How Significant Are Buffer Zones for Tourism at Urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Buffer zones at urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while mandated in applications, are often poorly defined and implemented, leading to suboptimal outcomes for heritage conservation and tourism management. This study reveals that the lack of clear guidelines and policy coherence hampers their potential benefits, particularly in mitigating over-tourism. Researchers analyzed three Belgian sites using text analysis of policy documents and interviews with governance experts, finding significant complexity and fragmentation in buffer zone implementation. The findings underscore the need for UNESCO to streamline buffer zone significance and bridge gaps between conservation and tourism agendas to prevent stakeholder conflicts.

Vanhuele, N., & Vanneste, D. (2025). How Significant Are Buffer Zones for Tourism at Urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites? Heritage, 8(3), 105. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8030105