Why You Should Visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites
If you’ve visited Yellowstone, Mesa Verde, the Grand Canyon, or the Statue of Liberty, you’ve visited a UNESCO World Heritage site. In fact, you’ve probably traveled with BNT to a lot more sites than you think, experiencing them as you should: together.
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
UNESCO World Heritage Sites [Click for slideshow.]
To gain the badge of honor, UNESCO considers world heritage sites around the world that have “outstanding universal value.” Though the UN and foundation do not own or operate these sites, the designation offers distinguished recognition and belonging, as well as marketing and money, bomb insurance, public education, and emergency funds.
BRIEF HISTORY ON UNESCO—
Counted as a jewel in the Johnson administration hat (though the idea started in the 1930s with world leaders), the idea sprung from the 1954 Aswan Dam building. Creating Lake Nasser would submerge the banks of the Nile south of the dam, including Nubian monuments and ancient Egyptian temples. This eventually led to the establishment of the UNESCO system. Moving over 22 critical historic sites by UNESCO and a coalition of 50 countries was considered “the greatest archeological rescue operation of all time.” By 1978, UNESCO formed to offer emergency protection and ongoing preservation for cultural and inspirational world heritage sites.
UNESCO, BEYOND CONSERVATION—
Beyond conservation, and out of that care and concern, UNESCO shines a spotlight on natural and cultural sites that both define and transcend our borders. A UNESCO World Heritage site offers a shared experience for all who visit.
At its inception, twelve sites were nominated for inclusion. The list has grown to over 1,248 sites in 170 countries (to date). Of those 1,248, 972 are natural, 235 are cultural, and 41 are mixed properties. The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador was the first World Heritage site. Today, the diversity of UNESCO World Heritage sites span the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef, the Acropolis in Greece, many of our national parks—and hundreds more marvels.
UNESCO aims to foster wonder without drawing lines. These extraordinary world wonders often transcend language, religion, culture, and current norms—though, they also sometimes define them—by elevating the visiting experience. What matters is that we “share” the sites as humans.
VISITING UNESCO SITES AS A SHARED EXPERIENCE—
It would be a lofty goal to visit all of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, but UNESCO sites belong on the traveler’s bucket list.
BNT regularly offers tours that feature a UNESCO site as next-level travel experiences. These sites should not be viewed as attractions or destinations aimed at tourist dollars, but rather, exceptional moments for the dedicated traveler.
Stone by stone, the Egyptian temples were moved out of harm’s way by a collaborative human effort. Still today, UNESCO illustrates why and what people can do together to preserve and learn from our world heritage.
In a way, UNESCO World Heritage sites belong to all of us. How many UNESCO sites have you experienced?
BNT Tours with UNESCO World Heritage sites (partial list):
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Yellowstone National Park
- Everglades National Park
- Statue of Liberty
- Independence Hall
- Redwood National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Yosemite national Park
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Monticello
- The 20th Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright
- Meteora Monasteries, Greece
- Amalfi – Italy
- Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Glacier National Park, Canada
- Basilica Cathedral, Old Quebec
- Walled city of Regensburg, Germany
Click HERE for the complete list of UNESCO sites.
Ready for more?