All articles tagged with #unesco world heritage
Egypt's plans to develop a mega-tourism project around Mount Sinai and St Catherine's Monastery are causing controversy due to concerns over environmental damage, the displacement of Bedouin communities, and threats to the site's UNESCO World Heritage status, despite official claims of sustainable development and preservation efforts.
The article explores Zagorohoria, a remote region in Greece with 46 ancient stone villages connected by cobblestone paths and bridges, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering unique hiking experiences that reveal its rich history, architecture, and biodiversity.
Lord Howe Island, located 372 miles off the east coast of Australia, has limited tourism to 400 visitors at a time for the past 40 years to protect its unique ecosystem. This approach has helped preserve the island's rare plants and animals, earning it UNESCO World Heritage status. Despite climate change threats, the island remains a popular destination, booked through 2026, where tourists can enjoy coral reefs, pristine beaches, and local conservation programs.
Venice will implement a pilot program starting in April 2024, charging day-trippers €5 ($5.45) to enter the city on peak weekends in an effort to regulate crowds and improve the quality of life for residents. The program aims to incentivize visitors to avoid high-traffic periods and come on other days, encouraging longer stays. The fee is not a tourist tax but a means of managing tourist flows. Exemptions apply for residents, students, workers, and tourists with hotel reservations. Venice has been taking steps to address overtourism and protect its delicate ecosystem, including banning large cruise ships.
The Sydney Opera House, Australia's iconic architectural masterpiece, celebrates its 50th anniversary on October 20. Valued at $11.4 billion by Deloitte, the Opera House is recognized globally for symbolizing Australia. Beyond opera, it offers a diverse range of programming, including contemporary music, talks, and children's events. The Opera House aims to be a "people's house," welcoming both tourists and locals alike. With efforts to make its offerings accessible online and in multiple languages, the Opera House strives to serve a wide audience and highlight the First Nations community.
Mount Fuji in Japan has fallen victim to overtourism, with overcrowding, garbage, and ill-prepared hikers becoming common sights on the mountain. Since being designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013, the number of visitors to Mount Fuji has more than doubled, reaching over five million in 2019. The post-Covid tourism boom has further exacerbated the situation, leading to concerns about the environmental impact and the decline of the mountaineering experience. Measures such as limiting the number of climbers and proposing a light rail transit system have been suggested to address the issue of overtourism.
A man in Turkey rediscovered an ancient underground city, Derinkuyu, in the 1960s when he found a tunnel behind a wall in his basement. The city, which was built by the Phrygians in the 8th to 7th centuries BC, was used for storage and as a hiding place during invasions and conflict. At its peak, it was home to 20,000 people who were able to survive underground for months at a time. Today, Derinkuyu is open to visitors and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.