World Heritage Alliance
for Sustainable Tourism Announces Partnership
to Protect Jordan’s World Heritage Sites
Industry, government and non-profits come together
in support of
sustainable tourism
WASHINGTON DC/AMMAN JORDAN
(October 31, 2007) -- The World Heritage Alliance
for Sustainable Tourism (WHA) – a membership-based
initiative launched in 2005 by the United Nations
Foundation and Expedia, Inc. – announced
today a partnership between the Alliance and the
Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
designed to preserve and protect Jordan’s
designated UNESCO World Heritage sites while promoting
responsible tourism to the country. The partnership
covers all three cultural World Heritage sites
-- Petra, Quseir Amra, and Um er-Rasas –as
well as other important natural and cultural heritage
areas in Jordan.
“Jordan is a birthplace of civilization
and its sites serve as important reminders of
the importance of the intersection of historical,
cultural and community values,” said Ted
Turner, Founder and Chairman of the UN Foundation.
“More people should experience this history,
our global history - and to do so with an understanding
of how they can tread lightly and give back. That
would go a long way in fostering greater understanding
and peace in the world.”
“Together we educate people around the world
about Jordan, the importance of these sites to
civilization and how government, communities,
industry and international organizations can all
work together to guarantee World Heritage sites
are here to be enjoyed by present and future generations,”
said H.E. Osama Dabbas Minister of Tourism and
Antiquities.
The partners hope this new collaboration will
also provide a way for the larger tourism industry
- including hotels, tour operators, and other
tourism service providers - to support World Heritage
conservation and sustainable tourism in Jordan
through membership in the WHA and work together
to transform business practices to be more sustainable,
educate their customers about World Heritage,
and support local communities through conservation
and sustainable development initiatives around
the sites.
“We must all be committed to protecting
these sites and promoting sustainable tourism
practices that preserve the sites and help build
economic benefits for local communities. Jordan
is leading by example, today, in committing to
this partnership,” said Erika Harms, Executive
Director of the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable
Tourism.
“We’re proud to work with this group
in Jordan to promote sustainable travel to World
Heritage sites throughout the country,”
said Paul Brown, President, Expedia, Inc. Partner
Services Group & Expedia North America. “We
look forward to finding ways to expand our efforts,
especially through educating travelers about ways
to experience Jordan’s most treasured sites
in a responsible way.”
The partnership includes collaboration with UNESCO,
the US Agency for International Development Jordan
Tourism Development Project (Siyaha), and several
local organizations. USAID/Siyaha and WHA will
implement a program to assist in strengthening
the management of Jordan's World Heritage sites,
most notably in Petra, and launch a public awareness
campaign about these three sites. In Petra, support
will also include a combination of grants to community-based
organizations and local businesses, training,
and development of local tourism projects and
activities consistent with World Heritage and
sustainable tourism principles.
“USAID is proud to deepen its commitment
to Jordan’s heritage preservation and sustainable
tourism development. Petra represents a unique
opportunity and a special responsibility for Jordan.
USAID will contribute to the Jordanian effort
to make Petra a universally recognized success
story,” said Jay Knott, USAID/Jordan Mission
Director.
“Jordan’s cultural and historic treasures
are becoming widely known and attracting more
tourism to the country. It is crucial that we
preserve the very treasures tourists are coming
to appreciate, rather than let mass tourism contribute
to their degradation. ” said Francesco Bandarin,
Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
The announcement was made today following a meeting
of the UN Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The Board was welcomed by UN Foundation Board
member, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of
Jordan, who joined the Foundation’s Board
of Directors in September 2006. The UN Foundation
serves as a platform for partnering with the United
Nations to help corporations, foundations, governments,
and individuals make a difference in the important
work of the UN.
On 25 October 2007, Jordan was elected to a 4
year term on the 21 member inter-governmental
World Heritage Committee, the body in charge of
implementing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
###
About the World
Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism
The World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism
is a membership-based initiative that works to
support World Heritage conservation, sustainable
tourism, and local economic development for communities
in and around UNESCO World Heritage sites. The
UN Foundation and Expedia, Inc. created the World
Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism in the
Fall of 2005. For more information, including
a list of other WHA members and partners, visit:
www.worldheritagealliance.org.
About the UN Foundation
The UN Foundation, created in 1998 with entrepreneur
and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic
$1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities,
builds and implements public-private partnerships
that address the world’s most pressing problems.
Its partnerships and campaigns have global reach,
and cut across diverse issue areas, including:
protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable
development; providing insecticide-treated bed
nets to prevent the spread of malaria in Africa;
and increasing access to technology for international
humanitarian relief and public health workers.
