Annex 1: Glossary & concept clusters

Words and definitions are fundamental to implementing the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (ICCHT) 2022 as they shape how its objectives  and principles are understood, communicated, and put into practice. 

The Charter integrates terms and concepts from the fields of heritage and tourism, alongside terminology emerging from contemporary discourse on climate, sustainability, and economics. It refers to “resilience,” “heritage commons,” “stewardship,” and “paradigm” -  concepts that may call for contextualised elaboration.

The language of the Charter is not without an agenda; it is a tool for empowerment, co-creation, and systemic change in and through cultural heritage and tourism. For this reason, the Glossary & Concept Clusters specifically highlights and elaborates on terms considered essential for moving from extractive tourism models, which often commodify heritage and marginalize local voices, to ‘regenerative practices’ that prioritize cultural revival and the flourishing of both people and places. 

By providing contextualized definitions and presenting concept clusters, it clarifies how different concepts interrelate within the domain. This way, it may be considered more of a literary resource than a traditional glossary, supporting interpretation aligned with the Charter’s objectives. 

The Glossary is structured alphabetically and includes terms marked with an asterisk (*) used in the 2022 Charter, as well as related concepts drawn from the Charter Application Compendium annexes. Artificial intelligence tools (AI) has been applied in its production, leveraging advanced language models to integrate established definitions and emergent vocabulary advancing discourse and practice. The use of AI, which outputs depend on source quality and may contain biases or inaccuracies, have been cautiously used and critically reviewed in alignment with ICOMOS’s commitment to rigor, transparency, and responsible innovation. 

The Glossary provides a common vocabulary and semantic framework that bridges both established and emerging knowledge. As such, it serves as a dynamic ontology - a structured and evolving framework that defines the meanings, relationships, and clusters of concepts relevant to cultural heritage tourism. By ensuring that terms are not only clearly articulated but also accessible, fostering shared understanding and meaningful engagement among the diverse stakeholders to whom the Charter speaks.