Using World Heritage

The World Heritage Convention stipulated the need for states parties to adopt policy &s;which aims to give the cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community and to integrate the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes&s;. World Heritage designation may either support or alter the sustainability path of heritage sites depending on how uses are managed. This chapter explores different uses of World Heritage sites. It examines some issues which includes how sustainable use is defined, the two-sided impact of tourism on sites, use of World Heritage status and communication, overuse and the role of local communities in maintaining living heritage and place identity. In 2011, UNESCO adopted the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) in response to the need for a holistic approach to urban conservation and recognition by the World Heritage Committee that decisions concerning urban sites require a special approach due to the dynamic nature of cities.