Published On:Friday, 24 October 2014
Posted by Celebrate Life Style information Blog
Bagan renews efforts to win World Heritage
After the listing of Pyu ancient cities, Myanmar launches process for World Heritage nomination of Bagan
Myanmar is kicking off another campaign to reengage with the world and also draw more hard-earned foreign currency, this time involving the ancient city of Bagan.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), the process to nominate Bagan to its World Heritage List will begin with an international consultation meeting in Bagan from October 10-12.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), the process to nominate Bagan to its World Heritage List will begin with an international consultation meeting in Bagan from October 10-12.
"The ancient archaeological
site is at the top of the country's priority list for future World Heritage
nominations. The meeting will bring together experts from around the world to
discuss the future safeguarding of Bagan under the World Heritage framework
with national and local stakeholders. These inputs will be particularly timely
in the face of accelerated development at the site caused by a boom in visitor
arrivals and tourism-related investment," Unesco said in a statement.
Almost every traveller has heard
of Bagan, or Pagan, the spectacular 11th to 13th-century ruins of more than
3,000 Buddhist temples and monuments spread over an 80-square-kilometre plain
in central Myanmar. Myanmar nominated Bagan to the World Heritage Committee in
1996, but the submission process, which usually takes years, ran into problems
with Myanmar's ruling junta.
Instead of getting the
prestigious listing for Bagan, Myanmar succeeded in winning the first World
Heritage listing for Pyu ancient cities in June this year. Three ancient Pyu
cities - Halin, Beikthano and Sri Khsetra - were added to the World Heritage
List in June. The Pyu kingdoms flourished for more than 1,000 years, between
200 BC and AD 900. The three cities are partially excavated archaeological
sites.
Remains of the palace citadels,
brick Buddhist stupas and burial grounds at the site currently draw around
60,000 local and foreign visitors every year, according to Daw Me Me Khaing,
director of the archaeology department at Myanmar's culture ministry. She hopes
the new status will bring many more.
"The situation of our
heritage sites will improve as we gain experience from this," she said.
Myanmar is busy working out plans
to boost its tourism industry. A tourism master plan is being implemented in 12
areas - Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Kyaikhteeyoe, Ngapali, Ngwesaung, Putao,
Myeik, Naga, Natmauk Mountain, Loikaw and Inle.
Tin Tun Aung, an executive from
the Union of Myanmar Travel Association, said: "This is part of the master
plan for the tourism sector. The plan has been realised in Inle, Kayah State
and some other tourist attractions."
The consultation meeting in Bagan
is organised by Unesco and the Ministry of Culture. Culture Minister Aye Myint
Kyu will preside at the meeting alongside the Italian Ambassador to Myanmar,
Paolo Bartorelli.
The meeting is conducted within
the framework of a project to increase the capacity of Myanmar to safeguard its
cultural heritage. The project is funded by Italy, the lead donor country
supporting Myanmar's World Heritage efforts. Starting in 2012, the project was
the first Unesco culture sector cooperation initiative in Myanmar in more than
a decade. Through the project, leading international and national experts on
Myanmar cultural heritage are working closely with Myanmar authorities to
protect the nation's important cultural heritage sites within the World
Heritage framework and to leverage these assets to contribute to sustainable
local development.
The project provided intensive
support for Myanmar's efforts to nominate Pyu ancient cities. Their inscription
has been hailed by the international community as a major milestone for Myanmar's
re-engagement with the World Heritage Convention.
Besides Italy, the governments of
Japan and Switzerland are also supporting Unesco's work at Bagan. - The Nation
