Conservation or tourism? Heritage managers strike balance in protecting world’s precious sites

WORLD Heritage Site managers have acknowledged rapid challenges ahead in administrating historical locations owing to the ill-effects of climate change and excessive tourism.

However, during a recent gathering in Penang, they stressed that such sites also offer lessons which bodies such as Unesco can take heed of.

Dr Abdulelah Al-Tokhais, chairperson of Extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, spoke on how historical sites have shown resilience in coping with the adverse changes faced throughout the centuries.

And answers can be found from these enduring challenges in how they can face risks in the present age, he said at the ‘We Are Site Managers’ international symposium held recently in George Town.

He told a media briefing that World Heritage Site managers should look at climate change from the standpoint of adaptation when it comes to managing the risks.

"From the heritage sites, we can unearth the traditional knowledge on how to adapt sites to challenges such as flooding and adverse weather patterns," he said.

His views were echoed by Einar A. Saemundsen, the chairperson of the Nordic World Heritage Association, who pointed out that the there is a need to strike a fine balance between conservation or preservation of heritage sites and the allure of tourism.

He cited that in Europe, there is now an energy crisis in view of the clamouring for green technology, such as solar panelling and power buildings. Site managers are thus part of the process to mitigate effects of climate change at all times.

Moe Chiba, the section chief and programme specialist for culture at the Unesco office in Jakarta, said the international body on culture always holds an open-door policy in accommodating the views of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Chiba said that granted that there are many NGOs with different outlooks on heritage preservation and conservation out there, it is only fair for Unesco to listen to all views.

"We also take into account that some NGOs hold political and personal views but just as long as it is constructive, we will engage all of them with a mind on mutual benefitting the Unesco sites," said Chiba.

George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) general manager Ang Ming Chee said that site managers have begun to offer pragmatic solutions to the climate change.

For example, the site managers’ international symposium, which was organised by GTWHI at The Wembly St Giles Hotel, saw examples of how sites have become less reliant on driving vehicles, experiencing reduce carbon emission.

"We at the heritage sites are taking the lead to offer pragmatic solutions to climate change. We want to pioneer the solutions," said Ang.

As part of the symposium, the participants also had a walking tour of the George Town inner city, which is a Unesco heritage site. – The Vibes, March 3, 2024.