Description: The United Nations General Assembly has met for a first ever dedicated session on tourism and its key role in inclusive recovery and growth. The High-Level Thematic Debate was convened by the President of the General Assembly, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In the General Assembly Hall, government representatives joined public and private stakeholders in recognizing tourism’s unique ability to drive positive change.

Description: All World Heritage-listed reefs are at risk of disappearing by the end of this century. On the occasion of the Our Ocean Conference in Palau, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, announces an emergency plan to give them the best chance of survival, with the support of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs. She also calls for an international mobilization to prevent coral reef extinction.

Description: Research-practice teams from eight World Heritage properties across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America joined the pilot phase of this unique online incubator last year. Now they are preparing their practice-led research agendas, with plans to publish their insights and achievements.

Description: The International Training Course on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage is a follow-up of the recommendations adopted at the Special Thematic Session on Risk Management for Cultural Heritage held at UN-WCDR (World Conference on Disaster Reduction) in January 2005 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. One of these recommendations advocated the need for the academic community to develop scientific research, education and training programs incorporating cultural heritage, in both its tangible and intangible manifestations, into disaster risk management. The importance of strengthening knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of disaster prevention at WH properties was reiterated by the World Heritage Committee at its 30th session (Vilnius, Lithuania, July 2006). Till now, 165 professionals from 68 countries have been trained through this annual course.

Description: ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2021): Reinforcing cultural heritage protection and community resilience through responsible and sustainable tourism management was approved by the ICOMOS ADCOMSC and ADCOM on October 27 and November 3 2021 respectively, and is to be adopted at the ICOMOS General Assembly 2022. The English-Chinese version of the Charter is conducted by Zhang Rouran, Vice President of ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC), and proofread by the secretariat of the ICOMOS China. The draft of translation is completed by Zhong Yingqiu, Liu Guoqiao and Wang Jianing of the ICTC Emerging Professionals.