Galicia has announced its adherence to the principles of the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism 2022, becoming a pioneer in its application in rural settings. The internationally recognized document places the protection of cultural heritage at the heart of tourism planning and promotes a sustainable model that integrates conservation, community participation, and climate action.
The Director of Tourism of Galicia, Xosé Merelles, met with Celia Martínez Yáñez, Vice President of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism and coordinator of the Charter, who visited the region to analyze its implementation with other members of the committee.
This membership reinforces Galicia’s commitment to tourism that combines cultural identity and sustainability, highlighting destinations such as the Ribeira Sacra, Os Ancares, and O Courel, as well as other areas in the Ourense hinterland. All of these represent the type of territories the Charter seeks to highlight: places where tourism should be an economic driver without compromising authenticity or the natural environment.
With this incorporation, Galicia seeks to establish itself as a replicable model of sustainable cultural tourism that can inspire other inland regions internationally.