Two Danish tourist towns, Skagen and Dragør, have chosen not to pursue inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, citing fears of mass tourism and potential threats to their cultural authenticity.
Skagen wary of infrastructure strain
In October last year, the local administration in Frederikshavn Municipality, where Skagen is located, recommended against applying for UNESCO recognition. Officials expressed concern that the designation could lead to a sharp rise in visitors, overwhelming the town’s limited infrastructure and accelerating the commercialisation of its cultural heritage.
Peter Sørensen (Conservative People’s Party), a member of the municipality’s Economy Committee and the Planning and Environment Committee, noted that Skagen is already experiencing significant growth in cruise ship arrivals, with 200,000 cruise passengers expected in 2025. He warned that the town’s isolated location at the tip of Denmark makes it vulnerable to road congestion and other pressures from high tourist volumes.
Dragør withdraws from tentative list
Dragør, whose historic old town is currently on Denmark’s UNESCO tentative list, has decided to withdraw its application. Mayor Kenneth Gøtterup (Conservative People’s Party) explained that the municipality lacked clarity on the financial and logistical implications of the designation, including maintenance costs and the capacity to manage a potential tourist surge.
Gøtterup cited experiences from other European towns that saw a sharp increase in visitors after UNESCO recognition, raising questions about how local authorities could cope with the influx.
Expert: UNESCO status often attracts global visitors
Søren Vadstrup, former head of the Raadvad Centre and member of ICOMOS, UNESCO’s advisory body, confirmed that many tourists actively seek out World Heritage sites. This trend is particularly strong among travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Examples from Iceland and Gotland in Sweden show that tourism spikes can challenge local communities if not carefully managed.
The type of heritage site also plays a role: a controlled visitor centre at Møns Klint poses different challenges than a living medieval town where residents live and work.
Læsø embraces UNESCO bid
In contrast, the island of Læsø is moving forward with its UNESCO application for its traditional seaweed thatched roofs and historic salt production. Mayor Tobias Birch Johansen (Liberal Party) hopes the status will attract more year-round visitors, helping to extend the tourism season. He emphasised that the island’s ferry-based access allows local authorities to regulate visitor numbers if necessary.
Local surveys on Læsø indicate strong community support for the initiative, though residents also expressed concerns about capacity and preservation. The application includes strategies for managing visitor impact while safeguarding the island’s unique cultural assets.
UNESCO in Denmark and Greenland
Denmark currently has eight cultural and three natural sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, along with one recognised intangible heritage tradition shared with Sweden and Norway. Greenland, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has three sites listed for their cultural and natural significance.
The debate in Skagen and Dragør reflects a broader challenge faced by heritage sites worldwide: balancing global recognition with sustainable tourism management to protect local culture and infrastructure.
