Learn about Unesco's World Heritage Sites, including Mount Kinabalu, virtually
You can now immerse yourself in the beauty of Kinabalu Park in Sabah without even having to set foot there, thanks to Google Arts & Culture's Unesco World Heritage Site collection.
The Kinabalu Park's inclusion into the collection was unveiled recently in commemoration of the park's 25th anniversary as a World Heritage Site this year.
On the Google Arts & Culture page, you can learn all about Malaysia's tallest mountain – Mount Kinabalu – as well as the park's lush rainforests and its geography.
The Kinabalu Park is not just a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is also a Unesco Global Geopark, while the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
Take the virtual Talking Tour to visit all these places, as well as the park's vibrant botanical garden.
Apart from the Kinabalu Park, Google's expansion also features other Unesco-listed sites including in countries like Germany, Brazil and China. So far, there are 3,454 sites featured in the collection.
The Curonian Spit, a remarkable sand dune spit nestled between Lithuania and Russia, was designated as a World Heritage Site 25 years ago.
This unique sandy landscape, measuring a length of 98km, was carved by the sea, wind, and human activity more than 5,000 years ago.
Meanwhile, Rwanda's first Natural World Heritage Site is the Nyungwe Forest National Park in the Albertine Rift Ecoregion. The park, which spans over 101,900ha, houses the African continent's largest mountain forest and is part of the country's biggest peat bog, particularly the Kamiranzovu Marsh.
Another equally important location is Macao, which was inscribed into the World Heritage Site list in 2005.
Macao's architecture and landscape are largely influenced by the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century.
Other World Heritage Sites featured include the Leon Cathedral (Nicaragua), Buzau Land (Romania), Lencois Maranhenses National Park (Brazil) and The Windsborn Crater Lake (Germany).
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The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Learn about Unesco's World Heritage Sites, including Mount Kinabalu, virtually
Google's new AI-guided Talking Tours lets you 'scale' Mount Kinabalu. — Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark You can now immerse yourself in the beauty of Kinabalu Park in Sabah without even having to set foot there, thanks to Google Arts & Culture's Unesco World Heritage Site collection. The Kinabalu Park's inclusion into the collection was unveiled recently in commemoration of the park's 25th anniversary as a World Heritage Site this year. On the Google Arts & Culture page, you can learn all about Malaysia's tallest mountain – Mount Kinabalu – as well as the park's lush rainforests and its geography. The Kinabalu Park is not just a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is also a Unesco Global Geopark, while the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. Take the virtual Talking Tour to visit all these places, as well as the park's vibrant botanical garden. Apart from the Kinabalu Park, Google's expansion also features other Unesco-listed sites including in countries like Germany, Brazil and China. So far, there are 3,454 sites featured in the collection. The Curonian Spit, a remarkable sand dune spit nestled between Lithuania and Russia, was designated as a World Heritage Site 25 years ago. This unique sandy landscape, measuring a length of 98km, was carved by the sea, wind, and human activity more than 5,000 years ago. Meanwhile, Rwanda's first Natural World Heritage Site is the Nyungwe Forest National Park in the Albertine Rift Ecoregion. The park, which spans over 101,900ha, houses the African continent's largest mountain forest and is part of the country's biggest peat bog, particularly the Kamiranzovu Marsh. Another equally important location is Macao, which was inscribed into the World Heritage Site list in 2005. Macao's architecture and landscape are largely influenced by the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. Other World Heritage Sites featured include the Leon Cathedral (Nicaragua), Buzau Land (Romania), Lencois Maranhenses National Park (Brazil) and The Windsborn Crater Lake (Germany).
Focus Malaysia
3 days ago
- Focus Malaysia
Will a million international tourists visit Kelantan this year?
