Ulaanbaatar
“Silk Road and Kharakhorum” international scientific conference held
Art & Culture
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On July 18, in the city of Kharakhorum, ancient capital of Mongol Empire, the International Scientific Conference on “Silk Road and Kharakhorum” was organized by the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations which is the UNESCO Category 2 Institute, in partnership with the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO, Management Office of the World Heritage – Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape and Kharakhorum Museum, with the support of Uvurkhangai Province Administration, “Bayangobi” tour camp alongside the first Buddhist monastery in Mongolia, Erdene Zuu.
The Conference aims to enhance the participation of local communities, especially nomads, in development of tourism along the Silk Road, to safeguard historical and cultural heritage and to promote cultural tourism. The Conference brought together members of Parliament, researchers and scientists who work on the history, archaeology and cultural heritage in order to discuss the strategy for further research, as well as the development of cultural tourism. Along with participants of local and national authorities including the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports, the Culture and Art Implementing Agency, the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia, Mongolian State University of Arts and Culture, programme specialist for culture Ms Himalchuli Gurung from the UNESCO Beijing Office and dean of Department of Tourism from the University of Industry of Inner Mongolia Ms Xiao Mei Bai also joined the Conference.
As a result of the conference participants formulated a set of recommendations. The Conference offered conceptual background dedicated to the Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape and participants understood about the essential role of cultural and natural heritage in sustainable development, sustainable tourism and about data collecting and strategic planning. Participants have also discussed about possibilities of promoting the World Heritage site Orkhon Valley Cultural Landscape by developing a sustainable tourism through “Silk Road and Kharakhorum”.
