Assessing the economic impact of a UNESCO World Heritage designation

A UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) designation for Grand Pré Historic Site, Nova Scotia, is projected to increase tourist visitation by 6.2% and generate approximately $200,000 in annual local economic impact. This estimation was derived from regression analysis comparing tourism statistics of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia's only other WHS, with historical data from Grand Pré (1990–2008). The study suggests that the designation would significantly boost the local tourism industry, which has faced recent declines, by attracting 3,000 additional visitors annually. Survey data on visitor spending further informed the economic analysis under both projected and historical visitation scenarios.

VanBlarcom, B. L., & Kayahan, C. (2011). Assessing the economic impact of a UNESCO World Heritage designation. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 6(2), 143–164. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743873x.2011.561858