Virtual meeting of the Program „The World Heritage Journeys of Europe“ gathered in April 28, 2020, and was attended by Mr. G. Rutkauskas, director of the Agency. The Program is implemented by UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the National Geographic with the financial support of the European Commission. It commenced in 2018 and one of preparatory meetings took place in Vilnius.
Representatives of each world heritage site provided short status update re Covid-19 impact on management of sites and what responses were taken tackling this crisis. Mr. P. Debrine, Programs‘ Manager of UNESCO WHC, informed about the intentions to increase Program participants number and to allocate more resources for its marketing. Participants of the Program were invited to develop relevant national or even international promotional means. Various virtual forms of cultural heritage promotion were presented during the meeting. 3D presentation of Bruges City appeared as one of a good marketing samples.
Mr. G. Rutkauskas presented virtual youth educational tools developed by the Agency in March 2020, and informed about the co-operation project with Riga and Tallinn aimed to develop a virtual heritage promotion network. Mr. Frank Biasi, Program Curator of the National Geographic, informed about the heavy problems in tourism sector and the need for additional resources for the Program marketing. UNESCO WHC commited to regularly organise such meetings once a month.