Prince Henrik for Europa Nostra congress in Malta

Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort of Denmark and president of Europa Nostra, will chair a congress in Malta of the pan-European heritage federation.

The congress will be held between Tuesday and May 20 and Din l-Art Helwa will be making all the arrangements for the participating 150-odd delegates.

Formed in 1963, Europa Nostra represents over 200 cultural heritage organisations active throughout Europe, including Din l-Art Helwa. A member of Din l-Art Helwa has been sitting on the federation's council since 1967.

Europa Nostra is the voice of the vast movement in European civil society dedicated to the conservation and the promotion of cultural heritage. It seeks to promote, at a European level, high standards of quality in the fields of heritage conservation, architecture and urban and rural planning and to advocate balanced and sustainable development of the built and natural environment.

Prince Henrik will be awarding the prestigious 2006 Architectural Heritage Medal to Architectural Project for their restoration, conservation and refurbishment of the Valletta Waterfront Project. The award ceremony will take place today week 19 at 8.15 p.m. at the Waterfront.

A series of visits for the delegates are being organised to all Malta's prime historic sites and this will be followed up with a six-day tour of Malta and Gozo organised by Din l-Art Helwa for 28 members of Europa Nostra who have chosen to stay on afterwards. One day has been set aside for the Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Forum with the theme Cultural Tourism - Its Encouragement And Control, to which a number of international speakers have been invited. The forum will address the issues at stake and ways of resolving the conflicts that cultural tourism poses. The programme includes the following speakers (in alphabetical order):

Nigel Adams, head of policy, Wales Tourist Board and coordinator of the European Cultural Tourism Network, on The Need For A European Network For Cooperation On Cultural Tourism.

Tricia Barnett, director, Tourism Concern, on The Disadvantages Of Cultural Tourism.

Lester Borley, council member, Europa Nostra, on Krakow: A Case Study.

Tiago de Cunha, member of the cabinet of European Commissioner Joe Borg responsible for maritime affairs, on The Importance Of Maritime Heritage For European Maritime Policy.

Carlos Fernandes, from Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestáo, on Porto: A Case Study.

Frans Schouten, professor of tourism, Breda University, on The Benefits Of Cultural Tourism.

Martin Scicluna, council member, Europa Nostra, summarising the day's discussion under the theme Drawing The Threads Together.

Mario Tabone, chairman, Heritage Malta, on Malta: A Case Study.

Michel Thomas-Penette, director, the European Institute for Cultural Routes, on The Importance Of Cultural Tourism In Developing The European Identity.