Unesco will launch the platform ''World Patrimony Trips'' aimed at promoting sustainable tourism in the European Union (EU) on occasion of commemorating this weekend Journeys of the Patrimony in the EU.

According to a communiqué published today, the platform presents 34 selected sites of the World Patrimony distributed in 19 countries of the EU and developed in collaboration with National Geographic.
The project 'promotes sustainable trips to some of the World Heritage most notable sites of Europe, encouraging the public to explore beyond the main touristic centers, to stay more time and experience more of what a region has to offer, indicates the text.
The presentation of the initiative will take place on Saturday, as part of the European Journeys of the Patrimony. The director of the Center of World Patrimony of Unesco, Mechtild Rossier, asserted that 'our target is to change the way people travel and incite them to stay longer in the destinations, experience local culture and its environment, learn and appreciate deeply the values of World Heritage'.
Besides reaching the travelers directly, 'we hope that the tourism industry -including local tour operators and local and national tourism authorities- are inspired in the content we have created and develop and promote an authentic tourism', she added.
The platform is fruit of the collaboration between the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (Unesco) and National Geographic as part of a strategy to stimulate travelers to explore the farthest corners of the Earth.
The director of the digital development and travel programs of National Geographic Maps, Frank Biasi, explained 'the website encourages travelers of North America, China and other important tourism markets to travel in a deeper and more different way, and use the platform to inspire and plan their European tours.