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Avante
Mozambique!
– festival promoting cultural tourism for development
27 February 2006: UNESCO Maputo is taking part in the
biggest cultural event ever organized in Mozambique. The
festival “Avante Mozambique!” aims to put
Mozambican culture on the world map and promote
cultural tourism for development.
The event was officially launched February 27 at
the VIP hotel in Maputo, and
will take place from August 28 – September 10,
2006.
During the two week festival there
will among others be several concerts at Machava
Stadium, with famous international, African and
Mozambican artists. There will be a
celebration of the traditional arts and cultures
of the ten Mozambican provinces over ten
weekdays – one day for each province. And there
will be visual arts exhibitions, sports events,
a mini-film festival and
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several workshops
and seminars.
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Photo: Sergio da Costa |
UNESCO is involved in the festival because the
organization believes that cultural tourism can
contribute to social, economic and cultural development.
Furthermore UNESCO believes that tourism - if linked to
cultural diversity and natural and cultural heritage –
can enhance and foster the inter-cultural dialogue,
mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.
UNESCO will participate in a Seminar on Cultural
Heritage and Democracy and contribute to an Exhibition
on Slave Routes. During the exhibition and a seminar on
the “History of Mozambicans in the US and America”,
UNESCO will focus on the consequences of slavery -
especially the interactions between the peoples
concerned in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean – calling
for the break of silence around the slave trade
UNESCO will furthermore organize a Crafts Fair, bringing
local artisans to exhibit their cultural products; to
promote crafts as a mean of preserving culture and
creating job opportunities, and UNESCO will assist in
designing tour packages at the Island of Mozambique, to
ensure support to the rehabilitation of the unique World
Heritage site at the Island.
How can Cultural tourism lead to sustainable
development?
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By promoting sustainable tourism activities based on
the participation and education of local populations
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By ensuring that local communities participate and
benefit from tourism activities, with a particular
focus on women and youth.
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By fostering intercultural dialogue through
responsible tourism (for example the slaves routes)
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By protecting and promoting cultural diversity and
cultural heritage, tangible and intangible,
including World Heritage Sites (such as Ilha
Mozambique.)
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By protecting and promoting natural heritage,
environment and biodiversity.
For more information contact
Ofelia Da Silva, Programme Officer, UNESCO Maputo
Culture Sector
o.da-silva@unesco.org
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