Dramatised visit to the international exhibition "The Treasure of the Barbarians".
On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Marq, through a statement issued today, expresses its commitment to this vital sector for the province of Alicante, offering its facilities in the Plaza del Doctor Gómez Ulla in Alicante and the parks, archaeological sites and monuments that it manages as unbeatable resources within the cultural tourism segment, complementary to the traditional sun and beach tourism within the wide range that the Costa Blanca represents.
The ICOM - International Council of Museums - has long recognised the importance of cultural heritage in the context of tourism development, which in turn contributes to a country's economic prosperity. Thus, considering the problems related to the protection and conservation of the world's cultural and natural heritage in a context of sustainable tourism development, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNDP, ICOMOS and other organisations involved, it promoted, at the beginning of this millennium, a charter of principles on museums and cultural tourism at its assembly held in La Paz (Bolivia) in October 2000. This proposal establishes a series of strategies and objectives to guarantee ways of using, interpreting and managing cultural heritage that favour its protection and conservation for the benefit of future generations. The Marq, as a member of ICOM, adhered to this same declaration and, in December 2007, it did the same with the joint declaration of all ICOM member museums for Sustainable Cultural Tourism, celebrating International Museum Day 2009 with the international slogan "Tourism and museums"reinforcing this action with the exhibition "The museums of Alicante". in the central courtyard of the Marq and the edition of the guidebook "Museums of Alicante".which is now in its second edition.
World Tourism Day 2012 aims to raise awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural and economic value. This year, World Tourism Day is commemorated under the theme "....Tourism and energy sustainability"and MARQ wants to reinforce its commitment to this celebration once again.
Since its opening in 2002, the MARQ has been sensitive to this reality that transcends the traditional "sun and beach" sphere and has directed its action towards cultural tourism, becoming a pole of attraction for national and international tourism in Alicante.
Leisure and culture come together at MARQ throughout the year with an extensive programme of activities and temporary exhibitions. On this special day, the museum invites all the public, and especially those who visit Alicante during these days, to enjoy the last weeks of the magnificent exhibition ".The Treasure of the Barbarians"which will be on display until 28 October. This international exhibition is a good example of how the MARQ enriches the tourist offer of the province beyond the view of its permanent collections and/or its archaeological sites.
