Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2024 | Viewed by 5304

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Tourism, Heritage and Culture Department, Portucalense University, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida Street, n.º 541/619, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: humanities and social sciences, with a focus on archaeology; cultural heritage; preventive conservation; heritage management and spatial planning and sustainable development; impacts and threats to cultural heritage; heritage interpretation and enhancement; museology; universal accessibility; accessibility of heritage; cultural tourism; religious and accessible tourism; pilgrimages
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tourism, Heritage and Culture Department, Portucalense University, Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida Street, n.º 541/619, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: cultural heritage; history; cultural landscape; living heritage; heritage safeguard; heritage tourism and cultural tourism; urban landscape; water heritage; historical landscape safeguard

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Heritage visits represent one of the main drivers of the dynamics of historic centres and the development of conservation, safeguarding, and sustainability of the heritage in these places. We have witnessed a profound regeneration of the landscape of historic cities and a greater concern for the conservation of the historical heritage, resulting from successive dynamics that promote heritage visits and tourism development. These dynamics are not only centred on heritage, but also increase the economic benefits for the communities of residents who find other forms of income and more job opportunities, constituting an important means of developing social equity, reducing inequalities, and increasing sustainability.

At the same time, the dynamics surrounding historical heritage can also constitute risks if there is no concern for the balance between visits and the protection and safeguarding of the heritage. In this sense, the dynamics of historic centres must count on a broad dialogue and great cooperation between the various actors involved in order to manage the historic centre and visits in a sustainable manner, acting in the protection of the values intrinsic to cultural heritage.

It is therefore necessary to identify the main risks inherent in heritage tourism and to identify cases, methodologies, and strategies that promote the sustainable use of cultural heritage and its constant surveillance.

There is still a scarcity of scientific literature on these and other related topics. With this Special Issue, we aim to fill these gaps by encouraging researchers from different areas to explore the possibilities of research on these themes in a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, diachronic and/or synchronised, and transversal way.

Possible themes:

  1. Landscape character and heritage safeguarding
  2. Regenerative tourism and resilient cities
  3. Heritage capacity-building strategies
  4. Armed conflict, heritage safeguarding, and city tourism dynamics
  5. City's sustainable policies and methodologies in heritage tourism
  6. Universal accessibility in historic centres
  7. Heritage tourism and sustainable development
  8. Challenges and sustainability of heritage tourism
  9. Innovation and sustainability of heritage tourism
  10. Historical centres and adaptive reuse
  11. Interpretation, valorization, and communication of heritage tourism
  12. Urban and sustainable dynamics of heritage tourism
  13. Risks and challenges of heritage tourism

Prof. Dr. Fátima Matos Silva
Prof. Dr. Isabel Vaz de Freitas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • heritage tourism
  • cultural tourism
  • heritage safeguard
  • city tourism dynamics

