- the Visitor Management Assessment & Strategy Tool
The Visitor Management Assessment & Strategy Tool (VMAST) is a new addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Sustainable Tourism Toolkit and complements and integrates the 'How to' guides. VMAST is specifically developed within the context of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972) to help site management authorities manage visitation and tourism for the protection of heritage values while contributing towards local sustainable development, adaptive and resilient communities.
VMAST is hosted and supported by Zegeba in collaboration with World Heritage Catalysis.
VMAST at a glance
VMAST allows, under four overarching goals, to identify strategic objectives of specific relevance and work towards their achievement set out as success/target indicators.
A structured approach
Identify what you can do through monitoring, budgeted activities, communication, capacity development and collaboration. Access relevant resources for how to improve and learn how your efforts can contribute towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Develop SMART strategy components
For each of the target indicators VMAST enables the formulation of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) strategy components that can be combined to a new strategy document or be integrated in existing strategies.
Benefits of using VMAST
Improving practice through five management activities
Monitoring
-> Improved understanding
Use of VMAST will help you monitor and better understand the current state of your site’s visitor management, and what could be done to improve management in terms of protecting the heritage values of the site and contributing to sustainable development objectives.
Budgeted activities
-> Feasible ambitions
Through a focus on the need to budget for activities VMAST support the feasibility of your strategic ambitions.
Communication
-> Improved outreach
Use of VMAST will help you effectively, and in a culturally appropriate manner, communicate with relevant stakeholders.
Capacity development
-> Strengthened capacities
Use of VMAST will help you identify ways to engage with relevant stakeholders to strengthen capacities towards the achievements of identified sustainability and development objectives.
Collaboration
-> Increased impact
Stakeholder collaboration and partnerships are essential for the protection of the site and for the benefit of the broader destination. The VMAST provides a framework to enhance engagement and dialogue with local and national authorities, rights-holders and other relevant stakeholders.
