Page 37 - World Heritage and Tourism Innovation

Tourism Valorisation of Croatian Intangible

Cultural Heritage on the UNESCO Lists:

The Example of the Sinjska Alka

Vuk Tvrtko Opačić
University of Zagreb, Croatia
vtopacic@geog.pmf.hr

Until fifteen years ago, intangible cultural heritage was considered a less recognised
value requiring preservation for future generations. To ensure better protection and
raise awareness of its importance, UNESCO created the List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage in 2008. Today, three lists of intangible cultural heritage under UNESCO
patronage include 18 intangible cultural assets, placing Croatia 7th in the world and
3rd in Europe among countries with recognised intangible cultural assets. In addi-
tion to artistic value, intangible cultural heritage also has tourism value. The ques-
tion remains about valuing intangible heritage in terms of tourism and integrating
it into the tourism supply.
The research aims to analyse the conversion of Croatian intangible cultural heritage
into tourism supply, using the example of the Sinjska Alka, a knights’ tournament.
It is a tradition that has continuously occurred every year since 1715. The event has
been on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hu-
manity since 2010. The Sinjska Alka is an example of good practice, with the open-
ing of the Sinjska Alka Museum in 2015 and the transformation of the event from
a one-day to a year-round tourist attraction. The research is based on an analysis
of tourism statistics in the Town of Sinj, an analysis of registered visitor flow to the
Sinjska Alka Museum as well as the Sinjska Alka event, an analysis of the presenta-
tion of the Sinjska Alka in tourist brochures, and interviews with key stakeholders
from the local public.
Keywords: intangible cultural heritage, UNESCO Representative List of the Intangi-
ble Cultural Heritage of Humanity, tourism valorisation of intangible heritage, the
Sinjska Alka, Sinj, Croatia
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-417-0.33-47

Introduction gastronomy), languages (unique languages, music),
Intangible cultural heritage was first recognised in folkways (dress, farming methods, faith, behaviour,
the early 21st century as a value that needs protection folklore, stories), music and performing arts (dance,
and determines a locality’s identity for future genera- music, opera), religion (beliefs, practises, ceremo-
tions. Timothy (2011) includes in intangible cultural nies, gender roles), sport (play, rules, and methods),
heritage the following categories of cultural assets: the and festivals and pageants (ethnic festivals, food fes-
arts (art traditions, handicraft skills, foodways and tivals, religious pageants). The late recognition of the

Proceedings of the 7th UNESCO UNITWIN Conference | 33