ITB Berlin, March 2004 WORLD HERITAGE AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY: PARTNERSHIPS FOR CONSERVATION UNESCO World Heritage Centre

31 years of heritage protection of natural & cultural heritage 754 sites inscribed on the World Heritage List Each year new sites selected & inscribed on the World Heritage List

Our mission: to protect these unique and universal sites Our challenge: to meet protection needs We are looking for active partners to help champion this cause

 TOURISM is a top management issue at most World Heritage sites  GROWING INTEREST in nature and cultural tourism  A LONG TERM ENGAGEMENT with the Tourism Industry to support site protection efforts

30th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention Venice, 16 November 2002

INVOLVEMENT WITH WORLD HERITAGE CAN:  LINK tourism & conservation  LINK Tourism Industry with public authorities & site managers  ENHANCE corporate communication through World Heritage emblem and image

How can you help? 1.Communication 2.Training and Education 3.Awareness building 4.Enhanced site management 5.Support for restoration and infrastructure projects

AREAS OF POTENTIAL COOPERATION: TRAINING local community members in small business development or as guides COMMUNICATION developing site information (interpretation) materials

AREAS OF POTENTIAL COOPERATION: 1.Communication: developing site information (interpretation) materials 2.Training: training local community members in small business development or as guides 3.Awareness building: - promoting community and visitor awareness through ‘pride’ campaigns - developing corporate incentive tours for clients or staff to WH sites

ENHANCING SITE MANAGEMENT THROUGH LINKING site managers – tour operator for improved management FINANCING restoration and infrastructure development SPONSORING corporate/incentive travel with revenues going to the sites

BE PART of PaCt Partners for Conservation Partenaires pour la Conservation World Heritage Patrimoine Mondial

THANK YOU MERCI