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Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism
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Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 11045

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Patrizia Riganti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
Interests: cultural tourism; cultural economics; non-market valuation of cultural capital; contingent valuation method; stated preferences methods; heritage-led sustainable development; smart cities; cultural diversity; urban design; participatory planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonia Gravagnuolo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Research Council, Italy (CNR), Institute of Heritage Science (ISPC), 80134 Naples, Italy
Interests: circular city; human-centred city; circular tourism; cultural heritage; smart urban planning; impacts assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The relationship between cultural heritage and sustainable tourism has become a critical area of research in recent years as heritage destinations around the world grapple with increasing pressures from over-tourism, environmental degradation, and shifting social dynamics. Historic cities and cultural destinations, often significant for their historical and cultural values, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of mass tourism, which can lead to the degradation of both tangible and intangible heritage assets. The urgency of addressing these challenges is further amplified by the growing global awareness of sustainability and its role in shaping future tourism practices.

In this context, the academic community is increasingly focusing on innovative solutions that balance the need for tourism development with the imperative of preserving cultural heritage. Research in this area has begun to explore novel economic models, community-led tourism initiatives, and sustainable tourism frameworks that not only protect heritage sites but also enhance visitor experiences and contribute to the well-being of local communities. This Special Issue contributes to this ongoing discourse by examining new approaches that promote sustainability within the heritage tourism sector, encouraging responsible tourism behavior, and fostering long-term preservation efforts.

An important dimension of this research involves the use of economic valuation methods, including multicriteria and non-market valuation techniques, which support decision-making by evaluating the impacts of tourism on cultural heritage, communities, and ecosystems, providing evidence-based support for more balanced and sustainable tourism practices. These methods offer valuable insights for urban regeneration and heritage conservation by helping stakeholders make informed decisions that align with sustainable development goals.

This Special Issue explores the intersection of sustainability and heritage tourism, focusing on contemporary challenges such as over-tourism, climate change, and shifting social dynamics. It aims to offer innovative methods and solutions for preserving cultural heritage while promoting sustainable tourism practices. By examining how heritage tourism can adapt to global pressures, the issue will contribute fresh insights into the application of sustainability principles in cultural heritage management, tourism experiences, and community engagement.

Aligned with the journal Sustainability’s mission, this issue seeks to investigate sustainable practices that mitigate over-tourism and unsustainable tourism models. It promotes discussions on new economic models, evaluation methods in support of decision-making, cultural identities, responsible tourism frameworks, and innovative heritage interpretation methods that foster more sustainable tourism behaviors.

We encourage contributions on the following topics:

  • Over-tourism in Historic Cities and Destinations: Examining the impact of excessive tourism in cultural heritage sites and proposing sustainable solutions.
  • New Circular Economy Models in Heritage Tourism: Exploring innovative business models that promote reuse, reduce waste, and enhance the long-term sustainability of heritage destinations.
  • Evaluation Methods for Sustainable Heritage Tourism: Investigating decision-making frameworks and tools that incorporate multiple criteria (e.g., environmental, economic, social, and cultural factors) to assess the sustainability of heritage tourism projects.
  • Cultural Identity and Motivation to Travel to Cultural Destinations: Investigating the motivations that drive visitors to heritage sites and how cultural identity influences sustainable tourism behaviors.
  • Novel Approaches for Heritage Interpretation Promoting Sustainable Tourism Behavior: Introducing creative methods for engaging tourists in heritage interpretation that encourage responsible and sustainable tourism practices.
  • Community-led Models in Tourism for Heritage Regeneration: Highlighting the role of local communities in leading heritage tourism projects that focus on regeneration and long-term sustainability.
  • Responsible Tourism Frameworks and Changes in the Sustainability Paradigm: Discussing shifts in the sustainability paradigm and how responsible tourism frameworks can be implemented in heritage tourism.
  • Innovative Tourism Experiences Building on Creative Networks and Community Engagement: Showcasing tourism experiences that leverage creative networks and foster meaningful community involvement in heritage tourism.

By addressing these themes, the Special Issue aims to contribute to both academic discourse and practical applications in the field of sustainable heritage tourism, with an emphasis on the importance of community engagement and innovative approaches for preserving cultural heritage in a sustainable manner.

Dr. Patrizia Riganti
Dr. Antonia Gravagnuolo
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • sustainable tourism
  • cultural heritage preservation
  • over-tourism
  • circular economy in tourism
  • heritage regeneration
  • community-led tourism
  • responsible tourism
  • heritage interpretation
  • tourism sustainability
  • cultural identity in tourism

