Representing HERITΛGE, Denise Navarro Becerra, Program Manager for M Gambia, presented the paper:“Strengthening Local Capacities for Cultural Tourism Development: The HerMaP Gambia Initiative (2020–2025)”.

The presentation highlighted how the EU-funded initiative supported peer-led capacity building, institutional partnerships, and community-based tourism development in The Gambia demonstrating HERITΛGE’s methodology for building locally rooted, sustainable heritage systems.

The CST 2025 program addressed some of the most pressing challenges in heritage and tourism today. Sessions were organized under themes such as:

• Bridging Past and Present: Valuation and Interpretation of Tangible and Intangible Heritage
• Community, Culture, and Local Engagement in Tourism
• From Stones to Stories: Negotiating Tangible and Intangible Heritage Across Continents
• Cultural Heritage, Identity & Interpretation

Presenters included researchers and practitioners from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Taiwan, the Philippines, Mexico, Georgia, and beyond, reflecting the global scope of the dialogue and the relevance of cultural tourism across diverse contexts.

While in Egypt, the HERITΛGE team also had the pleasure of reconnecting with Dr. Hassan Refaat, HERITΛGE fellow and grant awardee, whose ongoing work continues to contribute meaningfully to sustainable heritage development in the region.

HERITΛGE received strong interest from institutions and professionals seeking future collaboration, particularly on integrating heritage training, community engagement, and tourism development. The conference provided a valuable opportunity to share lessons from the HerMaP Gambia initiative and reaffirm HERITΛGE’s commitment to co-creating sustainable, community-led heritage programs in Africa and globally.

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