UNESCO added 24 new sites to the World Heritage List, bringing the total number to 1,223 worldwide. There is an uneven distribution of where these sites are located, particularly in terms of heritage selection, with UNESCO historically inscribing the most of this group in Europe and North America.
Although the total area for North America and Europe (34 million sq km) is similar to that of Africa (30 million sq km), 490 cultural sites have so far been inscribed in Europe and North America, compared to only 61 in Africa. The Asia-Pacific region has the second highest number of inscribed cultural sites at 211, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean with 103.
To appear on the list, countries must put forward a site as a nomination. A UNESCO representative then visits the site and makes a recommendation to the organization, which informs the final decision.
There are many reasons for a government to seek a UNESCO World Heritage badge, from the fact that it can raise global awareness of a place and improve tourism there, to how it can potentially influence the distribution of future funding. But at the same time, the organization may be cautious about proposing a nomination due to risks such as over-tourism and the cost of maintaining a World Heritage site. Or it may just be a lower priority in a country.
For years, experts have criticized that UNESCO is too Eurocentric.
The gap between the continents may begin to narrow in the coming years, however, as UNESCO says it is introducing measures such as attempts to “improve the number of African heritage sites on the World Heritage List by ensuring better support for African countries implementing local conservation projects and preparation of World Heritage nomination files.
You can see detailed statistics on average property prices in Bulgaria by cities and neighborhoods HERE
