TripAdvisor kicks off World Heritage Campaign

TripAdvisor kicked off today the TripAdvisor World Heritage Campaign and has pledged to support the UNESCO World Heritage Centre by making a call to action for the 25 million monthly visitors on TripAdvisor to help protect the places around the world that matter the most.

TripAdvisor is encouraging the contribution of reviews and opinions from its large and passionate community of millions of members to provide much-needed information about the condition of World Heritage sites so they may be better protected. In order to compile traveler feedback on nearly 900 World Heritage sites across the globe, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre invited TripAdvisor, via its millions of members and technological expertise, to provide traveler insights and support to the Centre.

As part of the two-year campaign, TripAdvisor has also pledged to donate up to US$1.5 million of support, including a cash donation that will be allocated to UNESCO World Heritage initiatives. Travelers can learn more about how to help at www.tripadvisor.com/worldheritage .

Survey Shows Travelers Would Do More to Help if They Knew How

TripAdvisor conducted a World Heritage site survey of more than 2,500 US respondents to determine traveler interest in and knowledge of culturally and naturally significant sites, as well as sustainable and responsible tourism. According to the survey:

Top 10 Global Sites US Travelers are Most Concerned About Preserving and Protecting

1. Galapagos Islands
2. Grand Canyon National Park
3. Yellowstone National Park
4. Acropolis, Athens
5. Yosemite National Park
6. Venice and its Lagoon
7. Redwood National and State Parks
8. Statue of Liberty
9. Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls
10. Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites

Information Starved

Seventy-two percent of US respondents said they would do more to help protect sites of historical, cultural, or natural significance if they had more information on how they could help.

Thinking Globally

Sixty-six percent said they are “very concerned” about protecting sites of historical, cultural, and environmental significance around the world, and 31 percent are “somewhat concerned.” Fifty-three percent of US respondents said they care more about historical, cultural, or environmental destinations in other countries.

Helping Hands

Twenty-six percent of US respondents said they are involved in supporting or protecting sites of historical, cultural, and environmental significance around the world.

Among those helping, 65 percent are donating money and 31 percent are actively encouraging decision makers to take necessary measures to help, such as with letters and phone calls.

Hands Tied

The main reason respondents are not already helping? According to survey results, 29 percent don’t know what they can do to help, and an additional 29 percent said they are not involved because they are uncertain where their money is going. Twenty-five percent said they are unable to donate.

What Gets Them Going

Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said they are “very interested” in visiting sites of historical, cultural, or environmental significance around the world. When asked where they spend the majority of their time on vacation, 61 percent cited visiting historical or cultural attractions such as the Alhambra in Spain, the Pyramids in Egypt, or the Statue of Liberty in New York City.