UNESCO World Heritage Mentoring Programme for Chinese Experts and World Heritage site managers

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre has initiated with Ecotourism Australia a new cooperation programme: World Heritage Mentoring Programme.

This programme is intended to educate the professionals and World Heritage site managers about successful tourism and environmental management of Australian World Heritage sites. The programme aims to provide the participants from developing countries an insight into Australian World Heritage site management and the sustainable tourism industry, thus building their capacity in site conservation, protection and the development of sustainable tourism in their home countries.

The 2005 World Heritage Mentoring Programme is being organized for the Chinese national experts and natural World Heritage site managers from the Ministry of Construction of China. The Chinese group will conduct a site visit in Tasmania, Australia from 22 to 27 November. The final stage of the Programme takes place at the 2005 Ecotourism Australia National Conference in Hobart from 28 November to 2 December 2005. The international and national experts will be presenting current and topical issues on sustainable tourism management during the conference.

Another training activity on Sustainable Tourism Managing at the World Heritage sites in China will be organized in early 2006.