Critical Analysis of a World Heritage Site in Terms of Conservation and Tourism Promotion: The Case of “Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture” (Ibiza, Spain)

Abstract

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites (WHS) have great prestige. Each year, candidatures are presented by advocates seeking to raise awareness of the importance of certain cultural and natural sites, to achieve better protection and to make them known, which can promote tourism to benefit the surrounding regions. One of these cases is Ibiza, which, after a first rejection in 1986, obtained the inscription of “Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture” in 1999. This WHS is made up of various cultural and natural elements of the island, although the best known is the fortified Upper Town of Ibiza (Dalt Vila). Since then, important restoration and musealization actions have been carried out in the old town, and some tourism promotion events have been held, but there have been failures in its conversion into a tourist product: Both residents and tourists see this as complementary to the traditional offer (sun and beach tourism); confusion has been generated in communication, focusing on the old town and forgetting the other elements; tourist visits to the registered elements have not taken off and are concentrated in the summer months (the traditional high season); some decisions have been politicized, among other problems. Finally, different lines of tourism development are proposed.

Will World Cultural Heritage Sites Boost Economic Growth? Evidence from Chinese Cities

“…Firstly, in this study, we identified a causal effect of cultural heritage on overall economic growth. There exists an extensive sociological work exploring the association between World Cultural Heritage sites and tourism economy-other than the overall economic status-such as conservation and tourism promotion [4], tourism demand [52], sustainable tourism management [51], and resource curse in tourism economies [2]. As for realizing the causal inference of cultural heritages on the tourism economy, much evidence supports the tourist-enhancing effect of World Cultural Heritage [76,77], while some empirical results are conflicting [53,78,79].…”

“…Cultural heritage is closely linked to various areas of sustainable development goals, such as environmental, social, and economic issues [1]. Specifically, World Cultural Heritage(s) (WCH) sites play significant roles in economic activities, such as the tourism economy, culture economy, circular economy, and low-carbon economy [2][3][4]. However, the impact of the WCH acquisition on economic growth has not been thoroughly attempted.…”

New model of sports tourism with sustainable tourism development to increase tourist arrivals in Central Aceh Regency, Indonesia

“…Indonesia is an archipelagic country consisting of thousands of islands ( 73 ) and has a variety of tribes, languages, customs, and cultures. UNESCO has begun documenting the culture of all countries in the world as World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage) ( 74 – 76 ). Ramón-Cardona et al ( 74 ) state that understanding the significance of specific cultural and natural sites to enhance their conservation and raise awareness can encourage tourism and benefit the surrounding area.…”

“…UNESCO has begun documenting the culture of all countries in the world as World Cultural Heritage (World Heritage) ( 74 – 76 ). Ramón-Cardona et al ( 74 ) state that understanding the significance of specific cultural and natural sites to enhance their conservation and raise awareness can encourage tourism and benefit the surrounding area. Gański ( 77 ) states that tourists are attracted mainly by the rich historical and cultural heritage.…”

Sustainable Development of Vernacular Residential Architecture: A Case Study of the Karuč Settlement in the Skadar Lake Region of Montenegro

“…It is necessary to have an active and thoughtful attitude toward the settlements in this area, which can preserve their tourism potential and resources, in order to avoid actions that could contribute to their degradation and to develop those that enable the area's full inclusion in modern life. First of all, the contribution to the above can be made through construction patterns, but also through the tourism potential that can be activated [33]. Current procedures toward the renewal and reconstruction of existing structures, as well as the construction of new facilities, are based on the preservation of the vernacular appearance of structures in rural settlements [34] through the improvement of bioclimatic characteristics and the application of new technological possibilities.…”