OMT).
Initiatives discussed at this symposium include the creation of “a structure or permanent network for the training of cultural agents and experts on both sides of the Mediterranean, extensible to other territories in the Arab world and Europe”.
In order to encourage dialogue and the exchange of experiences, 75 international experts in heritage management from European and Arab countries, will meet during the symposium week. Among such experts there will be officials responsible from the Aga Khan Foundation, from the Iraq government, from the archaeological site of Petra (Jordan), etc, who will discuss matters related to economy, heritage, cultural landscape, conservation and restoration of heritage property and intervention as well as management of cultural heritage, taking the Alhambra as a case study.
On the basis of the economic crisis and considering the uncertainty and consequences that the revolts in Arab countries may have on heritage, the round table discussions will have a moderator and two experts: one European and one Arab, in order to enrich the approaches and debate.