Saturday, January 6, 2024: 3:50 PM
Golden Gate 7 (Hilton Union Square)
The UNESCO World Heritage designation has helped travelers create a
“bucket list” of places to visit. The recognition process was initiated following the 1972 “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.” UNESCO’s efforts have evolved over the years to also include “intangible heritage,” in addition to the cultural and natural categories. Latin America has approximately 146 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (about 13% of the total number world wide), and Mexico leads the way with 35. This paper will examine the historical trajectory of the cultural heritage program and the implications for certain sites in Mexico and Peru. The application process can be quite intensive and costly and inscription on the list does not always translate to funding and technical support for site preservation. Rather than serve as a program that safeguards historic sites, the UNESCO World Heritage designation often accelerates forms of development and gentrification that imperil the sites’ preservation. Therefore the paper will examine the complex processes behind and implications of UNESCO recognition for Latin American tourist destinations. It builds on archival research in the UNESCO archives, at the sites themselves, and recent scholarly literature on UNESCO’s broader initiatives.
“bucket list” of places to visit. The recognition process was initiated following the 1972 “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.” UNESCO’s efforts have evolved over the years to also include “intangible heritage,” in addition to the cultural and natural categories. Latin America has approximately 146 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (about 13% of the total number world wide), and Mexico leads the way with 35. This paper will examine the historical trajectory of the cultural heritage program and the implications for certain sites in Mexico and Peru. The application process can be quite intensive and costly and inscription on the list does not always translate to funding and technical support for site preservation. Rather than serve as a program that safeguards historic sites, the UNESCO World Heritage designation often accelerates forms of development and gentrification that imperil the sites’ preservation. Therefore the paper will examine the complex processes behind and implications of UNESCO recognition for Latin American tourist destinations. It builds on archival research in the UNESCO archives, at the sites themselves, and recent scholarly literature on UNESCO’s broader initiatives.