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NEWS
UNESCO makes 24 new additions to World Heritage list
POSTED 08 Jul 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Ephesus in Turkey is a new addition to the list Credit: Shutterstock.com
UNESCO has announced the annual update to its register of sites worthy of world heritage status, adding 24 new locations to its global list of more than 1,000.

Well-known visitor attractions, including France’s Champagne wine region, The Alamo and Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge are all new additions to the list, with lesser-known sites added to the list now hoping for a boost in tourism numbers.

Denmark, France, Iran and Turkey had two allocations apiece, leading the way in new additions.

In France, the famous Champagne-region vineyards, wine cellars and sale houses – where champagne is produced and sold – were handed World Heritage Status, while the vineyards of Burgundy south of Dijon were also given an allocation by UNESCO.

In the US, the only addition was the San Antonio Missions, a series of 18th century Spanish Roman Catholic sites which include the Alamo – the scene of a famous battle between outnumbered Texas settlers and Mexican forces.

Ancient Greek and Roman settlements in Turkey have been added to the list as Ephesus, once the site of the Temple of Artemis – one of the Ancient World’s Seven Wonders.

A controversial Japanese bid was unanimously approved for a collection of more than 20 sites illustrating the country’s industrial revolution during the 19th century. The bid was approved only after Japan and South Korea reached an agreement over whether to acknowledge the sites' history of wartime forced labour, particularly that of Gunkanjima.

The Forth Bridge is the sixth Scottish landmark to gain heritage status, with the red structure used to carry trains over the Forth since it opened in 1890. For 125 years the bridge has been seen as an icon of Victorian engineering excellence and as a symbol of Scotland. The bridge recently underwent a £15m (US$23m €21m) development to build a viewing platform, opening the railway route to the public for the first time.

Full list of new UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Necropolis of Bet She’arim: A Landmark of Jewish Renewal, Israel
• Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, Norway
• Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia
• San Antonio Missions, US
• Singapore Botanical Gardens
• Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining
• Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus, Germany
• Susa archaeological mounds, Iran
• The Forth Bridge, Scotland
• The par force hunting landscape in North Zealand, Denmark
• Tusi Sites, China
• Blue and John Crow Mountains, Jamaica
• Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System, Mexico
• Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale, Italy
• Baekje Historic Areas, South Korea
• Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas), Jordan
• Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars, France
• Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement, Norway
• Climats, terroirs of Burgundy, France
• Cultural Landscape of Maymand, Iran
• Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape, Turkey
• Ephesus, Turkey
• Fray Bentos Cultural-Industrial Landscape, Uruguay
• Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its sacred landscape, Mongolia
The Forth Bridge is the sixth Scottish landmark to gain heritage status Credit: Shutterstock.com
Gunkanjima has been controversially added to the list Credit: Shutterstock.com
The Alamo is the site of a famous battle between outnumbered Texas settlers and Mexican forces Credit: Shutterstock.com
The vineyards of the Champagne and Bordeaux regions of France are on the list owing to their cultural significance Credit: Shutterstock.com
RELATED STORIES
  UNESCO threatens 'in danger' listing for Great Barrier Reef


The Great Barrier Reef’s heritage status could be in jeopardy after UNESCO revealed it was considering listing the natural wonder as “in danger”, something that could potentially cripple the area’s tourism industry.
  Japan and Korea in dispute over UNESCO World Heritage listing


Japanese officials’ plans to put several mines, shipyards and factories from World War II onto UNESCO’s World Heritage list have been placed under scrutiny, after South Korea said the sites were used to force Koreans into slave labour.
  UNESCO designates nine Mexican sites for special protection


The Mexican government has worked with UNESCO to enter nine heritage sites into its International Register of Cultural Property Under Special Protection in an effort to protect the cultural sites in times of war.
  UNESCO designates nine Mexican sites for special protection


The Mexican government has worked with UNESCO to enter nine heritage sites into its International Register of Cultural Property Under Special Protection in an effort to protect the cultural sites in times of war.
MORE NEWS
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
+ More news   
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National Event Planning and Logistics Officer
English Heritage
Salary: £30,190 - £32,636pa + matched pension + benefits
Job location: Home-based with countrywide travel , United Kingdom
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Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
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23-26 Aug 2026

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29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

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NEWS
UNESCO makes 24 new additions to World Heritage list
POSTED 08 Jul 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Ephesus in Turkey is a new addition to the list Credit: Shutterstock.com
UNESCO has announced the annual update to its register of sites worthy of world heritage status, adding 24 new locations to its global list of more than 1,000.

Well-known visitor attractions, including France’s Champagne wine region, The Alamo and Scotland’s Forth Road Bridge are all new additions to the list, with lesser-known sites added to the list now hoping for a boost in tourism numbers.

Denmark, France, Iran and Turkey had two allocations apiece, leading the way in new additions.

