Dr. Engelbert Ruoss

Biography

Engelbert Ruoss is a lecturer for the course 'Tourism World Heritage' at the Università della Svizzera italiana. He is an associated expert at the UNESCO Chair focused on developing and promoting sustainable tourism at World Heritage Sites. His main research area involves Governance Management of UNESCO-designated sites, emphasizing the valorization of cultural and natural heritage as well as local development. He manages initiatives aimed at integrating development approaches, exemplified by his involvement in establishing networks of model regions for sustainable tourism. Ruoss has also held significant positions, including Director of the UNESCO Office in Venice, overseeing the implementation of programs in South East Europe. Additionally, he has served as a consultant for EU programs and as deputy director of the Museum of Natural History in Lucerne, Switzerland. He holds a PhD in Biology and a Master's in Museum Sciences from the Universities of Bern and Basel. His expertise includes governance management of protected areas, particularly World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves, along with strategies for managing tourism at heritage sites.

Research Interests