Destinations of the World with

International Importance
GCTG 111
 Destinations of the World with International
Importance

• Driven by a relatively strong global

economy, a growing middle class in
emerging economies,
technological advances, new
business models, affordable
travel costs and visa facilitation,
international tourist arrivals grew
4% in 2019 to reach the 1.5 billion
mark.
• This figure was reached two years
ahead of UNWTO forecast.
• At the same time, export earnings
generated by tourism have grown
to USD 1.7 trillion.
• This makes the sector a true
global force for economic
growth and development, driving
the creation of more and better
jobs and serving as catalyst
for innovation and
entrepreneurship.
• In short, tourism is helping build
better lives for millions
of individuals and transforming
whole communities.
• Growth in international tourist
arrivals and receipts continues to
outpace the world economy and
both emerging and advanced
economies benefit from rising
tourism income. 
• For the tenth year in a row,
tourism exports grew faster than
merchandise exports, reducing
trade deficits in many countries.
• With such growth comes more responsibility in ensuring effective destination
management that minimizes any adverse effect of tourism.
• Managing tourism in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all is more critical than
ever.
• We need to grow more in value rather than just in volume.
• Digitalization, innovation, greater accessibility and societal changes are expected to
continue shaping our sector.
• Both destinations and companies will need to adapt to remain competitive, while at
the same time embracing tourism as a means of achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals and building a better future for all.
 UNESCO World Heritage Site

• A World Heritage Site is a

landmark or area, selected by
the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) for
having cultural, historical,
scientific or other form of
significance, which is legally
protected by international
treaties.

• The sites are judged to be

important for the collective and
preservative interests of
humanity.
• To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already-classified landmark,
unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place
having special cultural or physical significance (such as an ancient ruin or
historical structure, building, city, complex, desert, forest, island, lake,
monument, mountain, or wilderness area).

• It may signify a remarkable accomplishment of humanity, and serve as

evidence of our intellectual history on the planet.
• The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise
would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing,
unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access, or threat from local
administrative negligence.

• Sites are demarcated by UNESCO as protected zones. 

• The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program

administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 now
167 "states parties" that are elected by their General Assembly.
• The program catalogues, names, and conserves sites of
outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common culture and heritage
of humanity. Under certain conditions, listed sites can obtain funds from the
World Heritage Fund.

• The program began with the Convention Concerning the Protection of the

World's Cultural and Natural Heritage, which was adopted by the General
Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972.

• Since then, 193 state parties have ratified the convention, making it one of the
most widely recognized international agreements and the world's most popular
cultural program.
• In 1978 the city of Quito in Ecuador earned the distinction of being the
first city in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In
the same year, Kraków in Poland was also named a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
• As of July 2020, a total of 1,121 World Heritage Sites (36 transboundary,
2 delisted, 53 in danger, 869 cultural, 213 natural, and 39 mixed
properties) exist across 167 countries. China and Italy, both with 55
sites, have the most of any country, followed
by Spain (48), Germany (46), France (45), India (38), and Mexico (35).
To know more about the World Heritage List,
visit the website below:

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/
New 7 Wonders of Nature
• New 7 Wonders of Nature (2007–2011) was an initiative started in 2007
to create a list of seven natural wonders chosen by people through a
global poll. It was the second in a series of Internet-based polls led by
Swiss-born Canadian Bernard Weber and organized by the New 7
Wonders Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation which Weber founded.
• The initiative followed an earlier New 7 Wonders of the World
campaign, and attracted 100 million votes from around the world
before voting finished on November 11, 2011.
New 7 Wonders of Nature
To know more about the New 7 Wonders of
Nature, visit the website below:

https://nature.new7wonders.com
New 7 Wonders of the World
 New 7 Wonders of the World
  corporation New 7 Wonders
• In 2001 an initiative was started by the Swiss
Foundation to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World from a selection of 200
existing monuments through online votes.

• The Great Pyramid of Giza, the only remaining of the Seven Ancient Wonders,
was not one of the winners announced in 2007 but was added as an honorary
candidate.
New 7 Wonders of the World
To know more about the New 7 Wonders of the
World, visit the website below:

https://world.new7wonders.com/