Vilnius has been working in collaboration with UNESCO and National Geographic for over 18 months to develop inspiring and educational content to be featured on the platform. The World Heritage Journeys launch will take place when UNESCO Paris Headquarters opens its doors to the public on 15-16 September for the European Heritage Days event. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union and promotes sustainable travel to some of the most remarkable World Heritage sites in Europe. It encourages people to 'travel differently, travel deeper', which means travelling beyond the major tourist hubs, staying longer and experiencing more of what the local region has to offer.
"Our goal is to change how people travel. Staying longer in destinations, experiencing the local culture and its environment, and gaining a deeper knowledge and appreciation of World Heritage values," said Mechtild Rössler, Director of the World Heritage Centre at UNESCO.
World Heritage Journeys invites travelers to travel along four cultural heritage itineraries—Royal Europe, Ancient Europe, Romantic Europe and Underground Europe—which intertwine to tell fascinating stories of Europe's heritage and history. The website has practical information and tools to support travelers in planning their European holidays based on local knowledge about the destinations' cultural heritage.
"In addition to reaching travelers directly, we hope that the travel industry—including tour operators, travel agents, and local and national tourism authorities—will be inspired by the content we have curated, and will develop and promote authentic tourism that aligns with the goals of the project and reflects the outstanding universal value of World Heritage."
World Heritage Journeys will also play a key role in attracting Chinese visitors to Europe for the 2018 EU/China Tourism Year, an initiative led by the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China in collaboration with the European Travel Commission (ETC). The website is available in English, Chinese and French. The platform also contributes to the goals of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage.
"This project is a great example of how National Geographic ignites the explorer in all of us looking to explore the farthest reaches of the Earth and beyond. It seeks to contribute to the economic health of the communities in and around the World Heritage sites, and guide tourists to unique cultural attractions and experiences, as recommended by local experts," said Frank Biasi, Director of digital development and travel programs at National Geographic Maps. "With this local knowledge, the website encourages travelers from North America, China and other major tourism markets to travel differently and travel deeper, and use the platform to inspire and plan their European trips."
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World Heritage Journeys: www.visiteuworldheritage.com
Participating World Heritage sites:
Vilnius Historic Centre (Lithuania) click here
18th-Century Royal Palace at Caserta with the Park, the Aqueduct of Vanvitelli, and the San Leucio Complex (Italy) click here
Ancient City of Nessebar (Bulgaria) click here
Archaeological Site of Olympia (Greece) click here
Cultural Landscape of Sintra (Portugal) click here
Gardens and Castle at Kroměříž (Czech Republic) click here
Historic Centre of Brugge (Belgium) click here
Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape (Czech Republic) click here
Major Mining Sites of Wallonia (Belgium) click here
Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System (Germany) click here
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay (France) click here
Palace and Park Of Versailles (France) click here
Pafos (Cyprus) click here
Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) (France) click here
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (United Kingdom) click here
Stari Grad Plain (Croatia) click here
Upper Middle Rhine Valley (Germany) click here
Wachau Cultural Landscape (Austria) click here
Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen (Germany) click here