“Every visitor is a local somewhere, therefore, make the world of locals worth visiting” – this is how you can summarize the OWHC Young Professionals Forum 2019, a program prepared by the International Cultural Centre in Krakow for young professionals involved in the protection of cultural heritage. The event took place within the framework of the 15th World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) in Krakow.

19 participants from 15 countries took part in lectures, workshops, and meetings with managers of Polish sites from the UNESCO World Heritage List. During five days, these young professionals familiarized themselves with attempts to diversify the tourist offer undertaken by the city of Krakow. The result was a special declaration presented to the delegates of the Congress.

In addition to visiting the districts of Nowa Huta and Podgórze, the participants also visited two Polish world heritage sites: the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau (1940-1945).

Click here to watch a short film about the OWHC Young Professionals Forum 2019.