UNESCOcide

A process by which adding a location to a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's world heritage list, instead of aiding preservation of the site, only draws overtourism which leads to further degradation and enshittification of the heritage its proponents sought to preserve.

Italian journalist Marco D'Eramo described UNESCOcide as a "kiss of death" where an attempt to preserve or protect a notable site by listing it as UNESCO world heritage backfires. By drawing overtourism and wreckreation to what were sites of great natural or cultural merit. it all too often cures the disease by killing the patient.

In acknowledging that a site is worth protecting, a UNESCO listing contributes to its destruction, deterioration or commodification until a world landmark becomes a mess of souvenir stands, greasy fast food and high prices which drive the original locals or natives out of the community they created.

By pricing everyone else out, this leaves just the promoters, tourists and hucksters.

There's only one place on Earth that's safe from UNESCOcide: Taiwan. The United Nations refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan even exists in their misguided haste to appease the communist mainland. Maybe we should hide there?

UNESCOcide by bitchuck December 17, 2025