A Workshop on Responsible Destination Management was organised during ICOMOS General Assembly as a cluster event co-organised by ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee, the International Committee (ICTC) on Interpretation and Presentation (ICIP), ICOMOS Nepal and UNESCO Kathmandu. The workshop focused on carrying capacity frameworks and heritage interpretation as tools for transforming tourism into a vehicle for regeneration, resilience and peace. The workshop was organised as a hybrid event and was well attended.
Upon the welcome by Jaco Du Toit, UNESCOs representative to Nepal and workshop introduction by Faisal Abd Rahman, ICTC, presentation of case studies from Nepal, Pakistan, India and Korea followed. This provided a rich context for group discussions whereby the participants were requested to discuss key factors influencing carrying capacity and how interpretation methods could be used to address carrying capacity and promote community resilience.
Discussions emphasized the need for systemic change, moving beyond narrow tourism and heritage management approaches to confront the broader paradigm of continuous growth that is eroding community well-being and local livelihoods. Communities must be placed at the center—prepared, informed, and empowered to benefit from tourism while safeguarding what is sacred to them.
A key recommendation was to integrate planning tools for managing pilgrimage sites into heritage and site management plans. Understanding and assessing a site’s carrying capacity is critical—not only within the core sacred area but across the wider landscape. Effective measures include pre-booking or online booking systems (with flexibility where digital access is limited) , routing systems to manage visitor flow, designated waiting areas, avoiding construction or infrastructure work during pilgrimage periods, studying pilgrimage rhythms, auspicious days, and seasonal peaks, scheduling general tourism, educational visits, and group tours during low-flow periods etc.
Visitor profiling is essential for designing appropriate management plans. Multi-stakeholder collaboration—including technical experts, community groups, and heritage professionals—is needed for visitor planning, conservation, and heritage impact assessment. A balanced approach that includes communities in respectful and sustainable ways can help overcrowded sites redefine healthier visitor relationships.
A second core recommendation was to adopt site-specific Codes of Conduct rooted in local religious values and cultural norms. Strong heritage interpretation and communication should guide both visitors and residents on appropriate behaviors. Multicultural sensitivity must be addressed through holistic and inclusive interpretation strategies, ensuring that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of sites is communicated in ways that resonate with different audiences—children, students, pilgrims, tourists, etc. Local residents can be trained as guides and interpreters. Visitors may also engage with local museums, villages, and living heritage spaces.
A balanced use of virtual and physical experiences was encouraged. Virtual interpretation—offered during waiting times or after visits—can deepen understanding. Tactile models of sites enrich accessibility. Children’s activity books and specially designed materials can enhance engagement. Showcasing living heritage through local festivals can foster appreciation of traditions and open pathways for skills training and learning. Heritage interpretation should involve local communities, faith-based groups, and professionals, with mechanisms to collect and integrate visitor feedback for continuous improvement.
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