Webinar: Results and Opportunities of the Pilot Initiative on South-South Cooperation Between Cities on Sustainable Tourism, 29 March 2023

March 20, 2023

When: 29 March 2023, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (NY Time)
Concept Note: To download the Concept Note, please click here.

With its gradual positioning on the public agendas of the Sustainable Development Goals, tourism can and must play an important role in the reactivation of socio-economic development and in providing sustainable solutions for people, and the planet, bringing prosperity and peace. As tourism activities are closely related to culture, cultural sectors such as heritage, creative industries, and artists become key players in sustainable tourism.

In cooperation with UNESCO Mexico and the Mexican Association of World Heritage Cities, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), through the Cities Project, launched a pilot initiative in Mexico to improve the capacities of local authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and communities to achieve the sustainable recovery of the local tourism sector and exchange practices through South-South and triangular cooperation (SCST).

The “South-South Cooperation on Sustainable Tourism Development in Mexican World Heritage Cities” project reinforces the protection of the Exceptional Universal Values of the World Heritage Cities of Mexico, strengthens the positive synergies of sustainable tourism and culture within the framework of the SDGs and promotes knowledge sharing and cooperation between cities in the Global South.

Through various collaborative work activities experts, academics, local authorities and civil society met to develop capacities, exchange knowledge and identify how heritage cities can present cultural heritage as an agent of tourist attraction that allows better management and contribute to more inclusive sustainable tourism.

Objectives

The event aims to present the results obtained and the challenges faced by cities, and thus generate a dialogue between cities on South-South and triangular cooperation in sustainable tourism, heritage care, and creative economy. All the Mexican cities that have been part of the project, the cities belonging to the Sustainable Tourism Cluster of South-South Cities of the UNOSSC Cities Project, and the Creative Cities Network of UNESCO are invited.

The event also seeks to present the characteristics of the South-South Cities Cluster on Sustainable Tourism platform under South-South Galaxy, to maintain virtual exchange so that the experiences and knowledge developed by cities can be replicated in other locations in the Global South, thus generating new opportunities for South-South and triangular cooperation.

Agenda

Moderator: Ms. Muriel Obón, Project and Event Management, UNOSSC

1. Welcome remarks from the moderator

2. Presentation of pilot project results

Mr. Carlos Tejada, Coordinator of the Culture Sector, UNESCO Mexico

3. Cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable tourism

Mr. Jorge Ortega, President, National Association of Mexican World Heritage Cities (ANCMPM)
Ms. Lizeth Salazar, UNESCO Consultant
Ms. Caroline Couret, UNESCO Consultant