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 3928 KiB  
Article
Conservation and In Situ Enhancement of Earthen Architecture in Archaeological Sites: Social and Anthropic Risks in the Case Studies of the Iberian Peninsula
by Sergio Manzano-Fernández, Camilla Mileto, Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares and Valentina Cristini
Heritage 2024, 7(5), 2239-2264; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7050106 (registering DOI) - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 231
Abstract
Archaeological sites constitute one of the main tourist attractions in the heritage offerings of most populations. Their ability to convey the ways of life and construction techniques of past societies through physical remains positions them as a culturally significant alternative for visitors. However, [...] Read more.
Archaeological sites constitute one of the main tourist attractions in the heritage offerings of most populations. Their ability to convey the ways of life and construction techniques of past societies through physical remains positions them as a culturally significant alternative for visitors. However, their physical conservation, essential for efficiently ensuring information with precision, poses a serious challenge for the various professionals involved, as numerous social and anthropic risks threaten long-term preservation for the enjoyment of future generations. Of all traditional building materials, earth is undoubtedly one of the most fragile and sensitive to loss in the absence of the original protection systems, so that a precise assessment of its threats is essential to minimizing the destruction of these non-renewable assets. The objective of this study is to evaluate the most determining human risk factors within the territorial scope of the Iberian Peninsula, including aspects such as its musealization, suitable interpretation, visit planning, agricultural land use, vandalism and rural depopulation. This is achieved through a literature review and on-site data collection from 85 archaeological sites, as well as the development of an analysis tool to assess the degree of vulnerability, aiming to develop prevention measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics)
28 pages, 1862 KiB  
Article
Urban Heritage Facility Management: A Conceptual Framework for the Provision of Urban-Scale Support Services in Norwegian World Heritage Sites
by Bintang Noor Prabowo, Alenka Temeljotov Salaj and Jardar Lohne
Heritage 2024, 7(3), 1372-1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7030066 - 09 Mar 2024
Viewed by 817
Abstract
This study validated the theoretical keypoints obtained from a previously published scoping literature review within the context of three Norwegian World Heritage sites: Røros, Rjukan, and Notodden. The cross-sectional table of the urban heritage facility management (UHFM) framework, which is based on interviews [...] Read more.
This study validated the theoretical keypoints obtained from a previously published scoping literature review within the context of three Norwegian World Heritage sites: Røros, Rjukan, and Notodden. The cross-sectional table of the urban heritage facility management (UHFM) framework, which is based on interviews and correspondence, demonstrates the connection between the tasks of the six clusters of technical departments responsible for the provision of urban-scale support services and the modified critical steps of the Historic Urban Landscape approach, in which an additional step for “monitoring and evaluation” was included. UHFM operates at the intersection of heritage preservation, urban-scale facility management, and stakeholder coordination, which requires a careful balance between urban heritage conservation and sustainable urban management practices, thus enabling the preservation of World Heritage status that, among others, fosters sustainable tourism. The three case studies highlighted the significance of UHFM in preserving heritage value, authenticity, visual quality, and significance. Besides providing comprehensive support services that extend beyond the daily tasks of conservators and World Heritage managers, UHFM also allows feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement. This study highlighted the complex relationship between the provision of urban-scale support services and the preservation of Outstanding Universal Value as the core business of World Heritage sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics)
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14 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
Residents’ Environmentally Responsible Behavior and Tourists’ Sustainable Use of Cultural Heritage: Mediation of Destination Identification and Self-Congruity as a Moderator
by Ibrahim A. Elshaer, Alaa M. S. Azazz and Sameh Fayyad
Heritage 2024, 7(3), 1174-1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7030056 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 936
Abstract
In the face of escalating global concerns surrounding environmental sustainability and the preservation of cultural heritage, this research explores the intricate connection between residents’ environmentally responsible conduct (ERB) and tourists’ sustainable involvement with cultural heritage sites (SU). Highlighting the pivotal importance of destination [...] Read more.
