<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Instituto Cervantes and the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain (GCPHE) have signed a general protocol of action to collaborate in the international promotion of Spain's historical heritage.</strong></h4> The Instituto Cervantes and the Group of World Heritage Cities of Spain (GCPHE) have signed a general protocol of action to collaborate in the international promotion of Spain's historical heritage, according to a press release from the institute. The protocol, valid for four years, establishes that both the Instituto Cervantes and the GCPHE agree on their desire to "promote the dissemination of Spanish culture and historical heritage, and especially of the cities of the group." For this reason, the collaboration between the two will focus on the organization of cultural activities and projects, such as conferences and exhibitions, that promote the international promotion of Spain's World Heritage cities. The agreement also includes the promotion of artistic creation and research in general through various activities to be planned in the future. “The Instituto Cervantes is dedicated to disseminating Spanish and Spanish culture, and cities are points of reference. Investing in culture is not simply a whim of elitist individuals, but rather a commitment to a significant economic space, and few represent this connection with social, cultural, and economic reality like heritage cities,” stated Luis García Montero. “This is an important collaboration within the framework of the group of cities' objectives, which is to target a tourism that goes straight to the core. People who travel today want something special, and it is important, in times of homogenization, to highlight diversity,” stated Goretti Sanmartín Rei. The GCPHE was established in 1993 by those municipalities with historic sites included as such on the UNESCO World Heritage List, who voluntarily wish to join forces to work together to defend and promote their historical and cultural heritage. It currently comprises the cities of Alcalá de Henares, Ávila, Baeza, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza, Mérida, Salamanca, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Tarragona, Toledo, and Úbeda.
