UNESCO Chair in ICT to develop and promote sustainable tourism in World Heritage Sites 

Our Mission

Established in September 2013, USI UNESCO Chair is committed to perform research and teaching on how Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and digital media in general, can be effectively used to develop and promote sustainable tourism at World Heritage Sites (WHSs).

Conference of the University Network for Cultural Routes

The 2nd International Conference is organized and hosted by the European Institute of Cultural Routes in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in ICT to develop and promote sustainable tourism in World Heritage Sites of USI – Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano (Switzerland).

Master in International Tourism

Università della Svizzera italiana offers a Master in International Tourism (MIT), run by the Faculty of Economics in collaboration with the Faculty of Communication Sciences. The USI UNESCO Chair is deeply involved in this Master, through teaching, research, internships and theses opportunities.

Open Access Chapters

We are happy to announce the publication of the Handbook on Heritage, Sustainable Tourism and Digital Media, edited by Silvia De Ascaniis and Lorenzo Cantoni, published by Edward Elgar: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788970082.

The Holy Week processions of Mendrisio

An online exhibition curated by the UNESCO Chair (USI) presenting the Holy Week processions of Mendrisio, told through the images of heritage photographer Heinz Plenge.

Conference of the University Network for Cultural Routes

The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe is a long-standing programme that identifies and connects tangible and intangible heritage across borders to promote democracy, human rights, intercultural dialogue and access to culture for all.

Fifth China & Europe International Tourism Forum

The event will take place on June 19-21, 2016, in Lin'an City, China. With the theme"twenty-first century tourism, heritage and memory", the forum will include topics like heritage tourism, community development coordination, and tourism development impact on heritage...

read more

#eTourismMOOC: facts and figures

Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni, leading instructor of the eTourism: communication perspectives MOOC, thanks all participants for a great learning experience, and shares some relevant facts and figures.

read more

#faces4heritage: a ‘face-off’ against extremism

A class of students from USI – Università della Svizzera italiana (Lugano, Switzerland) has been invited by the US Department of State in Washington to the finals of P2P: Challenging Extremism, an initiative managed by EdVenture Partners through which the US...

read more