How UNESCO World Heritage Sites can enhance your Travels
What is UNESCO? What is a heritage site? And now can these designations help enhance your travels?
UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The World Heritage Committee designates sites of physical and cultural importance around the world. These sites could be natural wonders, like the Great Barrier Reef, or man-made marvels like the pyramids at Giza. There are 890 World Heritage sites in total. About 20% are works of nature and the rest are cultural sites. It includes things as diverse as the Canadian Rockies, the Old City of Dubrovnik and the Hiroshima Peace memorial. You can view the list here: [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list].
You can use the UNESCO listings to pinpoint some of the most impressive highlights of an area you are planning to visit. These sights are almost guaranteed to be spectacular, and visiting them is good ways too incorporate historical, cultural and sustainable travel into your vacation, while seeing some of the world's most precious treasures.
UNESCO works diligently to encourage the protection and preservation of these sites. Once declared a World Heritage Site, that area is viewed by the UN as "Belonging to the citizens of the world." Every year UNESCO publishes a list of "Heritage Sites in Danger" which showcases areas at risk of being destroyed by human or natural activity such as the 5 World Heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which have been threatened by the intense civil wars of the region.
Because of their actions, the UNESCO World Heritage list is not just a "Best-Of" list, but also a mechanism to ensure that meaningful pieces of our planet are preserved for future generations of visitors. UNESCO has played an active role in establishing a plan for sustainable tourism in Angkor Wat and protecting the ancient ruins of Delphi from harmful land development.
I always take special notice in my travels when my path crosses a UNESCO site. Whether it's mystifying human history or awe inspiring natural beauty, these spots are the pinnacle of what travel has to offer. But supporting these sites we can help strengthen UNESCO's efforts and ensure that someday our children or grandchildren can stare awestruck at the Great Barrier Reef, just like we did.
UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The World Heritage Committee designates sites of physical and cultural importance around the world. These sites could be natural wonders, like the Great Barrier Reef, or man-made marvels like the pyramids at Giza. There are 890 World Heritage sites in total. About 20% are works of nature and the rest are cultural sites. It includes things as diverse as the Canadian Rockies, the Old City of Dubrovnik and the Hiroshima Peace memorial. You can view the list here: [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list].
You can use the UNESCO listings to pinpoint some of the most impressive highlights of an area you are planning to visit. These sights are almost guaranteed to be spectacular, and visiting them is good ways too incorporate historical, cultural and sustainable travel into your vacation, while seeing some of the world's most precious treasures.
UNESCO works diligently to encourage the protection and preservation of these sites. Once declared a World Heritage Site, that area is viewed by the UN as "Belonging to the citizens of the world." Every year UNESCO publishes a list of "Heritage Sites in Danger" which showcases areas at risk of being destroyed by human or natural activity such as the 5 World Heritage sites in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which have been threatened by the intense civil wars of the region.
Because of their actions, the UNESCO World Heritage list is not just a "Best-Of" list, but also a mechanism to ensure that meaningful pieces of our planet are preserved for future generations of visitors. UNESCO has played an active role in establishing a plan for sustainable tourism in Angkor Wat and protecting the ancient ruins of Delphi from harmful land development.
I always take special notice in my travels when my path crosses a UNESCO site. Whether it's mystifying human history or awe inspiring natural beauty, these spots are the pinnacle of what travel has to offer. But supporting these sites we can help strengthen UNESCO's efforts and ensure that someday our children or grandchildren can stare awestruck at the Great Barrier Reef, just like we did.
