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Dubai 5 October 2026
Training Programme

Training Course: Turning Urban Heritage into a Tourism Growth Engine

1Summary

Old buildings and historic quarters are often seen as things to manage around — obstacles to modern development. This course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy flips that view: it treats urban heritage as an economic asset, one that, handled well, can be one of the strongest drivers of tourism revenue and balanced regional growth.

Tourism development is one of the central pillars of comprehensive economic and social growth. Done right, it improves the balance of payments, increases profits, opens up new jobs, and creates income-generating opportunities that ripple through the wider economy — since tourism links forward and backward with almost every other economic sector.

This course is for anyone who wants to sharpen their skills in urban development while learning to see historic and architectural sites for what they really are: a resource that connects social life, cultural identity, and the local economy.

2Objectives and target group

Who Should Attend?

  • Managers and owners of tourism establishments.
  • Employees in tourism development departments.
  • Supervisors and staff of tourist guide sections.
  • Those documenting urban heritage within tourist facilities.

What Participants Will Gain

  • The ability to create suitable job opportunities through tourism projects and attract profitable investment for companies.
  • Skills to document urban heritage in a way that directly increases revenue for tourism facilities.
  • A clear understanding of the relationship between historic sites, heritage, and tourism, and how to invest in architectural heritage.
  • Insight into why tourism development matters for tourism establishments specifically.

3Course Content

Module 1: Why Tourism Development Matters Now

  • The role of tourism in achieving sustainable development.
  • Achieving balanced development between different regions.

Module 2: Defining the Field

  • What tourism development means, and how the concepts of heritage and tourism evolved together.
  • Why tourism development matters specifically for tourism establishments.

Module 3: Heritage as an Economic Asset

  • The importance of urban heritage within the tourism field.
  • How to invest in and make the most of architectural heritage.

Module 4: Connecting Place, History, and Visitors

  • The relationship between historic sites, heritage, and tourism.

A condensed executive-style track on this course is available on request — contact the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy for details.

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Training Course: Turning Urban Heritage into a Tourism Growth Engine