St. George's bid to rank alongside the Great Wall of China and other world famous places took a step further with its World Heritage Site application, getting the seal of approval from Premier Jennifer Smith.

The Premier opened an exhibition which is part of the final planning for the town's bid to become a World Heritage Site -- along with 600-plus historic places across the globe.

World Heritage and Bermuda explains what the application is about and calls for input from the public to help form the vital management plan for the bid.

Later this year, United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation, will consider the application -- which it is understood is extremely likely to be accepted.

Premier Smith said the move would help boost the Island's efforts to sustain eco and environmentally-friendly tourism.

She said the town was an Island treasure and had some of its oldest buildings, and for those reasons deserved to be a World Heritage Site.

"We firmly believe that the World Heritage Site will be an important boost for tourism. The benefits will be felt not only in St. George's but also across Bermuda,'' she said yesterday.

The exhibition at Ordnance Island, is to move to other locations across the Island before going to Fort St. Catherine's.