Indicators for Cultural and Creative Industries’ Impact Assessment on Cultural Heritage and Tourism

Jelinčić, Daniela Angelina

doi:10.3390/su13147732

Abstract

Cultural heritage is an important factor in ensuring regional development. Practice has demonstrated that first sustainability of heritage sites needs to be ensured and tourism they generate should also be re-visited as current over-tourism models are unsustainable. The assumption is that cultural/creative industries (CCI) can be a powerful tool for heritage livability as well as for sustainable tourism based on experiences. In order to stimulate regional development, specific CCI measures are often introduced in public policies but results of policy interventions are rarely monitored. Their performance can be measured against the pre-set indicators. Research studies focusing on such indicators are scarce. This short communication provides a possible conceptual framework alongside concrete indicators for cultural/creative industries’ sector impact assessment on cultural heritage and sustainable experiential tourism on the policy as well as on the project level. Desk research and brainstorming methods were applied to design the indicator sets resulting in a tool which is to be further tested and used in practice.

Keywords:

cultural heritage; cultural/creative industries; experience tourism; impact assessment; indicators

Cultural heritage has an important role in sustainable development and regional resilience. It ensures employment, impacts tourism development and entrepreneurship consequently influencing increased income for the local population as well as tax revenues for the government. Further on, its role in ensuring social sustainability is seen in the social cohesion, inclusion, participation and local community well-being [1,2]. It may equally ensure environmental sustainability in promoting greener economy and climate adaptation as well as cultural sustainability since heritage is often featured in literature, films, music and visual arts. Its educational and scientific role is also immense as heritage is often used in (in)formal education or is a subject of various research.

It is estimated that “cultural tourism accounts for 40% of all European tourism; 4 out of 10 tourists choose their destination based on its cultural offering” [3], and “it is safe to assume that majority of tourist attractions and destinations in the world today are based on elements of cultural heritage” [4] (p. 3). This fact usually looks promising for cultural heritage managers since cultural tourism greatly contributes to the financial sustainability of heritage sites and to regional development. In practice, however, not all heritage sites are equally valorized. Some of them are subject to over-visitation, while others are totally deprived from visitors. Dual situation is noted:

For a long time a number of heritage interventions have been abundantly funded from different EU sources but failed to ensure sustainability, among other, due to the missing audiences; and
Tourism, although primarily contributing to heritage financial sustainability and regional economic sustainability, has become the very threat to it as over-tourism moves center-stage for some heritage sites.

Therefore, one of the main challenges in ensuring cultural heritage sustainability is its adequate management, which relates to integrated management process, from heritage product development to its interpretation. Cultural/creative industries proved to be effective on that task as they offer livability; heritage is not and should not be a static symbol of the past but is a living proof of a community identity related to their contemporary ways of living. Using architecture, arts, design, film, music, etc. may greatly enhance heritage attractiveness for the local community and visitors, thus having a direct relation with heritage audience development. On the other hand, the pre-pandemic over-tourism requires re-modelling by offering individual experiences. Cultural/creative industries again have a say in it since they offer tools for experience design.

The main assumption is, therefore, that ensuring heritage sustainability by the use of cultural/creative industries consequently also impacts development of sustainable experiential tourism and is in direct relationship with regional resilience and sustainable development.

In order to ensure heritage sustainability and ensure its impact on economy, society, environment and culture, it is necessary to develop adequate public policies, which can justify their investments in cultural heritage and stimulate development of sustainable tourism. Such policies need regular monitoring and evaluation, which is rarely performed in practice, checking their performance against the pre-set indicators. There are scarce research studies focusing on cultural heritage sustainability indicators, e.g., [5,6] and those relating to indicators to be used in decision-making are especially uncommon, e.g., [2].

This short communication provides a possible conceptual framework alongside concrete indicators for cultural/creative industries’ sector impact assessment on cultural heritage and sustainable experiential tourism. They have been developed based on the Jelinčić and Tišma’s study [5] which introduced measurement of heritage sustainability by three sets of indicators: sociocultural (covering 12 areas), environmental (3 areas) and economic sustainability (7 areas). As much as their work is well grounded, and areas well determined, the indicator sets are not all encompassing but only mentioned on the level of examples. This short communication aims to fill this gap by offering an all-encompassing indicator sets and introducing cultural/creative industries as one of the drivers for heritage sustainability. With this aim, methodology used by the Cultural and Creative Cities Monitor (CCCM) [7] has been consulted and some of the indicator areas introduced and further developed. The work has also been complemented with desk research. Different studies have been consulted focusing on creativity indexes, e.g., [8,9], cultural citizenship indexes [10], heritage sustainability indexes [11] and tourism sustainability indicators [12,13]. Based on that, indicators for cultural/creative industries’ impact assessment on cultural heritage are proposed on two levels: policy level and project level. At the policy level, they potentially serve decision-makers against which policy interventions can be measured and adequately adapted, while on the project level, they serve cultural heritage managers in their daily operations potentially leading to a successful management of their cultural heritage sites.