A BERNAMA report recently stated that Kelantan is targeting the arrival of one million international tourists this year, compared with only 595,000 in 2024, with a special focus on the Chinese and Japanese markets. State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said: 'If last year we managed to attract over 595,000 foreign tourists, bringing the overall total to 11.1 million, this time we want to draw even more international visitors to Kelantan.' He was speaking at the 'Mmukat' Beach Festival in Pantai Impian Kemasin, which is an initiative to promote Bachok as a tourism town by turning traditional fishermens' activities into experiential tourism products. He said that while the state may not be rich in natural resources, it has natural beauty, beaches, and culture that offer a unique attraction, adding that the state's strong performance last year, exceeding its 10-million tourist target with 10.5 million arrivals. I have been to Kelantan only once, and that was 46 years ago. When I learned that my colleague will be driving a foreign outbound tour operator (commonly referred to as a travel agent) from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu, I decided to accompany them. I remember the operator (who plan and organise outbound tours from his country) was not impressed with Kelantan, and least of all the hyped-up Beach of Passionate Love (Pantai Cinta Berahi), which was later renamed Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Moonlight Beach) in 1990. Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) said, 'Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars'. He meant to aim high, and even if you fall short, will still result in a significant outcome. It was inspiring when I first read it more than half a century ago, but no longer. Instead, we ought to be more pragmatic. If targets and challenges are unclear, they will be missed by more than a mile, and exposed when communicating to various stakeholders and the public. For example, there was no distinction made between tourists and visitors. Visitors that stay overnight are tourists, whereas all visitors include both tourists and excursionists who are day-trippers that do not stay overnight at destinations they visit. If there were almost 600,000 tourists to Kelantan last year, where did they stay? If the majority was from South Thailand, many could have stayed with relatives and friends or in private residences booked online. But the majority would have stayed at budget or tourist-class hotels. If so, hoteliers in Kelantan must have been grinning from ear to ear last year. If a million were to arrive this year, the limited number of hotels in Kelantan would be unable to cope with the huge influx of tourists to the state. If so, there would have been a mad rush to build new accommodation or convert existing buildings into hotels or residences for tourists. But the reality on the ground is quite different. In any case, the most accurate indicator is using average hotel occupancy rate multiplied by number of rooms available to derive total number of occupied room nights. Without such data, figures on tourist numbers are plucked from the sky. The number of domestic visitors also needs scrutiny. Visitors to the state can be intrastate or interstate. The former are those who travel from one district to another within the same state, and the latter from other states, but mostly across the border from Terengganu, Pahang and Perak. In any case, it is impossible to identify and count the total number of domestic visitors. Sample surveys produce estimates that will vary greatly according to agenda. Again, the best indicator would be hotel rooms occupied by domestic tourists, regardless of which state they come from. Touting impressive arrival figures is nothing more than a syiok sendiri exercise. The most effective way to develop tourism in any town, city or state is to approach visitors and record their feedback, with the aim of offering them more of the positive and cutting down on the negative. ‒ Aug 18, 2025 YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: The Star
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Vietnam PM attends ceremony announcing Unesco World Heritage status for Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes
The Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes was the birthplace of Truc Lam Buddhism. - Unesco World Heritage Convention QUANG NINH, Vietnam: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính attended a ceremony at the Yen Tu Historical and Scenic Relic Site in the northern province of Quang Ninh on August 17 to mark the official recognition of theYen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes as a Unesco World Cultural Heritage Site. Centred on the Yen Tu Mountain Range, the 12 sites were home to the Tran Dynasty during the 13th and 14th centuries. It includes a core area of 525.75 hectares and a buffer zone of 4,380.19 hectares. The complex is a pilgrimage destination which includes pagodas, temples, shrines, and archaeological remains tied to religious and historical figures. In his address, PM Chinh emphasised that Unesco recognition is not only a point of pride, but also a meaningful tribute to the distinctive values of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist tradition – an essential force in shaping Vietnam's national identity and cultural spirit. The PM called for coordinated efforts to safeguard and promote the heritage's values, outlining several key directives. These include the completion of legal frameworks at both national and local levels to ensure effective protection of the interprovincial heritage site, and the clear delineation of responsibilities among government agencies, local authorities, and communities. He also urged the development of a comprehensive management plan, led by Quang Ninh, in collaboration with relevant ministries and neighbouring localities. This plan should identify and mitigate risks, address the impacts of natural disasters, and propose sustainable tourism management strategies that balance conservation with cultural tourism, he stressed. Every citizen must serve as a cultural ambassador, he stated, calling for collective commitment, especially across digital platforms, to enable the unique legacy of this heritage complex to be shared with the international community. He reaffirmed that the people are both the beneficiaries and key custodians of cultural heritage. A special art programme titled 'Sounds of Yen Tu – An Eternal Heritage' was performed during the ceremony. It traced the spiritual journey of King Tran Nhan Tong, who, after fulfilling his royal duties, renounced the throne and founded the Truc Lam Zen School at Yen Tu. His philosophy of 'living joyfully in the world' championed reconciliation, peace, and harmony – core values that remain relevant today. Pham Duc an, Chairman of the Quang Ninh People's Committee, reaffirmed their commitment to managing the heritage in line with national law and the Unesco World Heritage Convention. He stressed the importance of preserving the site's integrity while promoting innovation and sustainable development. With deep pride and a strong sense of responsibility, the Complex will continue to flourish – not only as a spiritual and cultural icon of Vietnam, but also as a global destination that promotes peace, human values, and intellectual heritage. Also speaking at the event, Jonathan Wallace Baker, Unesco Representative in Vietnam, highlighted the universal significance of the site. He noted that Yen Tu symbolises Vietnam's spiritual identity and the unique way in which national character has been shaped by Buddhism, indigenous culture and philosophical values. The Complex is the ninth world heritage of Vietnam and the second inter-provincial world heritage, after Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago in Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong City. — Vietnam News/ANN
