Silk Roads Heritage Corridors in Afghanistan, Central Asia and Iran – International Dimension of the European Year of Cultural Heritage
Implementing organisation: UNESCO
Duration: October 2018 – 27 August 2024
Project budget: Total budget in € 4 408 500
EU contribution: € 4 400 000
Project partners: Ministries of Culture of the participating countries; National Commissions for UNESCO in the participating countries; National tourism development committees; Associations of Artisans Location Afghanistan, Central Asian countries, Iran
Keywords: Silk Roads, Common Heritage, Cultural Tourism
Contract number: DCI–HUM 2018 399 328
Project Description
The project aims to (1) strengthen capacities for safeguarding tangible and intangible cultural heritage; (2) raise awareness and promote the common cultural heritage on the Silk Roads; (3) use the heritage as a foundation for sustainable development, including through the development of sustainable heritage based tourism.
The project is implemented along the following main components:
- Valorization and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage;
- Strengthening capacities in heritage safeguarding, protection and management for the promotion of sustainable tourism;
- Support to strengthen human and institutional capacities;
- Awareness-raising initiatives further promote and facilitate partnerships and improve communication.
Main target groups:
- National and local authorities including authorities responsible for tourism development; cultural and educational organizations;
- Artisans; local communities; tourist associations, guides;
Main achievements to date:
- Completed conservation works at Bogbonli mosque, Itchan Kala, Khiva in Uzbekistan; Phase III at Second Buddhist Temple at Krasnaya Rechka and Phase II at Shakhristan Citadel at Kulan site in Kazakhstan.
- Completed an assessment of the existing and potential tourism routes in the Tajik National Park. Shared the Assessment report with Tajikistan authorities for further submission to the WHC.
- Developed creative, crafts and entrepreneurial skills of 63 craftspeople from local communities in Uzbekistan and of 20 craftspeople from Tajikistan.
- Enhanced capacities of 31 site managers, tourism specialists, cultural experts, national authorities from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the area of tourism development.
- Conducted training for 20 Silk Roads tourism guides from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. 32 tourism guides enhanced their skills on public speaking.
- 68 tourism specialist and cultural experts from the CA countries enhanced their knowledge on sustainable and responsible tourism and on modern tourism market places.
- Completed the initiative aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills and providing access to the international market to artisans, micro-producers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan by the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI).
- Reached over 3 mln people via online platforms the common heritage along the Silk Roads during the project implementation.