The proposed indicator sets for cultural/creative industries’ impact assessment on cultural heritage on the policy level are divided in three main heritage areas: heritage vibrancy, creative economy and enabling environment following the CCCM methodology. Each of them is further divided in specific heritage themes, and for each of them indicators proposed (see Table 1). Public policies may consider the introduction of the proposed indicators while introducing specific measures to stimulate sustainable heritage projects.

Table 1. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on cultural heritage on the policy level.

On the project level, more specific and detailed indicators may be introduced to ensure sustainability of a specific heritage site. Thus, nine heritage areas are proposed in line with the usual cultural heritage management concept (see Table 2). These allow performance management measurement at the level of a specific heritage site and may be a useful tool in daily operations.

Table 2. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on cultural heritage on the project level.

As cultural/creative industries are also important tools for experience design, they have an important role in experiential tourism which is considered to be sustainable as it focuses on needs and desires of individual tourists, thus avoiding masses and over-tourism. This may be especially important for tourism policies, which before the pandemic hardly coped with over-tourism. The proposed indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on sustainable experiential tourism on the policy level are divided in two main tourism areas: tourism sustainability, and tourism experiences. These are further developed in specific tourism themes with associated indicators (see Table 3.)

Table 3. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on sustainable experiential tourism on the policy level.

Finally, indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on sustainable experiential tourism on the project level are proposed (Table 4). They are divided in eight main tourism areas, touching main issues in tourism project management. As with the previous sets, this is also further elaborated in specific themes and indicators.

Table 4. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on sustainable experiential tourism on the project level.

Complexity of issues to be regarded in the heritage/tourism management posed to be a challenge in the design of these indicator sets. First, there are a lot of sustainability issues to be taken into account which results in a number of indicators. Second, there are overlapping issues which can be treated from different perspectives (e.g., local community management can be seen from the point of view of social sustainability or economic sustainability). This may be considered as a limitation to this conceptual framework. The fact is that the integrated indicator sets are rarely available and they have to be adapted to a specific situation.

The proposed conceptual framework and indicator sets are to be further tested. Then, the ex post analyses should be made as to measure their relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. Their contribution is primarily seen in the facilitation of the monitoring process, and consequently in matching the performance of the measures/activities against the policy instrument priorities or project goals. Based on this, policy instruments as well as individual heritage/tourism projects may be enhanced.

Funding

This specific research received no external funding but has resulted based on experience gained through several projects funded by Interreg Europe (KEEP ON), Interreg Central Europe (ForHeritage) and Interreg VB Adriatic-Ionian / Regional Development Agency Dubrovnik-Neretva County DUNEA (CREATURES). The APC was funded by the Institute for Development and International Relations.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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Table 1. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on cultural heritage on the policy level.

Table 2. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on cultural heritage on the project level.

