Any economic benefit from a World Heritage Site designation is entirely in the hands of authorities.
But, said Dr Britta Rudolff, studies have shown that there is usually a 30 per cent increase in tourism arrivals in the first three years after a site is given World Heritage status.
In addition, the designation opens a country to increased investment, higher property prices and international funding.
Rudolff, a facilitator at a recent UNESCO/World Heritage Training Workshop hosted by the Natural Heritage Department at the Courtyard by Marriott, was speaking about any economic benefits that might accrue to a site on the World Heritage list.
She noted that a number of studies had been conducted with different results but she explained that “just getting the title” appeared to have very little impact on tourism.
“On an average, it was being calculated at about a 30 per cent increase in the first three years after nomination but then, after these first three years, it usually reduces again to a level that is slightly above the previous visitor numbers,” she explained.
“So just having the title doesn’t have much effect, but if you do additional marketing of having the title, and if you launch additional programmes related to the title, then it can become a very effective tool and I’ve seen studies from sites that do very active marketing with their World Heritage titles who have increased visitor arrivals [to] double or more,” she told those at the workshop.
“But it is really in the hands of the authorities, what they make from it,” Dr Rudolff stressed.
The workshop facilitator further noted other studies had shown that countries with World Heritage Site listings had recorded higher levels of commercial and technological investment.
“Property prices usually raise quite considerably in World Heritage countries, especially World Heritage cities; properties become far more expensive and houses become far more valuable.
“There is an actual economic benefit to property owners but it is also a disadvantage to those who want to move there, so you always have two sides,” she said.
In addition, Dr Rudolff said a World Heritage listing also opened a country to more international funding not only from UNESCO but from other international development banks.
“And these programmes are naturally only available to World Heritage Sites, so it opens the door to apply for funding within the framework of these programmes and they are currently increasing,” she said.