Heritage Listed Sites- Should It Be Open to Public or Kept Private Essay

Did you know that there are 962 properties listed as heritage sites in the world? As we aware the Kakadu National Park, Uluru, Shark Bay and Great Barrier Reef in Australia are also listed as world heritage sites. However, there are currently 38 properties listed in danger because of various reasons; unable to support with technical, scientific expertise in some areas or â€Å"pollution, uncontrolled urbanization, unchecked tourism† (Amanpour, 2012) in many cases. UNESCO (2013) states that the Tourism impacted on the sites greatly since â€Å"the world heritage properties are among the most popular and heavily promoted tourist destinations in many countries. The dramatic current and projected growth of international and domestic travel represents both challenges and opportunities for World Heritage Sites and surrounding populations. Poorly managed tourism at a site can pose major threats to heritage in all of its forms and degrade the quality of the visitor experience†. For instance, The Great Barrier Reef was declared as a world heritage area in 1981, there have been more than two million people visited the reef each year and generated more than â€Å"$AU2 billion in tourism dollar, making tourism a major earner for the north-eastern Australian economy† and also gave negative impact that damaged fragile corals by reef walking, polluted in the water with human activities not only fuels from boats but associated with †run -off sweat and suntan lotion† affected on the reef environment (Australia Government, 2007). There is a question arose for the heritage listed sites whether it should be open to public or kept private in order to protect and conserve them. It is a controversial topic on the public access to the heritage listed sites; some people may say that the sites should be kept in private in order to protect the area, or some say it should be open to public so it will bring the great benefit to economy. W hile tourism can provide a way to educate the public on the importance of the reef, the constant flow of people over a few select areas of the Great Barrier Reef region can also pose some problems†. A director of Centre of Future Studies believes that â€Å"There is a conflict between environmental concerns and commercial interests† in terms of heritage listed sites (SMH, 2006).It will be discussed the potential benefits and damages for both cases and solutions that can compromise the benefit and the issues. World Heritage Listed Site refers to â€Å"a place (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance.† as per Wikipedia (2013). There are 190 states parties ratified The World Heritage Convention, as of September 2012, to help these countries with heritage listed sites in terms of maintaining and conserving the sites ( UNESCO, 2013). By all means that a place listed as world heritage site, the place will be supported by UNESCO in relation with protecting and maintaining the sites with well structured plan. W hat is it that makes the sites so important; many countries have formed as ‘rescue team’ to protect the heritage sites? There are a number of reasons as the following: It is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage is both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world’s heritage (UNESCO, 2013). In addition, the heritage listed sites reflects the way the past lived, thoughts or even the changes geographically over the time in the area which is a great source for researches and studies, the sites also involve the culture of the society. The World Bank defines â€Å"culture as the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions, and beliefs† (cited on Endresen, p 5). Janet Stephenson, of Dunedin, who is New Zealand historic places trust representative states the importance of the heritage listed sites as â€Å"this is something you don’t get in a museum and †¦ each of these places has heritage role† (cited on Allan, D. The South Times, p19). Also, Australian Government states the importance of heritage listed sites for education, it is important to â€Å"inspire students to explore our unique world heritage listed places and develop an appreciation of heritage values. An understanding of heritage place in Australia and their significance in the world will encourage young people to appreciate and help preserve them for future generation† (Environment Government, 2011). As mentioned earlier, it leaves a big question on how to protect the heritage listed sites, should it be open to public or kept private? There are number of reasons it should open to public. First of all, it can bring great benefits monetarily to local and country as whole, according to Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia, it increases wealth of local community, in which the heritage listed site is located, and enable to promote the areas to domestic and international visitors. Harriott states the marine tourism industry is a major contributor to the Australian economy, with an estimated direct value in excess of $1 billion (Wachenfeld et al, 1998 cited 2002, p12). For example, Australian icons such as Uluru , The Great Barrier Reef, and The Tasmanian Wilderness attracted a great number of visitations for both nationally and internationally which was result of heavily featuring in Tourism promotion since the sites listed as world heritage (Shark Bay, 2009). By the booming in Tourism, the area needed more facilities to accommodate the visitors with hotels, restaurants, retail shops and entertainments which created employment opportunity. Producer groups such as construction firms, skilled tradespeople and unskilled workers benefited from extra work created in the heritage sector; also increased local and government