Sydney Opera House Achieves World Heritage Status
State Plan Priority P1: Increase Tourism Visitation to NSW
Sydney’s iconic Opera House has achieved UNESCO World Heritage status today, placing the world renowned performing arts
venue and tourist attraction officially alongside other listed landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal
and the Great Wall of China.
NSW Minister for Tourism, Matt Brown said the listing would add to the building’s fame as a “must see” attraction in
Australia.
“It is entirely fitting that Sydney Opera House has been listed today. The UNESCO World Heritage Listing places Sydney
Opera House in its rightful place as an official world landmark.
“When international visitors think of Australia, they think of Sydney and particularly of the Sydney Opera House. For
many, a visit to the Opera House while they are in Sydney is not just a ‘must do’ but also an honour.”
Mr Brown said the Opera House was a core component of Tourism NSW’s promotions for Sydney internationally under the
There’s no place in the world like Sydney brand.
“Tourism NSW works in partnership with Sydney Opera House to promote the city’s most recognisable tourism icon
internationally.
“Sydney Opera House is by far the city’s most recognised tourist attraction, with about 4.5 million visitors and around
2500 performances each year.”
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced a number of new entries to its listing at
the 31st session of the World Heritage Committee in Christchurch, New Zealand this week.
Other landmarks listed by the Committee today include: South Africa’s Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Lanscape and
China’s Kaiping Diaolou and Villages.
NSW currently has four World Heritage sites including the Lord Howe Island group, Willandra Lakes and the Greater Blue
Mountains area
UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the
world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. World Heritage sites are considered to belong to all the
peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located.
ENDS