This historical and cultural sites want to leave the UNESCO world heritage list: here’s why

It is a label that rents “a outstanding universal value» of a historic or cultural site. This means that the property is of such exceptional importance that it transcends national borders and that it presents the same inestimable character for current and future generations of all humanity,” UNESCO even specifies. There France, for example, had, in 2025, 54 properties listed on the world heritageincluding 45 cultural properties, 7 natural properties and 2 mixed properties. However, for some countries, this registration feels more like a burdenas explained by the BBC.

A heritage value to be preserved

“The World Heritage List was born, the day after the Second World War, a desire to protect important cultural and natural sites threatened by conflicts, industrialization and modernity…, recalls the BBC.

“Unesco is one of the most influential organizations in the world when it comes to heritage protection Â,” adds Courrier international. The list now includes 1,248 sites spread across 170 countries. Among them, we find in particular the Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China. This registration allows you to benefit from international funding for the property and conservation of the site in question.

 The credo of Unesco is based on the common heritage, its conservation, its celebration and its recognition as an achievement of humanity Â,” declares John H Stubbs, preservation specialist and former vice-president of the World Monuments Fund interviewed by the BBC.

The danger of overtourism

But according to the British media, “many modern heritage sites now merge with communities where people still live and work,” and cite Venice or Lijiang, in China, who became “ des museum towns » to the detriment of local populations.

Another disadvantage cited: the rise of social networks and overtourism. “Social networks have considerably accelerated tourist pressure. Before the advent of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, travelers mainly consulted tourist guides or official information. “ From now on, we follow more and more other tourists…” explains a specialist.

Is it possible to remove yourself from the list?

 Several sites such as Slovak village of Vlkolinecknown for its particularly well-preserved typical Carpathian dwellings, or the conservation area of Ngorongoro, in Tanzania, are campaigning for their unsubscription from the famous list,” details the Courrier international.

To this day, Unesco has removed only three sites from the world heritage listand each time, the problem was linked to the conservation. In 2007, the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary was the very first site to be declassified after Oman significantly reduced the area supposed to be protected to promote its oil exploration projects.

In 2009, the sanctuary was followed by the Elbe Valley in Dresden, Germany, which lost its status following the construction of a bridge that altered the landscape too much. Finally, in 2021, the Maritime and Commercial City of Liverpool, England, was removed from the list after disagreements over the redevelopment of the waterfront. The BBC specifies that “…the latter continued to attract visitors ”, despite its withdrawal.

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