UNESCO Teams Up with TripAdvisor to Save Heritage Sites

Submitted by Sean Williams on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 20:00

Two giants of travel and world heritage teamed up this Thursday, as UNESCO and online community site TripAdvisor launched a partnership to help save some of the world's greatest cultural sites. The pairing will see TripAdvisor pledge an initial $1.5million (£919,000) towards UNESCO's ambitious World Heritage Centre, from which the UN's culture wing will observe and preserve some 890 sites on its World Heritage List. These include some of the planet's most celebrated ancient places, such as Stonehenge, the Theban Necropolis and Chichen Itza.

The World Heritage Site is a service providing support for nations which have ratified the 1972 World Heritage Convention - a benchmark which allowed states to identify and be helped in protecting their most prized cultural assets. UNESCO believes the two-year deal will see TripAdvisor's 25 million online users raise awareness and flag up any issues surrounding the sites they visit on their travels. It will also allow web communities to interact with owners and custodians of heritage sites, so that some of the world's best destinations can be saved from the dangers of war (such as Babylon), over-tourism, natural disaster and disrepair.

Francesco Bandarin, Director of the World Heritage Centre, tells reporters his organisation is keen to tap into TripAdvisor's huge global gathering of travel aficionados: "Because of TripAdvisor's excellent reach to their member community, we can, together, raise awareness of World Heritage as well as receive member feedback about sites," he says. "This certainly helps us flag site issues and provides useful information on how World Heritage travellers engage with the sites and their communities. We are looking forward to partnering with TripAdvisor on this initiative."

"We're calling on the world's largest travel community to preserve the places we all love."

TripAdvisor founder and CEO Steve Kaufer is equally confident his members can help UNESCO save some of the planet's most important sites. "We're calling on the world's largest travel community to help preserve the places around the world that we all love," he says. "In support of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, we will give not only dollars but also the collective wisdom and support of TripAdvisor's millions of travellers, and their trusted insights. We're eager to build global awareness about World Heritage sites, and about sustainable and responsible travel."

TripAdvisor will celebrate its tenth anniversary next February. It is a forum-based community site which allows users to write comments and rate destinations, hotels, restaurants and other places across the globe. Its format has come under fire in the media recently, in that reviews were thought to have been distorted through biased comments.

Do you think this partnership is a good thing? Do you think Britain and other countries' heritage sites are well-run or not, and do you think there are any great places in danger of being lost forever? Maybe you believe there is a site not listed by UNESCO which should be making their mammoth agenda? Whatever your views and opinions, don't hesitate to give your comments in the space provided below. You could also visit our contact page, or keep in touch with us over a wide range of online media outlets, such as Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Facebook - and by subscribing to our RSS feeds.

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About The Author

Sean Williams

Last three pieces by this author:

Join Heritage Key Live from Stonehenge Spring Equinox | Celebrate St. Patrick's by Visiting Loughcrew for Spring Equinox | What can you Expect from Stonehenge Spring Equinox 2010?

Sean is an English Literature graduate, who currently works as a writer and journalist in London. He enjoys ancient history, theatre and sport. He does not enjoy Big Brother.

Comments

Bart van Poll:

Interesting article Sean. To me it looks like a genuine, but PR-wise very smart, partnership by TripAdvisor. As long as as Unesco does not promise too much in return for money from commercial organizations, I think it's a good thing.

So many World Heritage sites are in danger - and UNESCO can use the money to do something about it. Check out the sad story of Bagan in Birma for example

Thanks, Bart van Poll

Mon, 26-10-2009 08:29

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