WTTC Invites the World to Choose the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World

For the first time in history, people around the world will have the opportunity to nominate and help select the places that best define the modern age of travel. The campaign aims to establish a new global benchmark for contemporary wonders, recognising not only architectural and cultural significance, but also the transformative role these places play in revitalising local economies, attracting investment and creating jobs.

From the Eiffel Tower in Paris (France) to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao (Spain) and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza (Egypt), contemporary wonders demonstrate how bold ambition, visionary investment and long-term collaboration can transform a destination's global standing. These places have not simply attracted visitors; they have also stimulated investment, supported jobs and will help redefine the identity of entire cities and nations.

At a time when governments around the world are seeking new sources of growth and resilience, WTTC is launching the campaign to highlight the value of world-class tourism assets as strategic infrastructure. Beyond their cultural importance, iconic landmarks and visitor attractions already deliver lasting economic and social benefits. Choosing the 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World also highlights how public-private collaboration can create world-class landmarks that generate future growth and enhance the visitor experience.

The campaign will recognise not only globally celebrated icons, but also emerging landmarks that have delivered a meaningful impact on their communities and have the potential to shape the next generation of tourism destinations. The selection criteria consider factors such as tourism contribution, economic impact, community value and destination development alongside cultural and architectural significance.

The year-long campaign follows four stages:

Nominations open worldwide

The 70 nominees are announced and public voting begins

The shortlist narrows to 30 finalists

The 7 Contemporary Wonders of the World are revealed

By highlighting both globally recognised icons and emerging landmarks, WTTC aims to demonstrate how Travel & Tourism can unlock new sources of growth, spread economic benefits more broadly across regions and communities, and inspire a new generation of investment in the places that will shape how the world travels. The public can send in their nominations by visiting the wttc website nomination page: https://contemporary-wonders.wttc.org/

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