Global Campaign Launches to Select New Seven Wonders of the Modern World Including Israeli Sites
Nearly two decades after the global selection of the New Seven Wonders of the World, a new international initiative has been launched to crown the "7 Wonders of the Modern World." This time, only sites constructed since 1801 are eligible, and the public worldwide is invited to propose candidates and vote. The initiative is led by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and focuses on the impact of modern sites on tourism, local economies, and communities rather than solely on historical or architectural significance.
Examples cited by the WTTC as potential candidates include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza. However, no official candidate list has yet been released. The selection criteria emphasize a site's contribution to tourism, economic benefits, community development, and its role in enhancing the global tourism profile of its city or country.
The nomination phase opened on July 7, 2024, and will close on January 7, 2027, after which the WTTC will announce a shortlist of 70 candidates. Public voting will then narrow the list to 30 finalists by April 7, 2027, and the final seven wonders will be revealed on July 7, 2027.
Israeli sites are eligible for nomination if they meet the criteria. Notably, the Bahá'í Gardens and the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a globally recognized symbol of Israel, could be strong contenders. Whether any Israeli site will make the official shortlist will be known after the nomination phase ends.
This new project echoes the 2007 New Seven Wonders campaign, which engaged about 100 million people worldwide and selected iconic sites like the Colosseum in Rome, Petra in Jordan, and Machu Picchu in Peru. Interestingly, the Eiffel Tower, a finalist in 2007 but not selected then, is now highlighted by the WTTC as a prime candidate for the modern wonders list. The final outcome will be revealed following the upcoming voting stages.
