What is the New7Wonders Foundation?

🏛️ Definition: What is the New7Wonders Foundation?

The New7Wonders Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving human and natural heritage. It's best known for its global surveys to determine new lists of architectural and natural wonders of the world. Beyond the selection processes, the Foundation aims to promote cultural diversity, sustainable development, and global citizenship. It operates with the philosophy that by inspiring global participation in celebrating our shared heritage, it can contribute to protecting it for future generations.

📜 History and Background

The Foundation was established in 2001 by Bernard Weber, a Swiss-born filmmaker and adventurer. His vision was to create a democratic and inclusive platform where people from all over the world could participate in choosing the New7Wonders of the world. This initiative sought to update the original list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, which was largely inaccessible to modern travelers.

• 🗳️ Initial Concept: The idea stemmed from the desire to create a contemporary list that reflected a broader range of cultural and natural sites.
• 🌐 Global Polls: The first global poll, selecting the New7Wonders of the World, concluded in 2007.
• 🌳 Natural Wonders: Following the success of the first campaign, the Foundation launched the New7Wonders of Nature in 2011.
• 🏙️ Cities: In 2014, the New7Wonders Cities campaign recognized urban achievements and promoted city tourism.

🔑 Key Principles

The New7Wonders Foundation operates on several core principles:

• 🤝 Global Participation: Encouraging people worldwide to participate in the selection processes through voting.
• 🌍 Cultural Diversity: Promoting awareness and appreciation of diverse cultural and natural sites.
• 🌱 Sustainable Development: Advocating for sustainable tourism practices that benefit local communities and protect the environment.
• 🛡️ Heritage Preservation: Raising funds and awareness for the preservation of selected sites.

📍 Real-world Examples and Impact

The New7Wonders campaigns have had a significant impact on tourism and conservation efforts globally. Here are a few examples:

• 📈 Tourism Boost: Sites like Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China experienced a surge in tourism following their selection as New7Wonders.
• 💰 Economic Benefits: Increased tourism revenue has provided economic benefits to local communities surrounding these sites.
• 📢 Global Awareness: The campaigns have raised global awareness about the importance of preserving cultural and natural heritage.
• 🏛️ Preservation Projects: The Foundation has supported preservation projects at various sites to ensure their long-term protection.

⭐ Conclusion

The New7Wonders Foundation plays a crucial role in promoting global awareness, cultural diversity, and heritage preservation. Through its inclusive selection processes and advocacy efforts, the Foundation inspires people worldwide to celebrate and protect the world's most remarkable sites for future generations. It's more than just a popularity contest; it's a movement towards global unity and environmental stewardship.