In France, the famous Champagne-region vineyards, wine cellars and sale houses – where champagne is produced and sold – were handed World Heritage Status, while the vineyards of Burgundy south of Dijon were also given an allocation by UNESCO.

In the US, the only addition was the San Antonio Missions, a series of 18th century Spanish Roman Catholic sites which include the Alamo – the scene of a famous battle between outnumbered Texas settlers and Mexican forces.

Ancient Greek and Roman settlements in Turkey have been added to the list as Ephesus, once the site of the Temple of Artemis – one of the Ancient World’s Seven Wonders.

A controversial Japanese bid was unanimously approved for a collection of more than 20 sites illustrating the country’s industrial revolution during the 19th century. The bid was approved only after Japan and South Korea reached an agreement over whether to acknowledge the sites' history of wartime forced labour, particularly that of Gunkanjima.

The Forth Bridge is the sixth Scottish landmark to gain heritage status, with the red structure used to carry trains over the Forth since it opened in 1890. For 125 years the bridge has been seen as an icon of Victorian engineering excellence and as a symbol of Scotland. The bridge recently underwent a £15m (US$23m €21m) development to build a viewing platform, opening the railway route to the public for the first time.

Full list of new UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• Necropolis of Bet She’arim: A Landmark of Jewish Renewal, Israel
• Rjukan–Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, Norway
• Rock Art in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia
• San Antonio Missions, US
• Singapore Botanical Gardens
• Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining
• Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus, Germany
• Susa archaeological mounds, Iran
• The Forth Bridge, Scotland
• The par force hunting landscape in North Zealand, Denmark
• Tusi Sites, China
• Blue and John Crow Mountains, Jamaica
• Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque Hydraulic System, Mexico
• Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale, Italy
• Baekje Historic Areas, South Korea
• Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas), Jordan
• Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars, France
• Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church Settlement, Norway
• Climats, terroirs of Burgundy, France
• Cultural Landscape of Maymand, Iran
• Diyarbakir Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape, Turkey
• Ephesus, Turkey
• Fray Bentos Cultural-Industrial Landscape, Uruguay
• Great Burkhan Khaldun Mountain and its sacred landscape, Mongolia
The Forth Bridge is the sixth Scottish landmark to gain heritage status Credit: Shutterstock.com
Gunkanjima has been controversially added to the list Credit: Shutterstock.com
The Alamo is the site of a famous battle between outnumbered Texas settlers and Mexican forces Credit: Shutterstock.com
The vineyards of the Champagne and Bordeaux regions of France are on the list owing to their cultural significance Credit: Shutterstock.com
RELATED STORIES
UNESCO threatens 'in danger' listing for Great Barrier Reef


The Great Barrier Reef’s heritage status could be in jeopardy after UNESCO revealed it was considering listing the natural wonder as “in danger”, something that could potentially cripple the area’s tourism industry.
Japan and Korea in dispute over UNESCO World Heritage listing


Japanese officials’ plans to put several mines, shipyards and factories from World War II onto UNESCO’s World Heritage list have been placed under scrutiny, after South Korea said the sites were used to force Koreans into slave labour.
UNESCO designates nine Mexican sites for special protection


The Mexican government has worked with UNESCO to enter nine heritage sites into its International Register of Cultural Property Under Special Protection in an effort to protect the cultural sites in times of war.
UNESCO designates nine Mexican sites for special protection


The Mexican government has worked with UNESCO to enter nine heritage sites into its International Register of Cultural Property Under Special Protection in an effort to protect the cultural sites in times of war.
MORE NEWS
Expo 2030 Riyadh will create a permanent global destination
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
Australian waterpark acquisition creates new leisure attractions group
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor, creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
London Museum reveals 2026 opening date for new Smithfield home
The London Museum’s new site will open in Smithfield, East London, on 28 November 2026.
Toverland unveils €98m expansion plan as park prepares to launch resort development
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi- day destination.
Butterfly sanctuary to host hot yoga during retreat at Jersey Zoo for Hotel de France
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
Warner Bros Discovery collaborates on upcoming Pompeii attraction
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
+ More news   
 
COMPANY PROFILES
Holovis

Holovis is a privately owned company established in 2004 by CEO Stuart Hetherington. [more...]
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

Vekoma Rides has a large variety of coasters and attractions. [more...]
IAAPA EMEA

IAAPA Expo Europe was established in 2006 and has grown to the largest international conference and [more...]
Alterface

Alterface’s Creative Division team is seasoned in concept and ride development, as well as storyte [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  
DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

23-26 Aug 2026

Elevate Spa Riviera Maya Edition

The Riviera Maya Edition Kanai, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
29 Sep - 02 Oct 2026

Synergy - The Retreat Show

Pical Resort, Valamar Collection, Porec, Croatia
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
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