To protect and preserve the historical monuments, World Heritage Centre with international community’s help is putting in their best efforts. The World Heritage Centre and its associates are developing a number of projects and arranging seminars, workshops and giving training to protect, preserve and maintain the historical monuments for long time and educating and making the youth aware.
Landslides, floods, tsunami, fire, earthquakes, hurricanes and fluctuation in water levels are some of the natural factors which could pose great threat to Historical monuments. And in some cases the demographic changes around such historical sites also pose major threat to them.
Ascertained Dangers means that historical monuments face threats which could damage the structure, materials, beautiful features and the environment due to natural disasters and man made hazards.
Potential Dangers means that the historical monuments face major man made and natural disasters which can have destructive effects on integral characteristics (drgeorgepc, 2011).
To critically analyze social responsibilities of hospitality organizations
The main aim of running any business is to earn profit. As the business is a part of the society, it performs a number of social functions and the sole reason of the business is not making profit.
To view things as social responsibility two factors have to be taken into consideration.
Social responsibility is not charity.
Social responsibility should not be good for some part of the community and bad for the others.
Over the next decade hospitality industry which is a multibillion-dollar industry will grow significantly globally. International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) contributes 950 billion US dollars every year and employs 60 million people. A lot of factors like environmental, social and economic conditions get affected by an industry of such a big calibre which can help in credible development. As the hospitality industry comes under service industry it is directly related to the society and its people. So the responsibility of the hospitality industry increases manifold towards the society compared to other organisations.
Evaluate the role of hospitality organization by exploring one case study (The Taj Mahal, India).
Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World which is very well known for its unique delicate architecture on its marble walls and outstanding monument structure. Taj Mahal is on the side of river Yamuna located in the north central part of India called Agra and spread over 42 acres of land.
Today Taj Mahal is facing a big threatening problem because of the air pollution caused by automobiles, factories which lead in acid rain and affecting the marble wall which is turning yellow in colour. This effect is kind of “marble cancer” in which the walls of Taj Mahal is decaying day by day. Indian environmentalist is fighting from long time in Supreme Court of India to take action against pollution to save the treasure. Now the fight is turning between the industrialist on whom labours are depended for their living and on other side government have to think also for his national treasure preservation. In recent years there is a drastic growth in industries and development within the big cities and according to WHO serve in Agra comes under “pollution intensive zone” of India and in this area sulphur dioxide content has increased by five times which is more than enough to destroy Taj Mahal totally (indiahotelreviews, 2011).
Major threats to Taj Mahal
Due to environmental abjection the beauty of Taj is diminishing day by day.
Pollution, boundless tourism, chemicals released from the industrial units and hazard due to rising level of Yamuna pose major threats to Taj Mahal.
The beauty of Taj Mahal is is diminishing day by day and its colour is turning pale due to vehicular and industrial pollution. Waste thrown by the visitors adds to the mess in and around the Taj Mahal.
Mathura refinery which is situated 25 miles from Taj Mahal poses eminent threat to the monument because of the pollution emission containing sulphur and nitrogen dioxide. These gases mixes with the rain and leads to acid rain.
The rising level of Yamuna during heavy rains and fluctuation in the level of the river during other seasons pose a major threat to the monument.
Indian Hotels Company signed a MoU with the National Cultural Fund (NCF) in 2001 and funded the project of conservation of the Taj Mahal executed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) undertook many programs ranging from compiling reports, hosting workshops and executing conservation processes in Agra. At the same time, there is hope for any building or monument that has some history attached to it, to claim attention for its conservation—even if it is not listed as a monument (dare, 2011).
Efforts taken to preserve the Taj
The efforts to protect the monument were started in early 1990’s.
1999- According to Supreme Court order- close 53 iron factories and 107 other plants that harm the Taj
2001- Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the and the Indian Hotel Company (the Taj group of hotels), the National Culture Fund (NCF) signed a memorandum to conserve, protect and restore Taj Mahal and its surroundings
2007- Environmental campaign launched to preserve the Taj Mahal and the campaign has been changed into the Green Indian movement
Supreme Court of India ordered to close down the factories that were harming the monument
Cars and buses ware banned to cross the cultural landmark
Many plants were planted in the Taj nature walk in order to preserve the beauty
2009- Natural gas pipelines have been placed to deliver clean fuel to industries in Agra and Firozabad
The three-wheelers previously running on diesel have been replaced by CNG-power
Mathura refinery has been making heavy investments to reduce pollution
(Greendiary, 2011).
To recommend how hospitality organizations can benefit from corporate social responsibilities.
Waldorf Astoria collections from Hilton runs the hotel in historical monuments which helps in conserving the monument and making money for the group. www.walfordastoria.com
It builds goodwill of the organization which leads to growth in their business.
Conclusion
After evaluating the threats faced by Taj Mahal as a example it can be seen that the historical monuments face major issues regarding their preservation and conservation. The same situation is being faced by monuments around the world and different steps have to be taken by the respective governments to save and conserve them. Historical monuments are to be preserved by the present generation for the following generations.
Reference List:
1.Drgeorgepc(2011). DisasterCulturalSites. Available at: (). Accessed on: (20/08/2011)
2.Indianhotelreviews(2011). Blogspot. Available at: (). Accessed on: (22/08/2011)
3.Greendiary(2011). immortal-Taj-mahal-is-dying-but-who-cares. Available at: (). Accessed on: (05/09/2011)
4.Dare(2011).conservation-and-preservation-of-monuments. Available at: (). Accessed on: (10/09/2011)
5.amazon(2011).Guide-Recording-Historic-Buildings. Available at(). Accessed on: (19/09/2011)
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vipinvarghese3 (student)
