Old City of Dubrovnik
Factors affecting the property in 2021*
- Housing
- Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
- Major visitor accommodation and associated infrastructure
- Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
- Armed conflict (issue resolved)
- Earthquake in September 1996 (issue resolved)
- Need to extend the buffer zone
- Large project in the vicinity of the property
- Cruise ship tourism
- Carrying capacity of the property
- Planned Sport and recreation centre with golf course and tourist settlement (issue resolved)
UNESCO Extra-Budgetary Funds until 2021
Total Amount of the postwar major restoration programme coordinated by UNESCO: USD 80,000,000
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2021
Total amount approved : 142,053 USD
| 2003 | Participation de trois experts de l'UNESCO à deux ... (Approved) | 8,358 USD |
| 2003 | Restoration of Dubrovnik - a documentary (Approved) | 4,685 USD |
| 1994 | Contribution to the establishment of a documentation ... (Approved) | 50,000 USD |
| 1994 | Restoration of mural paintings in the Baroque Festival ... (Approved) | 8,000 USD |
| 1992 | Financial contribution to urgent activities for the ... (Approved) | 30,000 USD |
| 1992 | Financial contribution for the organization of a ... (Approved) | 19,000 USD |
| 1988 | Consultation on excavations at Dubrovnik Cathedral (Approved) | 2,000 USD |
| 1985 | Financial contribution to computer equipment for the ... (Approved) | 20,010 USD |
Missions to the property until 2021**
November 1996: fact-finding mission; November 2015: joint UNESCO/ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2021
On 29 November 2019, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report, the summary of which is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/95/documents. This report provides information on measures implemented by the State Party in response to the Decision adopted by the World Heritage Committee at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018), including:
- Progress with preparation of a Conservation Study and Plan for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of the historic core of Dubrovnik;
- Development of the Management Plan, which is at the drafting phase;
- Commencement of the preparation of the Interpretation Strategy;
- Suspension of the Bosanka 2 Project and elaboration of a new urban development plan for the project area;
- Cancellation of the Lazaretto Landing stage project;
- Improvement of tourism management, including Memoranda of Understanding signed between the City and both the Cruise Lines International Association and the Global Sustainable Council;
- Progress with the renovation of the historic sewer system, including features revealed during works;
- The 2018 legislative amendment, introducing the provisions for a conservation study for the buffer zone of the property.
Other conservation issues identified by the State Party in the report include further information on the restoration of Orlando’s column, implementation of an educational programme on waste management in the city and initiatives celebrating the 40th anniversary of the property’s inscription on the World Heritage List. In addition, in October 2018, ICOMOS provided a positive technical review of the proposed construction of the new Hotel Belvedere, which is on a prominent site, overlooking the property.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2021
The Committee’s previous recommendations are being addressed by the State Party, which outlined an ambitious programme for 2020, including the completion of the Conservation Plan for the Historic Core of Dubrovnik, the Management Plan for the property including a Risk Assessment Plan, the Sustainable Tourism Development and Carrying Capacity project, an Interpretation Strategy, and a monitoring report on Orlando’s column. The State Party has confirmed that these plans and reports will be sent to the World Heritage Centre upon completion.
A number of other issues and projects remain current, including the ‘Respect the City’ initiative, the Bosanka development (subject to elaboration of a new urban development plan), and actions which will arise from the Memoranda of Understanding between the City of Dubrovnik and The Cruise Lines International Association and with the Global Sustainable Council. This progress is to be welcomed, but the majority of actions and reports requested in previous Committee decisions are yet to be completed and implemented.
The Committee has previously noted that the restoration of the historic sewage system had the potential to affect significant engineering structures and archaeological features, and requested that information on this project be provided to the World Heritage Centre for review by the Advisory Bodies before works commenced. It is regrettable, that the works appear to have proceeded without this important step, but the documentation relating to this programme, including Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) undertaken in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage properties, should nevertheless be submitted to the World Heritage Centre.
Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2021
44 COM 7B.42
Old City of Dubrovnik (Croatia) (C 95ter)
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 42 COM 7B.20, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
- Notes the measures being taken by the State Party to address the Committee’s previous requests to mitigate the threats to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, including new urban development plans and agreements directed at improved tourism management;
- Also notes progress achieved with the development of the Management Plan and related conservation and management documents, and requests the State Party to finalize and submit the following documents to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies:
- The Conservation Plan for the Historic Core of Dubrovnik,
- The Management Plan, including Risk Assessment Plan,
- The Sustainable Tourism Development and Carrying Capacity project,
- The Interpretation Strategy,
- The monitoring report on Orlando’s column;
- Reiterates its previous requests to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre comprehensive project details, including Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) undertaken in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage properties for the repair works, which have been undertaken for the sewer system, and the proposed Bosanka 2 project (if and when it proceeds), for review by the Advisory Bodies, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Also requests the State Party to submit a report on actions arising from the Memoranda of Understanding between the City of Dubrovnik and The Cruise Lines International Association and between the City of Dubrovnik and the Global Sustainable Council;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session.
Draft Decision: 44 COM 7B.42
The World Heritage Committee,
- Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/7B,
- Recalling Decision 42 COM 7B.20, adopted at its 42nd session (Manama, 2018),
- Notes the measures being taken by the State Party to address the Committee’s previous requests to mitigate the threats to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property, including new urban development plans and agreements directed at improved tourism management;
- Also notes progress achieved with the development of the Management Plan and related conservation and management documents, and requests the State Party to finalize and submit the following documents to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies:
- The Conservation Plan for the Historic Core of Dubrovnik,
- The Management Plan, including Risk Assessment Plan,
- The Sustainable Tourism Development and Carrying Capacity project,
- The Interpretation Strategy,
- The monitoring report on Orlando’s column;
- Reiterates its previous requests to the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre comprehensive project details, including Heritage Impact Assessments (HIAs) undertaken in accordance with the 2011 ICOMOS Guidance on HIAs for Cultural World Heritage properties for the repair works, which have been undertaken for the sewer system, and the proposed Bosanka 2 project (if and when it proceeds), for review by the Advisory Bodies, in conformity with Paragraph 172 of the Operational Guidelines;
- Also requests the State Party to submit a report on actions arising from the Memoranda of Understanding between the City of Dubrovnik and The Cruise Lines International Association and between the City of Dubrovnik and the Global Sustainable Council;
- Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2022, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 46th session in 2023.
Croatia
Exports
* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).
** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.
