World Bank President Zoellick meeting minority groups in Guizhou (China), where an innovative stand-alone Bank-financed project linking cultural heritage, natural conservation, and sustainable tourism development is helping local communities earn higher income.
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Conservation of cultural heritage assets, regeneration of historic cities, as well as the protection of natural heritage are resources for economic and social development. Investment to conserve and integrate them in the sustainable development of local communities can generate income, create employment, reduce poverty, stimulate enterprise development by the poor, foster private investment and leverage additional resources for conservation.
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(Above) World Bank President Zoellick asking about the details of the restoration of Huguang Huiguan Guild Complex, a cultural heritage site in Chongqing (China) restored with World Bank’s help.
The recourse to the Bank’s financial and technical assistance in these topics is a growing phenomenon.
World Bank’s lending in cultural heritage, natural heritage, and sustainable tourism is growing, in both Middle and Low Income Countries (nearly US$ 7 billion since the 1970s, of which US$ 3.5 billion under implementation).
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