Historic cities, Archaeology and Cultural Tourism. A new challenge for urban conservation, a new opportunity for urban regeneration

The objectives of urban planning and the valorisation of the archaeological heritage are often contrasting, in the process of urban modernisation that occurs in the Middle East. However, when archaeological sites are inside or nearby historic cities, the development of cultural tourism has raised the awareness that heritage represents an asset, and conservation can become a driver for economic and social development, as well as an opportunity to regenerate the urban fabric improving liveability and environmental conditions. In this regard, the essay analyses the case studies of Baalbeck (Lebanon) and Madaba (Jordan) to evaluate the approach and the outcomes of the Cultural Heritage an Urban Development programs launched by the World Bank and the local governments.