A call is being made for artists and entrepreneurs, between ages 18 and 35, who are interested in participating in the UNESCO Transcultura Programme for persons in the hospitality and creative tourism sectors.
Entrepreneurs who have launched a creative tourism business operating within, or in the proximity of World Heritage destinations are particularly encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to women-led businesses and to entrepreneurs who are leading initiatives that allow tourists to learn about the local culture directly from the locals by actively participating in artistic and creative activities, thereby benefitting the local communities.
Culture and creativity are fundamental pillars for sustainable tourism that benefit communities, preserve heritage, and stimulate innovation. As such, the programme, Transcultura: Integrating Cuba, the Caribbean and the European Union through Culture and Creativity, is inviting young entrepreneurs to present culture and creativity-based initiatives in the 15th Edition of the World Tourism Event (WTE), a specialised event promoting sustainable tourism at World Heritage destinations. The programme is implemented by the UNESCO Regional Office in Havana and funded by the European Union.
The UNESCO Transcultura Programme will cover all expenses for participation in WTE 2024. This includes accreditation to participate in the Exhibition Area, the participation fee for the B2B workshop with 45 buyers from Italy, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, the United States of America, and Australia, as well as international travel and accommodation in Genoa, Italy.
Selected young entrepreneurs, who are citizens and legal residents of one of the 17 Caribbean countries within the geographical scope of the Transcultura Programme will have the opportunity to participate in the 15th Edition of the International Tourism Hall for World Heritage Sites, scheduled to take place from September 12 to 14, 2024, in Genoa.
Those Caribbean countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Support for entrepreneurship and sustainable cultural tourism in the Caribbean are strategic lines of action of the UNESCO Transcultura Programme.
The initiative supports the integration of the cultural and creative industries with tourism, generating opportunities for artists and culture professionals, and promoting sustainable tourism rooted in local identity and values. Transcultura encourages training and the development of economic activities related to the cultural and creative industries in sustainable tourism destinations.
Interested persons should complete the following application form: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Uq5PHbM5-kuwswIpVrERlB1VmJQFEqlLjg- IwWZKcwBUODNGVzYxNkpRRkdXTVdGOUFVMUIwV0hPOS4u. It must be submitted by 23:59, Havana time (UTC/GMT -5 hours) on Friday, August 16, 2024.
For more information on the World Tourism Event, aimed at promoting the tourism offer at World Heritage destinations, interested persons may visit https://articles.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2024/08/EN%20Call%20for%20applications%20-%20WTE.pdf.