In the face of escalating global concerns surrounding environmental sustainability and the preservation of cultural heritage, this research explores the intricate connection between residents’ environmentally responsible conduct (ERB) and tourists’ sustainable involvement with cultural heritage sites (SU). Highlighting the pivotal importance of destination identification (DI) as a mediator and self-congruity (SC) as a moderator, our study utilizes a quantitative data approach to investigate the nuanced relationships inherent in the domain of tourism destinations. The data were collected from 324 tourists (visiting Luxor heritage city in Egypt) and analyzed by PLS-SEM, and the results showed a positive correlation between residents who strongly identify with their local environment and an increased dedication to environmentally responsible actions. Moreover, tourists who demonstrate elevated levels of self-congruity with the cultural heritage destination are inclined to embrace more sustainable behaviors, thereby making positive contributions to heritage preservation initiatives. This study enriches the evolving domain of sustainable tourism by providing insights into the intricate interactions between residents and tourists, fostering environmentally responsible behavior, and promoting the sustainable utilization of cultural heritage. Practical applications encompass the formulation of community-based interventions, the design of destination marketing strategies, and the proposal of policy recommendations. These initiatives aim to enhance the engagement of both residents and tourists, fostering the long-term preservation of cultural and environmental assets. Ultimately, the research seeks to guide sustainable tourism practices that strike a balance between the economic advantages of tourism and the essential preservation of cultural heritage and natural environments for future generations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics)
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12 pages, 870 KiB  
Article
Heritage Tourism Resilience and Sustainable Performance Post COVID-19: Evidence from Hotels Sector
by Alaa M. S. Azzaz and Ibrahim A. Elshaer
Heritage 2024, 7(3), 1162-1173; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7030055 - 22 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1078
Abstract
Heritage tourism in Egypt, differentiated by its distinctive ancient wonders and cultural prosperity, has faced numerous challenges through its history, with political unrest, economic fluctuations, and, most recently, the global COVID-19 pandemic. This research paper investigates the dynamic interplay between planned and adopted [...] Read more.
Heritage tourism in Egypt, differentiated by its distinctive ancient wonders and cultural prosperity, has faced numerous challenges through its history, with political unrest, economic fluctuations, and, most recently, the global COVID-19 pandemic. This research paper investigates the dynamic interplay between planned and adopted resilience within the hotel sector in Egyptian heritage sites and their consequential effects on both social and economic sustainability. A quantitative research method was employed to empirically explore these dynamics. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 550 top and middle managers in hotels located in heritage sites, capturing insights into their perspectives on planned and adopted resilience. The collected data underwent rigorous analysis utilizing “partial least squares structural equation modeling” (PLS-SEM), providing a robust foundation for drawing meaningful conclusions. Findings from the research underscore the necessity of aligning planned and adopted resilience to generate sustainable social and economic performance. The synthesis of planned and adopted resilience was revealed to be pivotal in generating sustainable social and economic performance for hotels. This synthesis catalyzes the hotels’ ability to mitigate uncertainties, adjust to changing environment, and ensure long-term viability. This research might contribute to the current literature by suggesting industry-specific awareness for the reciprocal relationship between planned and adopted resilience in the hotel businesses and their combined influence on both sides of sustainability (social and economic). The findings provide actionable recommendations for hotel management, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to enhance resilience, foster social cohesion, and ensure the economic sustainability of heritage tourism in an everchanging environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics)
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12 pages, 6082 KiB  
Article
From Oblivion to Life: The Recovery of Intangible Cultural Heritage through the Anti-Aircraft Shelters of the Spanish Civil War
by Pablo Rosser and Seila Soler
Heritage 2024, 7(2), 817-828; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020039 - 09 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1158
Abstract
This article examines the rehabilitation of anti-aircraft shelters from the Spanish Civil War in Alicante, Spain. Funded by European resources and managed by local public administration, these shelters have been restored as cultural and tourist attractions. This study aims to analyze their role [...] Read more.
This article examines the rehabilitation of anti-aircraft shelters from the Spanish Civil War in Alicante, Spain. Funded by European resources and managed by local public administration, these shelters have been restored as cultural and tourist attractions. This study aims to analyze their role in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage, with a focus on their significance as tangible remnants of a historical period and their reflection on survival practices during the war. This research investigates the impact of public management in rehabilitating these shelters and in disseminating their history and culture. It explores decision-making processes, community engagement, and strategies for promoting cultural tourism. Employing a mixed methodology, this study gathers primary data through interviews with individuals who witnessed the war and secondary data from documentary and bibliographic sources. Findings suggest that the rehabilitation of these shelters has been pivotal in preserving Alicante’s historical memory and cultural heritage. Making the shelters accessible to the public facilitates knowledge transmission about the Spanish Civil War, promotes cultural tourism, and engages the local community in the dissemination of history and culture. This study’s results and conclusions are relevant for academics, professionals, and cultural heritage managers at both national and international levels, offering insights into the effective preservation and promotion of historical sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics)
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