Museums and musealization

Abstract

Heritage is one of the main drivers of contemporary tourism. The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) estimates that 40% of global travel is cultural in nature, i.e. ‘a type of tourist activity in which the visitor’s primary motivation is to learn, discover, experience and enjoy the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/ products in a tourist destination’. The very definition of a museum dates back to the post-war period with the foundation of the International Council of Muse- ums (ICOM) and the first UNESCO General Conference held in Paris from 16 to 20 November 1946.Heritage therefore relates to our sense of community: it is a collective asset, a shared inheritance received from our fathers and temporarily ours, before being passed on to future generations.