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Travelers Urged to Add Responsible Travel to the Their Vacation To-Do List

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) July 17, 2007 -? Friends of World Heritage (www.FriendsofWorldHeritage.org), a grassroots initiative of the United Nations Foundation, Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, announced today the launch of the ?I Am a Responsible Traveler? campaign to encourage individuals to undertake a series of easy steps to reduce their traveling footprint and enhance their experiences when visiting World Heritage sites.

?Tourism, if unchecked, can pose one of the greatest threats to the integrity of World Heritage sites. But by taking basic steps to travel responsibly, tourists can become some of the most powerful supporters for resource conservation and site protection,? said Art Pedersen, Sustainable Tourism and Heritage Expert at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

?This summer we are asking that, when going through routine steps of preparing for a trip, travelers add signing the ?I Am a Responsible Traveler? pledge to their pre-vacation check list,? said Erika Harms, Executive Director of Sustainable Development at the United Nations Foundation. ?All World Heritage sites can benefit from responsible travel, from the Great Barrier Reef to Machu Picchu and the Grand Canyon.?

By signing the pledge, Responsible Travelers commit to:

(1)Discover the natural and cultural beauty that makes World Heritage sites so unique before leaving on their trip.

(2)Share their commitment to World Heritage sites with the hotels, tour operators and other companies that they use, and encourage those companies to make their own commitment to sustainable tourism choices. And share their experiences with others to help build a movement of responsible travelers.

(3)Preserve the natural and cultural value of World Heritage sites by reducing their environmental impact and respecting local customs.

?Signing the pledge means that travelers will come home with more the usual album full of photos and memories,? said Kim Solem, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Expedia, Inc. ?Responsible travelers also return with the knowledge that they have contributed to a lasting legacy of World Heritage and a means of sustainable livelihood for the local communities living in and around those sites.?

The Responsible Traveler pledge is part of a series of Friends of World Heritage initiatives to educate and mobilize a grassroots constituency that will raise awareness about the importance of protecting World Heritage, and drive efforts to promote sustainable development and responsible travel in and around World Heritage sites.

World Heritage sites are recognized internationally for their outstanding natural and cultural value, and are protected by the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. There are currently 851 designated World Heritage sites that span 184 countries and offer an extraordinary range of travel experiences. These include 660 cultural sites, such as the historic Centre of Prague and the Pyramids of Egypt; 166 natural sites such as the Galapagos Islands, and the parks, forests and wildlife reserves of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and 25 mixed properties.

About Friends of World Heritage

Friends of World Heritage is a grassroots initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting World Heritage, promoting sustainable development, offering ways to explore these sites through sustainable travel, and raising funds to support projects in communities that depend on World Heritage sites. Friends of World Heritage was created by the United Nations Foundation and its partners are: Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) and UNESCO?s World Heritage Centre. www.FriendsofWorldHeritage.org.

About World Heritage

World Heritage sites are places around the world that have been internationally recognized for their outstanding value as natural and cultural treasures. All World Heritage sites are protected by the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, signed to date by 184 countries and administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). There are currently 851 World Heritage sites (660 cultural, 166 natural and 25 mixed properties). For a complete list of sites, visit http://whc.unesco.org/

About the United Nations Foundation

The UN Foundation was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner?s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world?s most pressing problems and also works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. The UN Foundation is a public charity. www.unfoundation.org.

Press Contact:

Adele Waugaman

United Nations Foundation

Tel: (+1) 202.887.9040

Email: awaugaman @ unfoundation.org

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