Urban management and heritage tourism for sustainable development

PurposeTo share knowledge with the public, stimulate further ideas for improvement of the project and to encourage other local government authorities to undertake similar projects, where appropriate.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used library research to generate secondary data. It examined the processes that led to the formulation and implementation of plan dubbed “the Elmina 2015 Strategy” which aims at creating socially and ecologically sustainable urban environment while at the same time stimulating local economic development and preserving the cultural heritage through tourism.FindingsElmina has historic assets and a number of strengths and opportunities that could be utilised to enhance local economic development. These are being facilitated within the strategy of Elmina Cultural Heritage and Management Programme (ECHMP), which covers the principles of stakeholder participation, private sector initiative, public‐private partnership and effective urban management. The ECHMP recognises the interconnections between tourism and socio‐economic and ecological factors for sustainable development. The Strategy outlines the development path of the city in the next ten years. The ECHMP has successfully completed a number of planned projects while other projects are under implementation. Urban management must respect and incorporate human practices and actions of the local people into its professional approach to urban development. Empowering and participation of local and other partners in identifying and implementing the local development strategies is capable of improving local economy. Without local participation, sustainable strategy cannot be achieved.Practical implicationsThe challenges facing the programme include inadequate local funds, slow response of some development partners, and poor attitudes of some citizens with regard to indiscriminate dumping of waste. Thus, further action is needed to deepen stakeholder participation, urban management and good governance for sustainable heritage development.Originality/valueThe paper strengthens existing information through the use of new arguments.