Heritage activists square off against former Georgian prime minister over hotel development in Tbilisi

A well-connected developer gets approval to build a fancy new shopping or hotel complex in an historically significant neighbourhood, prompting an angry response from heritage activists.

While this scenario will be familiar to anyone following recent news in Liverpool and Edinburgh, a more unlikely front in the battle between developers and conservationists has opened up in Tbilisi, capital of Georgia.

Approximately 400 activities reportedly gathered in Tbilisi's central square this weekend to demonstrate against the construction of a USD500 million hotel complex on the edge of the Old City. The development is being spearheaded by a company controlled by former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Tbilisi Historic District (credit: Dmitry Gerasimov*)

While the authorities claim that the development will promote tourism in Tbilisi, heritage activists counter that the development is ecologically unsustainable and will alter the character of the area to such an extent that it will effectively sink Georgia's longstanding bid - dating from 2007 - to have the historic district of Tbilisi recognized as a world heritage site.

While only time will tell whether the coalition fighting the development is successful in its effort to stop it, the conflict is already taking on a political dimension with questions being raised by the main opposition party regarding the appointment of some of Mr. Ivanishvili's former cronies at Tbilisi City Hall, where they may now be in a conflict of interest with respect to the approval process for the planned development.

* https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=450747

Bureaucratic inertia stymies restoration work at Elephanta Caves in Mumbai Harbour

Elephanta Caves, a world heritage site on a small island in the Sea of Oman near Mumbai, boast an impressive archaeological legacy dating to the 2nd century BCE. Associated with the cult of Shiva, the caves feature rock carvings and sculptures.

While the prospect of electricity being brought to Elephanta Island prompted lots of publicity last year, money set aside for restoration work at the site in last year's budget has yet to translate into any concrete action.

Temple at Elephanta, 1907

  

While work at Elephanta Caves was supposed to include landscape restoration, installation of signage and interpretation centres, improved access for disabled people and improved visitors’ amenities, nothing has actually been done apart from a "project teport." In classic bureaucratic fashion, restoration work has reportedly been stymied by the fact that responsibility for the site overlaps between the Archaeological Survey of India and the Forest Department.

It is sad to think that red tape alone is enough to stop important restoration work, despite the required funds being available.

Two-tiered heritage protection in Australia strikes the wrong note

The Government of Western Australia has made itself look tin-eared at best and racist at worst in reportedly tabling draft legislation that would reinforce a two-tiered system of heritage protection in the state. In effect, the law - if enacted - would ensure that sites whose significance derives from their connection with Aboriginal tradition or culture are not subject to protection under the Heritage Act. Instead, the recognition and care of Aboriginal sites fall under another piece of legislation, the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

Wandjina Rock Art, The Kimberley, Western Australia

 

According to the WA Heritage Minister, the move is motivated simply by a desire to avoid unnecessary duplication of regulation. However, archaeologists and Aboriginal community leaders note that the two laws are not comparable and the protection available under the Aboriginal Heritage is considerably weaker than that which protects European sites.

Although perhaps well-intentioned, the result is a government which appears ready to perpetuate the notion that Aboriginal culture is somehow "second-class." Given the legacy of colonialism and exploitation of Aboriginal people in Australia, there must surely be a better way to cut back on red tape.

Indian Tourism Ministry enlists tech in its struggle against litterbugs and vandals

While heritage-related technology news has lately foccused on the use of imaging and remote sensing to preserve world heritage sites - if only virtually - that are threatened by the iconoclasts of so-called Islamic State and their ilk, India's Ministry of Tourism has enlisted technology in its longstanding fight against litterbugs.

The Times of India reported this week on the launch of a smart phone app that will allow users to take photos of graffiti, garbage and other "violations" and upload them to a "control room" manned by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), whose mandate include upkeep of monuments.

The app will initially focus on 25 monuments, including world heritage sites such as the Red Fort, Qutub Minar and Taj Mahal.

Hopefully the Ministry of Tourism will undertake an evaluation of the app's effectiveness. While I suspect the impact of "crowdsourcing" public services is often overrated, this app may just appeal to smart phone users who seem never to miss an opportunity to pull out their device.

Italy caps visitors to Cinque Terre in a victory for local residents

Designated a world heritage site in 1997, the stretch of coast between Cinque Terre and Portovenere in Italy's Liguria Region has some of the world's most picturesque villages and most striking landscape.

However, as reported on this blog last October, the region's beauty has proven something of a curse for the local population, as tourist numbers have skyrocketed following the establishment of a cruise ship terminal nearby.

Cinque Terre, Liguria (credit: Idéfix-commonswiki)

In a victory for those opposed to mass tourism in Cinque Terre, Italian authorities have announced this week that that they will limit visitors to the area through a ticketing system that will stop access to the area once a pre-defined maximum has been reached. In doing so, authorities hope to reduce the number of visitors from 2.5 million last year to 1.5 million in 2016.

I expect community groups adversely affected by mass tourism elsewhere will be watching this initiative this with interest.