50 Minds for the Next 50 – Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Heritage
Priredio: Bruce Yerkovich
Poštovani gospodine Bruce Yerkovich
Obraćam se vama u ime gospodina Ernesta OTTONE R., pomoćnika glavnog ravnatelja za kulturu UNESCO-a, kako bih vas pozvao da sudjelujete na nadolazećem online okruglom stolu povodom obilježavanja 50. obljetnice Svjetske baštine.
Događaj je jedan od pet online susreta pod nazivom “50 umova za sljedećih 50”, tijekom kojih važni mislioci našeg vremena iz umjetnosti, znanosti, humanističkih znanosti i kulture istražuju budućnost svjetske baštine i baštine iz interdisciplinarne perspektive. Posebnu važnost pridajemo angažiranju svjetiljki izvan etablirane zajednice baštine, poput vas, koji potječu iz svih regija svijeta.
Vaša desetljećima duga posvećenost okolišu i zaštiti biološke raznolikosti, ponajprije utjelovljena vašim jedinstvenim rančem koji održivost stavlja u svoj temeljni poslovni model, zasigurno će pružiti jedinstvenu perspektivu i dugotrajan utjecaj na budućnost svjetske baštine i baštine u cjelini.
Matilda MACHIMURA, Sektoru za kulturu UNESCO-a
Concept Note
Context
This year, the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage celebrates its 50th anniversary. The landmark year arrives as the world assesses the extent of damages caused by COVID-19 on the economic, social and cultural lives of the citi zens. Combined with the accelerating environmental degradation and widening social divi sions, we find ourselves in uncharted territory, questioning our fundamental values as individ ual, society, and global community: What do we truly treasure? What must change for the better? What should be passed down to future generations in the face of future crises?
As a knowledge-based and intellectual agency, UNESCO sees an opportunity and responsi bility to lead these important discussions on education, sciences and culture. Therefore, UNESCO will dedicate this milestone to a year-long interdisciplinary reflection on the future of the World Heritage, going well beyond celebrating past achievements. In this spirit, the theme of the year is “The Next 50: World Heritage as a source of resilience, humanity and inno vation.”
Activities undertaken within The Next 50 framework shall tackle one of the following areas: • Climate change and heritage conservation
• Balanced representation among the inscribed sites
• Sustainable tourism
• Digital transformation
• Post-COVID-19 recovery
These five areas represent existential threats as well as lesser-explored opportunities that can influence the preservation of heritage in years to come. By focusing reflections on these priorities, The Next 50 has the potential to generate high impact and expedite innovation.
50 Minds for the Next 50
The challenges experienced by the World Heritage properties are the symptoms of crises of global magnitude. The solution-oriented discussions around conservation, therefore, require expertise well beyond the realm of heritage.
This is why UNESCO launches “50 Minds for The Next 50” to convene fifty leading innova tive, bold, respected thinkers of our times from diverse disciplines for the most inter disciplinary discussion on heritage ever to be held. By going well beyond the usual roster of experts, the 50 Minds will seek the very meaning of ‘heritage’ unbound by the 1972 Con vention.
Five sessions will take place in early 2022, each joined by ten thinkers from diverse regions. A Session Leader may be appointed, who will contribute to the conceptualization and moder ation of the discussion.
We wish to invite you to become one of the 10 “Minds” of the Session titled Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Heritage. Your leading expertise, unique perspectives and out-of-the box reflections will help shape the new, inclusive vision for heritage, in which communities and citizens play an active role.
The Session will be an open format, conducive to free flow of ideas and exchange among great thinkers at the virtual roundtable. A few key questions, tailored to each panelist, will be sent ahead of time to help reflect on the connection between their field of expertise and sustainable heritage. The public will be able to follow the Session online.
Time/Date/Place
15h00-17h00 (Paris time) Monday 20 June 2022
Length of your intervention: 20 minutes
Online platform
Format
Reflecting the spirit of The Next 50 – a dynamic, interdisciplinary exchange of ideas – we are opting for the “dialogue” format. You will be paired with another thinker, from an industry and expertise different from you, to engage in an open dialogue to find commonalities and solutions for The Next 50. Each pair, consisting of two panelists, will intervene for 20 minutes.
In order to help spark a rich discussion, we will provide you with a “profile” of your dialogue partner, as well as some suggestions on questions; we will also facilitate a connection between you and your partner in advance, in case you wish to exchange in advance.
Relevant UNESCO publications
• Focus on Cultural Tourism, the Tracker Culture & Public Policy Issue 6, 2021, https://en.unesco.org/news/tracker-culture-public-policy-issue-6
• World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate, the World Heritage Center, 2016, https://whc.unesco.org/en/tourism-climate-change/
• The UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme, Tourism Pro gramme Brochure, 2011, https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity 669-7.pdf
• Report on the World Heritage Thematic Programmes, Decision 34 COM 5F.2 adopted by the World Heritage Committee, 2010, http://whc.unesco.org/en/decisions/4240/
• Sustainable tourism strategy document, UNESCO Office Jakarta, 2017, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260925?2=null&queryId=fcd8a51c-7a81- 44fe-91e3-b97948a86429
• Making tourism work for small island developing states, World Tourism Organization and UNESCO, 2004, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000138954?8=null&que ryId=fcd8a51c-7a81-44fe-91e3-b97948a86429
• Linking Universal and Local Values: Managing a Sustainable Future for World Heritage Series 13, 2004, https://whc.unesco.org/en/series/13/
• World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Toolkit, UNESCO Guides,
http://whc.unesco.org/sustainabletourismtoolkit/welcome-unesco-world-heritage-sustaina ble-tourism-toolkit
• UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge, 2019, https://unescosustainable.travel/
• Agenda 2030: Challenges for us all, The UNESCO Courier, 2017 April – June https://en.unesco.org/courier/april-june-2017
• World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate, UNESCO report, 2016 https://whc.unesco.org/en/tourism-climate-change/
