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Heritage is widely regarded as an integral constituent of modern tourism and, accordingly, many destinations aspire to gain United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage (WH) status. However, uncontrolled influxes of tourists, ongoing management challenges, competing interests amongst stakeholders and decision-makers, as well as the politicisation of regulatory processes, all threaten to undermine the implied protection of WH inscription. Adopting a ‘wicked problems’ lens effectively elucidates the complex, diverse, and interconnected nature of the WH Convention’s governance structure and how this impact and influences the management of WH Sites.

Sustainable tourism development is currently a practice for most destinations in the world. It is associated with conceptualizing, implementing, and monitoring policies and programs with balanced economic, sociocultural, environmental, and politico-administrative implications. It is manifested through understanding and integrating the significance of tourism resources, specifically sites and attractions, and the perspectives of primary and secondary stakeholders. This book chapter explicated the significance and implementation of value and rights-based approaches to tourism development through the case of the Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) in the Philippines. It highlighted the value of SINP based on its natural and cultural heritage significance and the perspectives of People's Organizations as tourism front liners of SINP. In the end, a Sustainable Tourism and Strategic Development Framework was explained as the by-product of interconnecting the value and rights-based approaches. The discourse recognizes the interaction between preserving the park's natural integrity and maximizing its tourism potential for the benefit of the local communities and also examines the different aspects of SINP – its vibrant ecosystems and rich cultural legacy, that set it apart as a unique destination.

This chapter investigates the collective response to environmental hazards within the Mediterranean basin and the southeastern Mediterranean region, exploring the challenges posed to current energy transportation and economic policies. Despite the ecological significance of the Mediterranean Sea, it faces mounting human pressures and political conflicts, particularly in its eastern area, which threaten its ecological integrity. The chapter examines the extent of consensus and cooperation among Mediterranean states in addressing environmental degradation, considering the diverse interests at play, including economic, commercial, and environmental concerns. With a focus on countries such as Cyprus, Israel, Egypt, and Turkey, the chapter assesses the scope of cooperation in combating environmental degradation and safeguarding human security in the region amidst the backdrop of climate change and ecological challenges.