THE ROLE OF TOURISM IN VALUING NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL HERITAGE

Tourism can play a major role in valuing the natural and spiritual heritage of mountains when it is planned responsibly. Mountains are often perceived as places of beauty, silence, spirituality, and identity. They are associated with myths, religious traditions, local stories, and collective memory. Sustainable tourism can help visitors understand these values and can generate income for communities that protect them.

UN Tourism highlights the role of mountain tourism in valuing natural and spiritual heritage, cultural diversity, and the traditional practices of mountain peoples. This is highly relevant for the PeakED project because each participating country offers a different expression of this relationship.

In Greece, Mount Olympus connects natural heritage with ancient mythology. In Bulgaria, the Rila Mountains connect biodiversity with Orthodox spirituality and monastic heritage. In

Poland, the Carpathians connect mountain landscapes with highland identity and pastoral traditions. In Jordan, Wadi Rum and Jabal Umm ad Dami connect desert mountains with Bedouin knowledge, hospitality, and spiritual experience.

Tourism can support these values through guided interpretation, storytelling, cultural routes, local food experiences, environmental education, and community-based tourism. However, tourism can also damage mountain heritage if it becomes uncontrolled. For this reason, tourism should be managed through carrying capacity principles, visitor education, local ownership, and environmental standards. (UNESCO, n.d.; UN Tourism, 2023).