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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”, took 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.

The Making of a Masterpiece

An online exhibition curated by the UNESCO Chair (USI) presenting "le vêtement de Don Nicola Mazza", a richely embroidered Catholic garment from the 19th century. The exhibition highlights its craftsmanship and the social mission behind its production.

Explore the exhibition here!

Publication of special panel report of ECREA 2018

Feb 3, 2020 | ,

The ECREA 2018 (Lugano, October 31 - November 3) special panel report on "Communicating World Heritage to global audiences of travelers" conducted by chair-holder, Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni and chair-coordinator, Dr. Silvia De Ascaniis, was published in the open access...

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UNESCO Chair @ Enter2020

Jan 9, 2020 | ,

Chair-holder, Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni, PhD candidate Emanuele Mele and visiting researcher Rafael Oliveira particiapted to the ENTER2020 conference in Surrey (January 8.10, 2020). A panel was run by prof. L. Cantoni, with Rafael Oliveira and Kelly Macquire (Ancient...

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Prof. Ulrike Gretzel @USI

Dec 10, 2019 | ,

On Monday, 09.12.2019, Prof. Ulrike Gretzel visited the UNESCO Chair and USI. She is one of the top scholars in the field of tourism and persuasion and currently a senior fellow at Annenberg School of Communication (California/ USA). At USI she gave a presentation...

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UNESCO Meeting of National Commissions @ Lugano

Nov 18, 2019 | ,

Great news! During the UNESCO General Conference (40th Session) in Paris (France) the city of Lugano has been appointed to host the first formal meeting of the National Commissions from Europe. It is not the first time that the city has welcomed National Commissions....

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