Abstract
Diaspora youth have a unique stake in the heritage conservation, development and preservation efforts of their countries of origin. Offering richly evocative points of contact with the past, heritage is critical to diaspora youth for reaffirming a sense of belonging, building identity and catalysing psychological and social empowerment. Properly supported, engaging diaspora youth with their heritage also offers great potential for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship across several economic sectors.
The European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), together with the support of researchers at the University of Winchester (UK), undertook a case study-based research project examining the connections between diaspora youth identity and the development of the heritage tourism sector in Barbados, Brazil and Rwanda. The purpose was to provide guidance to the EU and relevant governmental and non-governmental stakeholders on the role that entrepreneurship can play in attracting, establishing and nurturing long-term bonds between diaspora members and their countries of origin. This case study is one of five research projects analysing how governments can engage with their diaspora on different topics.
This project sits at the crossroads of diaspora engagement, youth and job creation, all key EU priorities for sustainable development. The 2022 European Year of Youth seeks to accelerate support for youth knowledge, skills, and competences acquisition for personal and professional development. Anchored in the New European Consensus on Development, EUDiF assists governments of countries of origin to engage and collaborate more effectively with diaspora organisations and the EU to realise the development potential of diasporas. Supporting a range of stakeholders to develop opportunities within the heritage tourism sector, with a focus on the engagement of diaspora youth, can significantly contribute to both of these objectives and activities.
The private sector is the engine of growth in the diaspora heritage tourism sector. While much is already known about diaspora tourism, how diaspora youth experience, organise and connect with cultural heritage requires more understanding. Covid-19 had underlined the need to find new ways of stimulating tourism recovery and developing innovative ways for the heritage sector to reach new audiences. Tapping into the evolving needs, interests and preferred modes of organizing amongst diaspora youth can play a critical role.
The European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), together with the support of researchers at the University of Winchester (UK), undertook a case study-based research project examining the connections between diaspora youth identity and the development of the heritage tourism sector in Barbados, Brazil and Rwanda. The purpose was to provide guidance to the EU and relevant governmental and non-governmental stakeholders on the role that entrepreneurship can play in attracting, establishing and nurturing long-term bonds between diaspora members and their countries of origin. This case study is one of five research projects analysing how governments can engage with their diaspora on different topics.
This project sits at the crossroads of diaspora engagement, youth and job creation, all key EU priorities for sustainable development. The 2022 European Year of Youth seeks to accelerate support for youth knowledge, skills, and competences acquisition for personal and professional development. Anchored in the New European Consensus on Development, EUDiF assists governments of countries of origin to engage and collaborate more effectively with diaspora organisations and the EU to realise the development potential of diasporas. Supporting a range of stakeholders to develop opportunities within the heritage tourism sector, with a focus on the engagement of diaspora youth, can significantly contribute to both of these objectives and activities.
The private sector is the engine of growth in the diaspora heritage tourism sector. While much is already known about diaspora tourism, how diaspora youth experience, organise and connect with cultural heritage requires more understanding. Covid-19 had underlined the need to find new ways of stimulating tourism recovery and developing innovative ways for the heritage sector to reach new audiences. Tapping into the evolving needs, interests and preferred modes of organizing amongst diaspora youth can play a critical role.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Brussels |
| Number of pages | 76 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2022 |