Tourism can provide limitless opportunities for economic development, particularly in developing countries. It can generate income and employment effectively through the development of natural and cultural resources. It also provides local communities with the opportunity to express pride in their own culture, thus giving the impetus to revive threatened traditions and cultural practices.

This publication has been developed to showcase the strategies adopted by the municipal government of Hoi An in making tourism an effective tool for heritage preservation and for improving the quality of life of the local inhabitants. It is hoped that this publication will inspire other heritage sites in the region to replicate the Hoi An experience in mobilizing tourism as a force for sustaining and developing their culture and economy. Full document in PDF 6.35MB); Number of pages: viii + 80p; UNESCO, Bangkok;