It is often held that historical sites should be fully closed to the public. While some people argue that these sites must be forbidden in order to protect people and preserve the value of sites, others believe that access to them provides social and economic benefits. In my opinion, the public should be permitted to visit landmarks, but it is essential to implement stricter security measures.
On the one hand, closure to historical sites keeps the protection and preservation of them. In other words, sites often become fragile, which is a result of the public’s physical touch and pollution. Furthermore, if governments limit access to landmarks, mass tourism will decline, and the public is likely to cause less harm, which aids in preserving the value of these sites. Ultimately, in many European countries, the risk of vandalism is at a high level, which can decline the significance by causing physical deterioration. For example, acts of vandalism, such as graffiti and deliberate destruction, damage the structure of landmarks, thereby diminishing their historical value.
On the other hand, accessible historical sites bring social and economic advantages. Nowadays, individuals have an opportunity to learn history not only through historical materials and literature, but by visiting landmarks in real life. In addition to this, cultural awareness and appreciation promote conservation of cultural heritage, which offers social benefits. Besides, historical sites lead to economic improvement in touristic countries. When tourists visit landmarks, the revenue, which stems from them, maintains the preservation and locals. Therefore, allowing access to historical sites helps countries to enhance socially and economically.
In conclusion, both these establishments have their own positive and negative impacts. Restricting the access to historical sites provide protection and preservation of their value, whereas providing full freedom to explore landmarks offer social and economic benefits, such as the conservation of cultural heritage and the enhancement of educational process. From my point of view, governments should regulate access to historical sites by controlling visitor limits, rules, and guided tours.