Territorial development, tourism, and the protection of World Heritage Sites: issues of geopolitical conflict

Geopolitical conflicts over development projects pose significant threats to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as demonstrated by the contested construction of a hydroelectric dam near Portugal's Alto Douro Wine Region. This study reveals that such disputes intensify planning conflicts by generating competing interests among stakeholders, including local protesters and state representatives on the World Heritage Committee. These conflicts involve contradictory considerations related to heritage, landscape, identity, and economic development, particularly when tourism—a key revenue source for these sites—is at risk. The research employs critical geopolitical analysis to dissect these multifaceted issues, highlighting how World Heritage listing both amplifies and complicates territorial development challenges.

Bailoni, M. (2021). Territorial development, tourism, and the protection of World Heritage Sites: issues of geopolitical conflict (A. Mc Bryde, Trans.). Via Tourism Review, 19. https://doi.org/10.4000/viatourism.6844