World Heritage Day: Impact of lockdown on our seven wonders of the World

On different dates but earlier in the year 2020, the whole word was imposed with lockdown. This pandemic has even closed the seven wonders of the world which haven’t shut from the past many years. Let’s take a look at what impact this lockdown has on our seven wonders:-

1.Great Wall of China

China is the birthplace of Coronavirus, and lockdown was also imposed there earliest. The most hard hit country from COVID-19 last year. Some parts of the Great Wall of China, which is a powerful symbol for China, have  been closed. The most popular section of that wall in Badaling, northern Beijing was also closed. Every year more than 10 million people visit the Great Wall of China, pandemic caused a drastic fall in tourists. 

After this 12.2 percent of drastic fall in average booking activity was seen initially. In total an average of 47.1 percent of fall in the tourism market has seen. 

2. Chichén Itzá El Castillo 

Chichen Itza is an ancient city in Mexico, built by Maya peoples. Mexico is one of the top ten countries in the world for tourism according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Chichen Itza experienced a great fall in no. Of tourists as compared to the last 10 years. In 2020, 634.5 thousand tourists visited while from 2009 to 2019 the number of tourist count was between 2.36 million to 16.66 million. From millions to thousands it is a drastic fall in the tourism industry of Mexico. 

3. Petra

Petra is a symbol of Jordan. Around 918,000 tourists visited Petra in the year 2010. “It is the first time I have seen this place so empty, only sound we hear now is birds chirping,” says Nayef Hilalat who worked there for decades now. Many tourists guide, along with horse and donkey owners are out of work, which is causing unemployment. 

4. Machu Picchu 

The closure of Machu Picchu is very challenging for the economy. The visitors have left the country on repatriation flights. Machu Picchu was about to open in July but as the second wave of Coronavirus was about to hit the decision was delayed. This is adversely affecting the economy of Peru. 

5. Christ the  Redeemer statue 

During this pandemic also, this 125-foot statue was symbolising peace to Brazil citizens by wearing doctors coat. Pandemic have hit their tourism but after 5 months their visitors started to come, not only domestic but international also.

6. Colloseum 

In Italy tourist spots were closed for a short period. Upto 90 percent of hotels and travel agency bookings have cancelled in Rome and around 80 percent in Sicily,” says Italy’s Tourism Federation. These cancellations in booking resulted in a great loss for tourism. 

7. Taj Mahal 

Known as the symbol of love, Taj Mahal is located in India, one of the most affected country by the coronavirus. Taj Mahal has never been closed from decades but this pandemic has done that. It is the  greatest tourist visiting site which helps in tourism economy. But the pandemic has hit India’s economy harder. While this spot is opened for domestic visitors from the past, few months but foreign visitors are still to come, who are very important to makeup the losses of last year.