The material for the fourth session of Short Course Summer 2025 was conveyed by Kadirova Irina Vladimirovna as Head of Global Education Department at the Silk Road International University of Tourism And Cultural Heritage and moderated by Dhaifina Idznitia. Kadirova talked about Cultural Sustainability And Intangible Heritage In Regenerative Tourism with the case of Samarkand. The first thing that was conveyed is about the Silk Road. Silk Road is an International University of tourism and cultural heritage where they trained specialists in the field of tourism in areas such as logistics, management, cultural heritage, archaeology, and museology.
The key point is about cultural resilience. She explained that cultural resilience is the ability of a community to maintain and develop their cultural identity, including traditions, values, and heritage, amidst the challenges of globalization, urbanization, and mass tourism. Also she added an explanation about the intangible cultural heritage (ICH). She provides explanations with examples from Uzbekistan, starting from oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, to traditional crafts. She also showed some pictures that reinforce the understanding that intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is not just artifacts, but living practices that are passed down from generation to generation.
In connection with these points, a number of critical questions were delivered. One issue concerned the endurance of cultural resilience in situations where younger generations increasingly adopt global culture over local traditions. Another point related to the context of Uzbekistan, where questions were raised about the survival of local culture amid the presence of diverse tourist backgrounds, including differences in religion. A further matter addressed the degree of involvement required from both governments and local communities in safeguarding cultural identity, with emphasis placed on preventing its reduction to a symbolic form lacking substantive meaning.
In conclusion, the session emphasized that cultural sustainability and the safeguarding of intangible heritage are essential components of regenerative tourism. By strengthening resilience, engaging younger generations, and fostering collaboration between communities and governments, cultural identity can continue to thrive as a living practice rather than diminish into mere representation.
