Within the framework of the Slovenian-Turkish bilateral project of the University of Primorska and the Turkish Universities of Istanbul and Marmar, the Faculty of Tourism Studies in cooperation with the Faculty of Humanities organized the 2nd Colloquium on “Cultural Heritage, Law, Tourism and Restitution of Cultural Heritage” on Friday, 19 May 2023.
The colloquium was opened by the speeches of the Rector of the University of Primorska, Prof. Dr. Klavdija Kutnar, Her Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Slovenia, Mrs. Aylin Taşhan, and Academician Prof. Dr. Janez Kranjc.
During the morning session of the colloquium the following topics were discussed: cultural heritage as a source of identity and recognition is vital from the bottom up; the theoretical concepts behind the repatriation of cultural heritage; the practice of heritage protection in museums; and the marketing role of cultural heritage in tourism. The midday session focused on the impact of cultural and natural heritage on the EU economy; private international law issues in cross-border disputes over cultural property; and the relevance of the existing international legal framework and its implementation in practice. The afternoon session intertwined law and tourism and illustrated the shortcomings of Slovenian criminal law in the restitution of movable property acquired through crime and the functioning of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage; the role of tourism in the repatriation of cultural heritage and the complexity of the restitution process and the systemic approach to the issues and finding solutions.
On behalf of the UNESCO Chair in Interpretation and Education for the Promotion of Integrated Approaches to Heritage the colloquium was attended by the chairholder Prof. Dr. Irena Lazar and Assist. Prof. Dr. Neža Čebron Lipovec (UP FHŠ).