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Second Session of the “New Horizons of Heritage Conservation” Webinar Series
On 28 September 2022, UNESCO Beijing Office and the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism at UNESCO Designated Sites, Sun Yat-sen University, jointly organized a webinar on “World Heritage Education in Global and Local Context: The Role of Sustainable Tourism”. This was the second webinar of UNESCO’s launched earlier this May.
The “New Horizons of Heritage Conservation” webinar series was launched within the framework of UNESCO - China Youth Development Foundation Mercedes-Benz Star Fund “Conservation and Management of World Heritage Sites in China” Project Phase IV (2021-2024) and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It aims to provide World Heritage site managers, intangible cultural bearers, local communities, culture experts and practitioners, youth and interested public with up-to-date knowledge and good practices in the context of China on how to effectively manage and utilize culture and heritage for sustainable socio-economic and environmental development, and create an exchange platform on how to respond to challenges and develop innovative solutions.
The theme of this webinar -- World Heritage Education in Global and Local Context: The Role of Sustainable Tourism -- explores the synergies between heritage education and sustainable tourism. Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director and Representative of UNESCO Beijing Office, stressed the importance and mutually beneficial dynamics of heritage education and sustainable development, and encourage stakeholders to strengthen collaboration to leverage tourism in sustainable way for delivering quality education in the context of World Heritage.
Prof. Gao Song, President of Sun Yat-sen University and Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlighted the long-term cooperation between Sun Yat-sen University and UNESCO, especially through the University’s undertakings in heritage education as hosting institute of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism at UNESCO Designated Sites, and expressed hope for further collaboration in contribution towards the sustainable development of World Heritage sites.
In the keynote session that followed, experts shared knowledge, experience and good practices in heritage conservation, sustainable tourism and heritage education from global, China and site-level perspectives.
Ms. Duong Bich Hanh, Programme Specialist for Culture of UNESCO Beijing Office
In Ms. Duong Bich Hanh’s keynote presentation on “Heritage Education and Sustainable Tourism: UNESCO Perspectives and Experiences”, she introduced the history of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the new challenges faced by World Heritage sites, such as urban expansion, global climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as UNESCO’s key actions and initiatives in response to these challenges through heritage education and sustainable tourism.
Dr. Yan Haiming, Associate Researcher at China Academy of Cultural Heritage
Dr. Yan Haiming introduced the transitions in China’s understanding of World Heritage in the international context and the compatibility of China's cultural relics protection system with World Heritage conservation guidelines. He also pointed out that China’s practical experience and knowledge in heritage conservation, management and monitoring can provide support and shed light on activities in the fields of sustainable development, heritage education, sustainable tourism, community development, integration of culture and nature, and response to climate change.
Prof. Zhang Chaozhi, School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University
Prof. Zhang Chaozhi presented on the background and modalities of heritage education in China and its linkages with sustainable tourism. Through introduction of actual cases, he emphasized the importance of World Heritage education in students’ holistic development and social engagement, and in capacity building for professionals and fostering of international cooperation platforms. He noted that World Heritage education in the future should focus more on addressing the challenges faced by World Heritage and the changes in the youth population. He also pointed out that tourism is a means of delivering heritage education, and heritage education constitutes the content of tourism and can contribute to its sustainability.
Ms. Chen Fang, Deputy Director, Shaoguan Municipality Danxiashan Natural Protected Areas Management Bureau
As a forefront heritage site manager, Ms. Chen Fang is directly engaged in delivering and promoting heritage education activities. In her keynote presentation, she introduced through substantiated and detailed cast studies the innovative practices and ideas of heritage education at Mount Danxiashan natural World Heritage site. She pointed out that heritage education at Mount Danxiashan played a prominent role in enhancing the community solidarity, harmonious coexistence of human and nature, and enhancing the community's sense of ownership on ecological protection of the World Heritage site.
In the Q&A section, participants of the webinar interacted with experts on the topics of heritage conservation and tourism development, especially in terms of tourism infrastructure construction, management planning, etc.
This webinar joined stakeholders together to reflect on new horizons of heritage conservation by means of heritage education and tourism and to seek the transformative potential of culture and heritage in sustainable development. This November during the Second Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress (BARC), UNESCO will collaborate with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization to organize the third webinar in the series titled “Bamboo for Carbon Neutrality in Rural Areas: New Pathways for Carbon Reduction and Low Carbon Development in World Heritage Sites”, which aims to contribute more holistic solutions for the conservation and sustainable development of World Heritage sites.
