from The Art Newspaper
How much difference does Unesco make?
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On the occasion of the announcement of 3 additional sites located on the Indian sub-continent being added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, the article delves into the conflicting motivations and competing concerns of having a historical area listed.

First and foremost would be the boost to the local tourism industry versus preservation needs. Next up would be long-terms sustainability versus greater access. It would be mistaken to assume that there is some golden (or pre-determined) standard by which such contradictions would be magically and effortlessly resolved. At best, it would be a continual search and dialogue of workable solutions at the local level.

It is also critical to note that being listed on UNESCO's World Heritage List affords no legal protection or financial support. Perhaps, it points to a larger problem of funding (or more precisely, under-funding) of the heritage sector on a global scale.