income from worker’s tax (Abelson, 2000). Another example –Zhan-gjia-jie National Park, is China’s first national park and also well-known for the ‘Avatar’ Hollywood movie. For this reason, tourism has boomed in the region resulted in generating economic wealth, creation of jobs and development opportunities for local residents. â€Å"Zhan -gjia-jie receives up to 40,000 tourists a day during its high season† (UNWTO, 2011). Secondly, the positive economic impact gained through the profit in Tourism can lead to positive impact on Heritage sites- providing fund for site preservation and management: â€Å"In 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) provided a $1.7 million grant to help preserve prehistoric cave paintings at 260 sites within the Capivara Park, a W orld Heritage Site in north-eastern Brazil. The grant included funding to improve roads in order to stimulate tourism as a source of income for local residents, thereby improving economic conditions and helping to reduce activities that were destroying the sites† (cited on Andresen, 1999, p8). Thirdly, â€Å"Visitors to World Heritage sites can learn about natural, cultural and historical characteristics† (Alberta, 2012) . Having a real experience of the heritage listed sites by touching, looking and feeling the existence of the property will be definitely different from learning by photos and story -telling. In spite of the benefits aforementioned, promoting Tourism can negatively impact on the sites itself and the environment due to constructions, pollution and over urbanization. The site will need to accommodate the tourists in hospitality needs; hotels, restaurants and bars, and with other activities to explore that sites, it cannot avoid having a development in the area. There are examples of heritage sites damaged from Tourism such as Angkor Wat which is a temple complex in Cambodia, and the Inca fortress of Machu Picchu in Peru are often cited as places of world-historical importance where a vast influx of tourists may be causing serious damage (The economist, 2012). Also, some researchers clearly demonstrate that The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral system in Queensland (Wikipedia, 2012), is being damaged (GBRMPA, 2009 cited on Great barrier reef foundation, 2009) and â€Å"lost half of its coral in the past 27years† ( Holland, 2012) by human activities such as fishing, mining, farming and unsorting rubbishes, University of Michigan also states that â€Å"the human based pollution caused such harm to our reefs needs to be stopped or reduced significantly if we wish to save this fragile ecosystem† . In addition there might be unwanted cultural changes, and â€Å"Demonstration Effect† (Endresen, 1999, p8) that comes from exposure to western culture and lifestyle due to tourism, sometimes is blamed for spoiling local culture. According to Endresen (1997, p7) unmanaged tourism can result â€Å"cheapening of culture and traditions; alienation and loss of cultural identity† in the heritage sites. Victoria Falls is the most relevant example in terms of the damages on the heritage listed sites from open to public, led to a various conservation challenges related to urban development, tourism pressure; invasive species; poaching; Water pollution and abstraction; and, institutional challenges (African World Heritage Fund , 2012) which may take up to years to get it recovered. It is critical to get those sites (not only Victoria Falls, but the other 37 sites as mentioned earlier) restored and preserved with our attention and care. On the other hand, if it is being kept private it will enable to reserve the area more efficiently as there isn’t access allowed for public so it can prevent from getting polluted and over-urbanized in the area. Also that helps to preserve damaged areas and get it re-stored as there will not be any restrictions to undergo the repair work. â€Å"The royal tombs, which are registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites, have not allowed public access for the reason of preservation. After going through maintenance and installing several convenience facilities, the tombs ar e now ready to welcome visitors† (visit Korea, 2012). W hat about the potential economic growth in their community or the country by developing the heritage site? The development will attract more tourists who like to visit the heritage sites and trigger increase of GDP through the economic activities made between tourists and locals which will lead to the development of the country as a whole. Various economists state â€Å"the development of tourism has usually been considered a positive contribution to economic growth† (Lim, 1997; Oh, 2005 cited on Chanchrat, 2011, p2). Since it is kept private, there will be forgone cost from not allowing the public access to the site and various parties will lose their potential benefit; the property owner loses in admission fees, local community loses in the benefit from involving active economy in the site area, and the government loses tax income from the sellers and buyers of the economic activity. According to UNICCO it is challengeable to â€Å"manage the future growth of the industry so as to minimise its negative impacts on the environment and host communities whilst maximising the benefits it brings in terms of jobs, wealth and support for local culture and industry, and protection of the built and natural environment† (1999, p21 cited on Endresen, 1999, p2), just like it challenges to keep the heritage sites protected so as to get economic benefit from being open to public. It is obvious that we need to conserve the listed sites at its best by keeping it private but it is, also, impeccable for people at present to get explored of what the ancestors inherited for us, and learn from