Heritage Area	Heritage Theme	Indicators
Heritage preservation and protection enhancement	Research	Number of research activities using CCIs Number of CCIs used for heritage research activities
	Preservation	Number of heritage-related traditions/customs/knowledge preserved Existence of CCI-related systems for heritage preservation Level of heritage preservation after the application of CCI-related heritage preservation systems
	Protection	Existence of CCI-related systems for heritage protection Level of heritage preservation after the application of CCI-related heritage protection systems Existence of technological solutions to decrease social (e.g., over-visitation, looting) or natural pressures (e.g., earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, invasive plants, carbon emission, climate change)
Heritage revival and livability	Revival	Number of heritage visitors due to CCI intervention into heritage Number of aesthetic CCI interventions into heritage sites for urban/rural territorial development
Heritage revival and livability	Livability	Number of enhanced heritage-related services due to CCI intervention (e.g., technology-based educational tours, digitization for scientific purposes) Number of CCI products promoting a heritage brand
Financial, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability of cultural heritage	Financial sustainability	Number of CCI-related funding sources (e.g., crowdfunding, CCI products retail, co-branding, CCI-related interpretation) Amount of CCI-related funds earned Number of CCI entrepreneurs/enterprises using heritage infrastructure, equipment and interpretation tools in their business operations (e.g., for advertising, filmmaking, video-clips and music recordings, space rentals, etc.)
	Environmental sustainability	Number of digitally preserved heritage assets Number of activities of heritage digitization Existence of CCI-related systems for environmental protection Existence of CCI-related systems for monitoring activities
	Socio-cultural sustainability	Number of research projects related to heritage Number of researchers participating in heritage-related research activities Number of published papers, master’s and doctoral dissertations related to heritage Number of CCI-related educational and awareness raising programs on heritage Number of educated participants in topics related to heritage Number of CCI programs/activities at a heritage site Number of participants in CCI programs/activities Cultural heritage presence in artworks, stories, films, music compositions, design, etc. Number of artists and CCI workers using heritage infrastructure for cultural creation
Heritage products/services enhancement	Products/services	Number of new/enhanced CCI products/services related to CH (e.g., films, books, designs, musical pieces, etc.) Number of companies with new heritage-related CCI products
Heritage marketingimprovement	Distribution	Number of new/enhanced CCI-related product/services distribution channels
	Pricing/sales	Number of CCI-related products/services sold/used
	Branding	Number of heritage-based unique selling points in collaboration with CCI Number of CCI products promoting a heritage brand
	Promotion	Heritage product/attraction promotional reach
Heritage interpretation enhancement	Interpretive media	Number of innovative interpretation media using CCIs (e.g., QR codes, 3D technologies, multimedia and interactive tools, multisensory media, enhanced interpretive design, interpretive films, etc.) Number of new storytellers
	Visitor satisfaction	Number of satisfied heritage visitors due to the introduction of CCI-related interpretive media
	Heritage awareness and education	Level of heritage interpretation understanding/raised awareness due to the introduction of CCI-related interpretive media
Enhanced human resources management	Employees	Use of CCI-related human resources management tools (e.g., software) Level of effectiveness of CCI-related human resources management tools Number of new CCI-related job openings
Enhanced human resources management	Volunteers	Use of CCIs in volunteer engagement Number of CCI-related volunteering programs applied
Visitor management improvement	Tools	Number of uses of CCIs for smart visitor management design (e.g., design, film, architecture, publishing, ICT, etc.) Existence of CCI-related visitor management tools (e.g., visitor counting systems)
Visitor management improvement	Visitor number and satisfaction	Increase and level of satisfaction of heritage visitors due to CCI-related visitor management tools Share of heritage visitors compared to other selected and relevant heritage attractions
Local community	Access	Number of CCIs used in audience development Existence of an innovative CCI-related entrance counting system
Local community	Participation	Number of CCI-related outreaching methods to involve local community Number of people/groups involved Number of local community members participating in CCI heritage-related activities (e.g., music festivals, book readings, exhibitions, film shows, etc.) Number of local community members offered the opportunity to distribute their CCI-related products/services at a heritage site Number of local community members’ CCI-related products/services offered at a heritage site

Table 3. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on sustainable experiential tourism on the policy level.

Table 4. Indicators for CCIs’ impact assessment on sustainable experiential tourism on the project level.

Tourism Area	Tourism Theme	Indicators
Financial, social, environmental and cultural sustainability of tourism projects	Financial sustainability	Number of operational CCI entrepreneurs/enterprises working in tourism in a 5-year span Increase in CCI SMEs and start-ups income in a 5-year span Number of CCI-related funding sources (e.g., crowdfunding, CCI products retail, co-branding, CCI-related interpretation) for tourism programs Amount of CCI-related funds earned Number of tourism programs using CCI-related programs/activities Number of tourists in CCI-related programs/activities
	Environmental sustainability	Existence of CCI-related systems for environmental protection in tourism infrastructure Existence of CCI-related systems for monitoring activities Existence of technological solutions to decrease over-visitation and natural pressures impacting tourism
	Socio-cultural sustainability	Number of research projects related to tourism Number of researchers participating in tourism-related research activities Number of published papers, master’s and doctoral dissertations related to tourism Number of CCI-related educational and awareness raising programs on tourism Number of educated participants in topics related to tourism CCI presence in artworks, stories, films, music compositions, design, etc. used as a basis for tourism programs
Tourism infrastructure improvement	Physical infrastructure	Number of tourism buildings using local architects’ design Number of CCIs used in the construction/enhancement of tourism buildings (e.g., architecture, design, music, visual arts, ICT, etc.) Number of local CCI SMEs/start-ups engaged in the construction/enhancement of tourism buildings
Tourism infrastructure improvement	Technical infrastructure	Number of technology-related enhancements of tourism products/services (e.g., IoT-based hotel services, experiences, multisensory products, etc.)
Tourism products/services enhancement	Human capacity building	Number of tourism workers trained in topics related to contemporary tourism trends (e.g., experiential tourism, creative tourism, transformative tourism, etc.) Number of training activities in topics related to contemporary tourism trends (e.g., experiential tourism, creative tourism, transformative tourism, etc.)
Tourism products/services enhancement	New products/services	Number of new/enhanced CCI products/services related to tourism (e.g., films, books, designs, musical pieces, creative gastronomy, cultural tourism routes, experiences, etc.) Number of tourism services using technology (e.g., IoT, experiences, technology-based educational tours etc.) Number of tourists participating in/consuming CCI tourism-related activities (e.g., music festivals, exhibitions, performing arts shows, cultural tourism routes etc.)
Tourism marketing improvement	Distribution	Number of new/enhanced CCI-related product/services distribution channels Existence of an innovative CCI-related tourism ticketing system
	Pricing/sales	Number of CCI-related tourism products/services sold/used
	Branding	Number of CCIs used in tourism brand design Number of CCI products promoting a tourism brand
	Promotion	Number of new/enhanced tourism promotional campaigns using CCIs Number of communication channels used Number of media engaged
Market/visitor development	New markets reach	Number of CCIs used in new tourist markets reach and development Number of CCI-related outreaching methods towards new markets Number of young tourists using CCI-related tourism products/services
Market/visitor development	Tourist satisfaction and loyalty	Percentage of satisfied tourists due to consumption of CCI-related products/services Share of satisfied tourists compared to other selected and relevant tourism attractions
Enhanced human resources management	Education and training for sustainable experiential tourism	Number of tourism workers trained in experiential tourism (e.g., topics: theming, positive and negative cues in experience design, experiential souvenirs, engagement of the senses, emotional branding, etc.)
Enhanced human resources management	Employees	Use of CCI-related human resources management tools in tourism (e.g., software) Level of effectiveness of CCI-related human resources management tools in tourism Number of new CCI-related tourism job openings
Tourists management improvement	Tools	Number of uses of CCIs for smart visitor management design (e.g., design, film, architecture, publishing, ICT, etc.) Existence of CCI-related visitor management tools (e.g., tourists’ counting systems)
Tourists management improvement	Tourist numbers and satisfaction	Increase and level of satisfaction of tourism visitors due to CCI-related visitor management tools Share of tourists compared to other selected and relevant tourist attractions
Local community and interaction with tourists	Participation	Number of CCI-related outreaching methods to involve local community in decision-making on tourism development/management Number of people/groups involved Number of local community members offered the opportunity to distribute their CCI-related tourism products/services Number of local community members’ CCI-related tourism products/services offered
Local community and interaction with tourists	Interaction	Number of CCI-related tools for local community—tourists interaction (e.g., e-services) Number of SMEs and start-ups offering tools for local community—tourists interaction SMEs and start-ups Number of SMEs and start-ups offering tools for local community—tourists interaction income

