Tourism as a tool for safeguarding architectural heritage in the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Preserving architectural heritage has been a concern for specialists since the nineteenth century. The topic was initially brought to light by the SPAB Manifesto in 1877. Following this, the society addressed various issues that needed attention and regulated them at an international level. The ICOMOS Cultural Tourism Charter of 1976 provided a generalisation of cultural tourism, which was further elaborated upon and specified by subsequent charters such as the Sustainable Tourism Charter of 1995, the International Charter of Cultural Tourism of 1999, and the 2008 ICOMOS Charter on Cultural Routes. While the Granada Convention of 1985 suggests limiting public access as a means of conservation for cultural heritage, the International Charter for Cultural Tourism of 1999 stipulates that conservation should offer tourists and host community members well-managed opportunities to directly experience and understand local heritage and culture. The study explores the efforts of the Republic of Moldova to establish a sustainable relationship between tourism development and the preservation of architectural heritage. Statistical data is used to evaluate the recent trends in tourism and the impact of the exceptional state declared in Moldova. The study explores the efforts of the Republic of Moldova to establish a sustainable relationship between tourism development and the preservation of architectural heritage. The study also analyses the Zonal Urban Plan (ZUP) for the historical centre of Moldova, focusing on its development and implementation. Chisinau and its connection to tourism development are examined in this paper. A pedestrian tourist itinerary is presented, which was developed as part of the “Increasing the Value of Architectural Heritage of the Republic of Moldova” research project.