it to make better future which will be inherited to future generation for our children. It can be protected while the heritage sites being open to public via a number of ways as below: First of all, the industry and the organisation should encourage the public awareness in regards to the importance of the heritage listed sites and the ways that we ca n contribute to protect them. By promoting education for the heritage sites with placing conservation materials at visitor centre will enable to increase public awareness in terms of the importance of those sites. â€Å"Build capacity for cultural management and protection of world heritage cultural asset† â€Å"Promote public awareness of the social value of world heritage sites and the importance of natural resources† (MDGIF, 2012) . For instance there can be TV commercial and donation program promoted by UNESCO just like UNICEF charity program we often see on TV and on airlines that will enable people to aware its importance and for them to practice the good manner when they visit those sites. Also by giving wrist band or badge to people who contributed donation, in recognition of their contribution which will increase the public awareness and helps for the fund needed to support the heritage listed sites. And also managing Heritage listed sites should be well -planned. â€Å"By promoting publicity- developed plan that identifies appropriate levels and types of use and necessary with building environmental awareness, conserving local ecosystem that will result in generating the income and employment for the local communities† (Alberta, 2012) Secondly, Responsible Tourism and Sustainable Tourism should be encouraged.â€Å"You can expect tourist numbers, visitor numbers to grow. And the high level of visitation should not damage the value of the site. So you should have a plan for sustainable tourism in the sites, for all the components† (Bali Daily, 2012). Responsible Tourism refers to tourism that â€Å"makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultur al heritage embracing diversity† and it believes â€Å"individuals, organizations and businesses are asked to take responsibility for their actions and the impacts of their actions† (Wikipedia, 2012). UNESCO states if tourism is undertaken responsibly, â€Å"it can be a driver for the preservation and conservation of cultural and natural heritage and a vehicle for sustainable development† Sustainable Tourism is â€Å"tourism attempting to make as low impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people†¦ ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves † (Wikipedia, 2013). It also helps â€Å"to meet the needs of the present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future† (World Tourism Organization cited on Pedersen, 2002, p20). Sustainable tourism relies on the development and emphasizes the delivery of quality visitor experiences within not damaging any of the property values or cultural values. According to UNESCO (2013) it requires effective, cooperative commitment and coordination between site management and all relevant public agencies and private enterprises in order to achieve the sustainable and responsible tourism development and visitor management. For example, International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH &RA) and International Hotels Environment Initiative (IHEI) have helped in raising the public awareness in terms of environmental issues and provided practical advice with Action Pack to assist hotels, and other various industry association have also supported with codes and guidelines that can promote ‘Responsible Tourism’ (Endresen, 1999, p10). Thirdly, establish regulations. Government should establish appropriate regulations and tools to monitor and assess the heritage listed sites consistently in order to maintain them. Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act), Governments may require their departments and agencies to have regard for heritage considerations in asset management decisions: Organizations that have control of her itage assets also have a second service obligation. While they use assets in delivering their primary service, they are also responsible for the stewardship of the assets and protection of their significance for future generations †¦ The management of heritage assets should be viewed as an essential part of the management of the assets, rather than another problem and cost impost. Sustainable management of heritage values should be treated by an agency as part of its core business -GAMC, 2003, p13 cited on management of public historic heritage places, 2006, p193). In conclusion, tourism can impact on the heritage listed sites heavily either it damages heritage sites with unmanaged plans, conversely it makes a great contribution on conserving the sites as well as enabling the tradition to be alive from the profits made. It is impeccable that organization; manage any activities in relation to tour operation (travel agencies, airline s and government), should take into accounts in order to conserve the areas in relation to promoting public awareness of environmental issues. The business should be encouraged to design trip-packages that embrace nature resources and culture s. For example, star watch tour; photography tour; camping on the sites; refurbish local old buildings for accommodation; using solar powers and recycling water, composing and sorting the rubbish, to minimize the potential damage to the sites. It can be a good idea to promote rewarding system that allows entry for only certain organizations that practice the sustainability touri sm, to the heritage sites and offer them a cheaper rate of loan for future business. Reference Abelson, P. 2000. 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