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Heritage Area	Heritage Theme	Indicators
Heritage vibrancy	Heritage attractions	Number of heritage attractions using CCIs in different aspects of cultural heritage management Number of CCIs used for achieving heritage vibrancy
Heritage vibrancy	Heritage participation and attractiveness	Number of visitors to heritage sites Number of programs organized at heritage sites Level of heritage attractiveness (e.g., use of heritage in marketing campaigns, photo shootings, filmmaking, etc.)
Creative economy	Creative and knowledge-based jobs	Number of creative and knowledge-based jobs in the heritage sector Number of new creative and knowledge-based jobs in the heritage sector
	Heritage innovation	Number of CCI-related innovations in the heritage sector Number of CCI-related patents in the heritage sector
	Internationalization of heritage	International branding of national heritage Number of international visitors to heritage sites
Enabling environment	Human capital and heritage education	CCIs’ use in enhancing the human capital on heritage Number of heritage-related educational programs based on CCIs Number of educated persons
Enabling environment	Quality management of heritage	Availability of quality heritage management educational programs/trainings Skilled cultural heritage workers Overall level of heritage preservation and its cultural/environmental/financial/social sustainability

Tourism Area	Tourism Theme	Indicators
Tourism sustainability	Financial and economic sustainability of CCI-related tourism programs	Number of operational CCI entrepreneurs/enterprises working in tourism in a 5-year span Number of tourists in CCI-related programs/activities
	Environmental sustainability	Existence of CCI-related systems for environmental protection in tourism infrastructure Existence of technological solutions to decrease over-visitation and natural pressures impacting tourism
	Socio-cultural sustainability	Existence of CCI-related educational and awareness raising programs on sustainable tourism Number of educated participants in topics related to tourism Number of artworks, stories, films, music compositions, design, etc. used as a basis for tourism programs
Tourism experiences	Tourism infrastructure improvement	Number of CCIs used in the construction/enhancement of tourism buildings (e.g., architecture, design, music, visual arts, ICT, etc.) Number of local CCI SMEs/start-ups engaged in the construction/enhancement of tourism buildings
	Experiential tourism products/services	Number of new/enhanced CCI products/services related to tourism (e.g., films, books, designs, musical pieces, creative gastronomy, cultural tourism routes, experiences, etc.) Number of tourists participating in/consuming CCI tourism-related activities (e.g., music festivals, exhibitions, performing arts shows, cultural tourism routes etc.)
	Marketing and market development	Number of CCI-related experiential tourism products/services sold/used Use of CCIs in experiential branding and market reach