New7Wonders titles could mean billions for PH

The New7Wonders status of the Puerto Princesa Underground River and the possible inclusion of Vigan City in a similar list could mean billions of pesos in additional tourism revenue for the Philippines.

This is what Eamonn Fitzgerald, head of communication of Switzerland-based organization New7Wonders, claimed, citing reports on the economic impact of the global tourism and heritage effort.

“A number of independent studies have attested to the enormous value that accrues to the elected Wonders. This value is measured in the billions of U.S. dollars,” Fitzgerald told Yahoo Philippines via email.

Among the studies he highlighted was a report published by Grant Thornton in 2011, which estimated that the value of being voted as one of the New7Wonders of Nature would be $1 billion over five years per site.

The Puerto Princesa Underground River was announced as one of the winners in the worldwide polling for the New7Wonders of Nature in November 2011, thanks to aggressive campaigns by governments.

Rounding out the list of seven sites were the Amazon in South America, Halong Bay in Vietnam, Iguazu Falls in Argentina, Jeju Island in Koreakom, Komodo in Indonesia, and Table Mountain in South Africa.

Another Philippine site could be in a new list by New7Wonders, this time to recognize cities that stand out in areas including urban planning, metropolitan governance, tourism, and architecture.

The heritage city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur has landed in the 21 finalists of New7Wonders’ third global vote. The finalists were chosen from more than 300 nominations from all over the world.

Prior to its nomination in the New7Wonders Cities list, Vigan has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in 1999.

Vigan City, known for Spanish-era structures, in 2012 also won Unesco’s first-ever “Best Practice in World Heritage Site Management” Award, besting 27 other cities from 23 countries around the world.

Fitzgerald noted, however, that inclusion in the New7Wonders list is different from recognition by other organizations like Unesco, which he said “keep adding items so that the lists grow larger and larger.”

“The New7Wonders process is the exact opposite in that it seeks to reduce an extensive initial list of candidates to a core of seven,” Fitzgerald said, highlighting the prestige of the award.

Fitzgerald added that the participatory selection process adds to the campaign’s success. “This is done by popular voting on a global scale using the latest technologies and platforms,” he said.

The “democratic process” translates to attention and pressure for governments in countries hosting nominated sites. Fitzgerald said these are “incentives to make sure they are protected and nurtured.”

“The economic benefits, which the hosting countries receive, also enable them to finance caretaking projects,” Fitzgerald added, even as he noted that New7Wonders is not in a position to impose policies.

“New7Wonders makes a serious effort to convince the custodians of the elected Wonders that they must strive to protect the sites in perpetuity for the benefit of mankind,” Fitzgerald said.

“These Wonders existed before us and it is our responsibility to ensure that they survive us,” he added. He also pointed to the fine line between tourism management and heritage preservation.

“[W]e believe that a greater awareness of sustainable development is the key to balancing the inevitability of tourism with the need for heritage conservation,” Fitzgerald said in his email.

Sustainability is also reflected in the campaign’s push for a “global memory”—seven things we can and should remember—which is based on the vision of Bernard Weber, founder and president of New7Wonders.

In July, New7Wonders launched the “Wall of Wonders,” a Web-based platform which allows users to upload their photos in sites included in New7Wonders lists and in doing so “become the wonder.”

During the portal’s launch Weber stressed the need to appreciate New7Wonders sites. “To preserve our heritage we need to appreciate it, and to show our appreciation we have to participate and act,” he said.