INTERNATIONAL EVENT
IX Meeting European Network of World Heritage Associations
Florence, 10 - 12 october 2024
Florence hosted the IX Meeting of the European Network of World Heritage Associations from October 10 to 12.
The meeting brought together various European entities to discuss shared topics and initiatives and its organization is made possible thanks to the financial support of the Italian Ministry of Tourism.
The event opened on October 10 with institutional greetings from Deputy Mayor Jacopo Vicini, responsible for Economic Development, Tourism, Fairs, and Congresses. Following these, Enrico Vicenti, Secretary General of the Italian National Commission for UNESCO, and Adele Cesi, National Focal Point for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention at the Ministry of Culture, addressed the attendees.
Representatives from 12 European countries then took the stage, presenting the projects developed by their respective Associations over the past year. The day concluded with contributions from Maria Del Pozo Lopez, Alianza de Paisajes Culturales y Sitios Afines Patrimonio Mundial, and Valerie Magar from ICCROM, who introduced the upcoming European Forum of Site Managers, scheduled for April 2025 in Granada, Spain.
On October 11, Peter Debrine, Head of the Sustainable Tourism Program led by UNESCO World Heritage Centre, delivered a presentation titled “Interpretation, Marketing, and Visitor Management: Sustainable Strategies for World Heritage Conservation.” He stressed the importance of establishing Visitor Centers that promote alternatives to the traditional sites suffering from overtourism, while highlighting the potential of World Heritage designation as a tool to engage and empower visitors in heritage conservation.
Carla Toffolo, representing Europa Nostra, contributed remotely with insights on the European Heritage Hub and its potential for the future development of the network.
The second day of discussions focused on future developments for the European Network of World Heritage Associations, with participants engaging in meaningful exchanges on collaborative projects and long-term strategies.
18/10/2024
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