“The World Heritage list is not a competition”
UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova on the national and international importance of World Heritage.
As Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova is the highest-ranking guardian of our World Heritage. Originally from Bulgaria, she has headed the organization since 2009.
There are currently 981 places designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. What do we need the title for?
The World Heritage Convention’s major concern is to identify and preserve sites of outstanding universal value. The aim is to conserve the best of our cultural and natural heritage for the current and subsequent generations. To this end, the 190 countries that have signed the Convention set international standards. This community is unique in terms of its size and reach.
However, international attention can become a problem if, as a result, tourism gets out of control. How does UNESCO ensure there is a balance in this respect?
UNESCO wants innovative, responsible tourism that helps nurture its own assets. With its programme for sustainable travel that is compatible with monument protection UNESCO supports proactive tourism management that integrates the local population.
Only three other countries have more World Heritage sites than Germany. Is there any explanation for this high concentration?
It’s not a competition. Germany signed the Convention as early as 1976, making it one of the first of the 25 participating countries. So the Germans got off to an early start.
Which German World Heritage sites have you visited? And which particularly impressed you?
I really liked Museum Island in Berlin, in particular the Pergamon Altar.
