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This paper employs the concept of multidimensional heritage to examine colonial statues in Africa since the era of independences through transna-tional, diachronic, and multi-thematical perspectives. Colonial statues are viewed as transnational phenomena, with a focus on the African conti-nent, emphasising the complex and evolving connections to former colo-nial powers in Europe. To capture the complexity of heritage uses, which is often best comprehended over an extended period, a diachronic approach is employed, and three periods are considered: colonial statues at independence (1950s to 1980); revival of (neo)colonial statues (1990s- 2000s) and renewed contestations (since the 2010s). The paper also delves into various ways in which the past is used and interpreted through colonial statues, discussing aspects such as public memory, identities, diplomacy, aid, and justice.

Tourism strategies implemented all over the world have often been demonstrably far from sustainable. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and its dramatic effects on the tourism sector worldwide present a unique transformative opportunity to reframe tourism in more sustainable ways. This article uses qualitative research methods and ethnography to advance knowledge on the impacts, both positive and negative, of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism and heritage sites, as perceived by local stakeholders living and/or working at six popular heritage destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa, located in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. The article discusses ways to rethink heritage-based tourism strategies more sustainably, according to the viewpoint of the research participants, and identifies new emerging tourism opportunities triggered by the pandemic, cutting across different local contexts to highlight more widely generalisable research findings. Identified strategies include diversifying tourism products at heritage sites; improving tourism marketing, visitors’ experience, and infrastructures; fostering more inclusive, co-operative, and integrated tourism and heritage management systems; increasing awareness of local resources while promoting ecotourism and responsible travel; and supporting economic diversification and local entrepreneurship.

Purpose: The World Heritage Convention has reached a milestone and this year, in 2022, it is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The aim of this article is to review whether and how the goals of the Strategic Action Plan (SAP) for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (2012-2022) have been reached. Methodology/approach: This article starts by considering the outcomes for three of the SAP goals, dealing with protection and management; the credibility of the World Heritage List; and sustainable development, using additional information from the final implementation report of the SAP (UNESCO, 2021a), which provides key performance indicators and the implementation status for each goal and associated outcomes. This articles then compares and contrasts available data, trends, and examples to provide more in-depth analyses of the implementation of the three goals. Data have been gathered from my own research and from the work of other academics and practitioners. Findings: The article finds several key positive changes, including the recent revisions of the Operational Guidelines to include provisions from the 2015 Policy on World Heritage and Sustainable Development. However, a number of concerning or worsening trends relating to the protection and management of the World Heritage List, its increasing lack of credibility, and sustainable development make it difficult to conclude that the implementation of the goals has been positive. The article concludes with suggestions for addressing these issues. Originality: This paper fills a gap, as not much has yet been published on the state of implementation of the Convention at 50 years old.

This paper discusses an ongoing research project which evaluates visitors’ experiences at St Augustine’s Abbey before and after in-situ projections of reconstructed imageries of non-existent abbey. In the first section, the paper introduces St Augustine’s Abbey and its outstanding universal value as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canterbury, designated in 1988. It is followed by two pro- and anti- restoration discussions of cultural heritage objects. The second section, it analyses primary data from visitors’ experience gathered at the abbey. The analysis concentrates on three themes related to the digital reconstruction of the abbey artefacts: the impact of digital technology on visitors’ experiences in heritage context, authenticity, realism from visitors’ point of view. It draws on the efficiency levels and usability of available technological devices such as the Virtual Reality headsets and how such creations may impact visitors’ learning and understanding of the site. The subsequent part of the analysis focuses on visitors’ perception of authenticity and realism of digital reconstructed imageries compared to theoretical discussions. This is followed by exemplifying workflows of digital reconstruction in cultural heritage context.

There exists a high volume of literature on international aid , yet few academic publications focus specifically on culture and international aid. This is particularly problematic, as the lack of research on this topic may be a main reason for the omission of a culture specific goal within the 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals, the latest UN framework for international aid spending (2015-2030). This edited volume of commissioned papers aims to fill this gap through considering a wide and comprehensive range of issues related to culture and international aid, in both a critical and constructive manner. It assesses the reasons why international aid is provided for cultural projects, rather than for other causes. It also considers whether and how donor funded cultural projects can address global challenges, including post-conflict recovery, building peace and security, strengthening resilience or promoting human rights. Moreover, this book critically assesses the impact of international aid, the diverse power relations and inequalities created, as well as the interests served at international, national and/or local levels. When projects have failed, this book analyses the reasons for their failure, but also discusses the lessons learnt, whenever relevant. Another core theme of this volume concerns the influence of donors in privileging some forms of culture over others, creating or maintaining specific memories, identities, and interpretations of history, and the reasons for doing so. These rich discussions will be contextualised through a historical section which considers the definitions, approaches and discourses related to culture and aid at international and regional levels.