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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).

More information here.

Winter School 2026

The 2026 edition of USI UNESCO Chair Winter School, titled “Taste the past. Digital media for Byzantine heritage and authentic experiences in Northern Greece”, will take place from 7 to 14 February 2026 in Thessaloniki and Kastoria (Greece).

More information here.

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.

More information here.

Maestros: Healers of Peru

An online exhibition curated by the UNESCO Chair (USI) showcasing the ancestral healing practices of Peruvian maestros. Through Heinz Plenge’s evocative photography, the journey reveals rituals, sacred landscapes, and spiritual connections with nature.

Explore the exhibition here!

ETC webinar with Dr. Nadzeya Kalbaska

Jul 3, 2020 | ,

The European Travel Commission and Università della Svizzera italiana have teamed up for a webinar on Tuesday, 07.07.2020 on eLearning practices by tourism destinations. Dr. Nadzeya Kalbaska talked with Pascal Prinz from Switzerland Tourism and Sergio Guerreiro from...

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AlUla: Building the ultimate tourism destination

May 2, 2020 | , ,

From November 23rd to 30th, 2019, a group of 16 experts from 9 countries in Europe, Africa and Latin America gathered at AlUla (KSA) at the joint invitation of RCU (Royal Commission for AlUla) and AFALULA (French Agency for AlUla development) to brainstorm tourism...

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