ABSTRACT
There are currently 812 sites throughout the world that are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List (WHL). Of these, 628 are cultural sites, 160 are natural sites while 24 are mixed. Spread widely among 137 different countries, they include internationally known icon sites such as Uluru in Australia, Stonehenge in the UK and the Taj Mahal in India. The motivations for listing such sites vary considerably. Traditionally, the more common motivation for inscription involved a mix of conservation, preservation and protection. More recently, however, motivations include nation building, identity and an attraction towards the economic benefits to be gained from tourism at sites that gain increasing prominence. Although the Taj Mahal was not inscribed on the WHL for the purpose of developing tourism, the majority of World Heritage Sites are likely to have to deal with tourism related issues and the likelihood of changing patterns of visitation (Fyall and Rakic, 2006). In essence, inscription on the WHL ‘not only confers recognition in terms of conservation, but also raises a site’s profile and stimulates tourism demand’ Bandarin (2005: v).
