Identifying good practices in the conservation, preservation, management and exploitation of heritage for tourism is the objective of the Cultural Heritage Working Group of the Smart Tourist Destinations Network, of which Menorca is member. On October 25 and 26, the first meeting of this group was held in Palma (Mallorca), with the participation of more than 45 experts in cultural heritage.
The meeting served to share experiences on good practices in the management of cultural heritage. From Menorca, Carmen Lara, the head of Cultural Tourism of the Fundació Foment del Turisme (FFTM), presented the case of Torre d'en Galmés’ shared governance as an example of sustainability in the management of heritage sites. The FFTM is in charge of managing the site, although other administrations such as the Alaior City Council or the Consell Insular also take part. According to Lara, the experience of co-governance of Torre de en Galmés has been very positive, since it has transformed the site into an example of living heritage, a place where archaeological research, musical performances or volunteer work have been carried out.
The network of Smart Tourist Destinations (DTI), proposed by the Secretary of State for Tourism, is a pioneering project on an international scale. It aims to implement a new model which looks to improve competitiveness and development based on sustainable governance and tourism co-responsibility. Innovative touristic destinations guarantee the sustainable development of the territory, facilitating the integration of visitors with the environment. The aim is to increase the quality of their experience and improve the local population’s quality of life. The Smart Tourist Destinations Network is made up of 347 members, of which 226 are destinations.