Heritage hopefuls renew their bids to Unesco
Saudi Arabia and Turkey are pushing through preservation efforts to get their historic sites listed.
Of the many hopefuls vying to earn the coveted status of a Unesco World Heritage Site, two cities in particular have recently been making the news.
During the opening of the ten-day Jeddah Heritage Festival (16-25 January), the first such event in Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities submitted their nomination bid for Jeddah's historic downtown district (known as “Balad”) to become a Unesco
The Art Newspaper
January 23, 2014
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World Heritage Site. Jeddah’s previous world heritage bid was rejected in 2011, mainly due to the district’s neglect. To avoid a repeat, the kingdom has dedicated SR50 million ($13 million) to renovate the area, with improvements to its roads and lighting underway.
Protective measures are also needed, as fires have caused the destruction of a number of historic houses in the old quarter over recent years. In addition to the preservation efforts, authorities also want to turn the area into a centre for business and tourism; of the 18 buildings recently restored, one is being transformed into a “heritage hotel”.
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