Capacity Building workshop on Sustainable Tourism for Pacific SIDS

A capacity building workshop on Sustainable Tourism for Pacific SIDS was held in Busan on 17–18 July 2026, in cooperation with the Korea National University of Heritage, within the framework of "SIDS Capacity Building Project: Safeguarding Heritage in the Pacific" under the Republic of Korea Funds-in-Trust.  

A total of 32 participants attended the workshop in person, including 16 representatives from 12 Pacific SIDS States Parties. The workshop brought together government officials from the heritage and tourism sectors, Advisory Bodies, Category 2 Centres, and international experts to strengthen South–South cooperation.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacities of World Heritage site managers and key stakeholders in planning and managing sustainable tourism, while promoting community engagement and local economic participation linked to heritage.

The workshop consisted of interconnected lectures, a site visit, and practical work. A series of expert speakers covered topics related to strengthening sustainable tourism capacity, including visitor management, the role of heritage interpretation in shaping visitor behaviour and experience, and the need for coordinated governance across heritage, tourism, and community engagement. This included an introduction to UNESCO’s approach to sustainable tourism at World Heritage properties, outlining global trends, challenges, and emerging directions.

© KNUH

Site visit

Participants also conducted hands-on learning by visiting the Marisan Tumuli—one of cemeteries comprising the UNESCO World Heritage Gaya Tumuli site and the Haman Museum. Guided by the Site Manager, participants examined Korea's approaches to World Heritage tourism management, visitor management, cultural heritage interpretation, and community engagement. The Haman visit provided a valuable opportunity to examine the relationship between museum displays and the heritage site itself.

48th session of the World Heritage Committee (20 &21 July 2026)

As part of the capacity building workshop’s programme, participants attended the first two days of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, including the examination and adoption of Item 5D:  Progress Report on SIDS activities, including the World Heritage Strategy for SIDS (Decision: 48COM5D), as well as the side event “Launching the World Heritage Strategy for SIDS”. The Strategy was formally examined and adopted on 21 July in the presence of over 20 SIDS States Parties in the plenary room.

“The adoption of the World Heritage Strategy for SIDS marks a major step towards greater recognition of the cultural and natural heritage of Small Island Developing States, and towards strengthening its protection and resilience in the face of the challenges posed by climate change.”

Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre

By connecting the workshop directly with the opening days of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, participants gained first-hand insight into the functioning of the World Heritage system, while engaging with the broader World Heritage community and strengthening regional and international cooperation. .

The workshop has been made possible through the generous financial support of the Government of the Republic of Korea.

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