World Heritage Alliance closes

After six months in the job new director closes the global World Heritage site trade support operation.

The World Heritage Alliance founded in 2005 by the UN Foundation and Expedia, is no more. The organisation had some 64 members earlier this year from hotels to tourist boards and was working to support sustainable tourism to, and around, world heritage sites.
 

Said Peter de Brine, the newly-appointed director: “After four years of collaboration, the United Nations Foundation has decided to close the World Heritage Alliance and Friends of World Heritage.”

“This decision was certainly not an easy one, and came at the end of a long and thoughtful process of reviewing options and opportunities for the future.  The UN Foundation is a philanthropy that believes in supporting good ideas with a noble mission, and the World Heritage Alliance was certainly created with both in mind.”  

“Above all, the World Heritage Alliance has given us all a glimpse into the power of the tourism industry as a force for positive change.”

“We will transfer appropriate training materials and other tools to the Tourism Sustainability Council for continued use. Linking with the Tourism Sustainability Council may be a logical next step for World Heritage Alliance members interested in improving their sustainability performance and receiving recognition for their work. “

It looks like the WHA work is to be transferred to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria organisation and the Tourism Sustainability Council (other travel-related UN Foundation initiatives), which we understand is to be strengthened and re-launched next month.

WHA learning materials and other assets are to be transferred to TSC and WHA members are directed to the organisation.

The UN Foundation and Expedia, Inc. created the World Heritage Alliance in the fall of 2005 with the agreement of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

The World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism engaged the travel industry to promote environmentally and economically sustainable business practices around World Heritage sites, educate travelers about the importance of responsible tourism around the sites, and support sustainable development of local communities around the sites.

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite and Masterclasses current details and special offers at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php