Visitor Centres to promote Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites

https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/enabling-visitor-centres-promote-sustainable-tourism-unesco-designated-sites-new-report-regional

• UNESCO designated sites (World Heritage properties, Biosphere Reserves, UNESCO Global Geoparks) support sustainable uses like tourism for local development.

• The 4th regional workshop on the Role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites was held in Buzau, Romania, in November 2022.

• The workshop emphasized the need for UNESCO sites to re-evaluate tourism strategies and improve visitor management.

• The report summarizes the concerns of site managers regarding sustainable resource management.

• Visitor centres in UNESCO sites can facilitate communication, promote destinations, and provide specialized services.

• Visitor centres can collect and utilize visitor data to enhance management and collaborate with partners.

• Heritage interpretation in visitor centres can create meaningful experiences and promote responsible behavior.

• Cooperation among public, private, and civil society actors is crucial for the sustainability of visitor centres and sites.

• The workshops and reports are part of the intersectoral program at the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe, supported by Italy's annual contribution.