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1511 KB  
Article
A Study on the Influence of Tourist Comfort in Museum Agglomerations on the Sustainable Development of Urban Tourism: Evidence from Jongno-gu, Seoul, from the Perspective of Chinese Tourists
by Hang Zhang, Jinghao Zhao, Xiaolong Zhao, Eunkil Cho and Heangwoo Lee
Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3819; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083819 - 12 Apr 2026
Viewed by 55
Abstract
This study examines how perceived tourist comfort in museum agglomerations influences tourist satisfaction, museum agglomeration vitality, and the cultural sustainability of urban tourism, focusing on Jongno-gu, Seoul, based on the experiences of Chinese tourists. Moving beyond facility-centered evaluations of individual museums, the study [...] Read more.
This study examines how perceived tourist comfort in museum agglomerations influences tourist satisfaction, museum agglomeration vitality, and the cultural sustainability of urban tourism, focusing on Jongno-gu, Seoul, based on the experiences of Chinese tourists. Moving beyond facility-centered evaluations of individual museums, the study conceptualizes museum agglomerations as continuous tourism environments shaped by movement, guidance, congestion, waiting, rest, and overall usability. Four latent constructs—Tourist Comfort, Tourist Satisfaction, Museum Agglomeration Vitality, and Cultural Sustainability of Urban Tourism—were tested using structural equation modeling. The results show that Tourist Comfort significantly enhances both Tourist Satisfaction and Museum Agglomeration Vitality, while Tourist Satisfaction further strengthens Museum Agglomeration Vitality. In addition, both Tourist Satisfaction and Museum Agglomeration Vitality have significant positive effects on the Cultural Sustainability of Urban Tourism. Tourist Comfort also exerts an indirect influence on cultural sustainability through the mediating pathways of Tourist Satisfaction and Museum Agglomeration Vitality. These findings contribute a demand-side, cluster-level explanation of how museum districts become experientially activated for tourists, while also indicating that the results should be interpreted as case-based evidence for Chinese tourists in Jongno-gu rather than as a universally generalizable model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism)
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18 pages, 385 KB  
Article
How Perceived Cultural Authenticity Shapes Sustainable Heritage Tourism Behavior: The Serial Mediating Roles of Visitor Experience Quality and Sense of Place
by Changjun Ma, Gang Liu and Xiaorong Wang
Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3677; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083677 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 195
Abstract
While cultural authenticity is recognized as central to heritage tourism experiences, the mechanisms through which perceived authenticity influences sustainable tourism behavior remain underexplored. This study develops and empirically tests a serial mediation model examining how perceived cultural authenticity (PCA) affects intergenerational transmission willingness [...] Read more.
While cultural authenticity is recognized as central to heritage tourism experiences, the mechanisms through which perceived authenticity influences sustainable tourism behavior remain underexplored. This study develops and empirically tests a serial mediation model examining how perceived cultural authenticity (PCA) affects intergenerational transmission willingness (ITW) and long-term participation intention (LPI) through visitor experience quality (VEQ) and sense of place (SOP). Using survey data from 400 visitors to revolutionary heritage sites in Hainan, China, we employed hierarchical regression and PROCESS Model 6 bootstrap analysis to test seven hypotheses. Results reveal that: (1) PCA significantly influences both VEQ and SOP; (2) VEQ and SOP significantly predict ITW and LPI; and (3) VEQ and SOP serially mediate the PCA–behavioral intention relationship. These findings advance understanding of how authenticity perceptions translate into sustainable heritage tourism outcomes through experiential and affective pathways. Practical implications for heritage site management, focusing on authenticity preservation and experience design, are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism)
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23 pages, 2991 KB  
Article
Coupling Coordination and Influencing Factors of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development: A Case Study of Sichuan Province, China
by Cheng Hou, Yanping Zhang and Xi Zhou
Sustainability 2026, 18(6), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18062788 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 391
Abstract
The integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and tourism development (TD) is regarded as a crucial national strategy for China’s sustainable development, as their synergistic relationship is considered pivotal for regional progress. A coupling coordination evaluation system was constructed. Kernel density estimation, entropy [...] Read more.
The integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and tourism development (TD) is regarded as a crucial national strategy for China’s sustainable development, as their synergistic relationship is considered pivotal for regional progress. A coupling coordination evaluation system was constructed. Kernel density estimation, entropy method, coupling coordination degree (CCD) and relative development degree (RDD) models, and a tobit model were employed to examine the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of ICH–TD integration in Sichuan Province. Key findings are as follows: (1) Sichuan is endowed with abundant ICH resources characterized by high heritage value and diverse typologies. However, the distribution is skewed toward traditional skills, exhibiting notable regional disparities. ICH demonstrates a “single-core, belt-shaped and multi-cluster” pattern, which is centered on Chengdu, extends along a north–south high-density belt, and forms several secondary high-density clusters. (2) Temporally, the CCD demonstrates a sustained upward trend, whereas the RDD transitions from ICH-lagged to TD-lagged. Spatially, the number of high coordinated cities increases annually, expanding radially from regional centers, while central-eastern regions consistently outperform the west. (3) Regarding influencing factors, comprehensive economic strength, distribution of industrial structure, overall level of urbanization, and transportation accessibility exert significant positive effects on the CCD, with comprehensive economic strength demonstrating the strongest influence. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of ICH–TD synergy and provides policy-relevant guidance for integration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism)
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30 pages, 2381 KB  
Article
Circular Models for the Sustainable Regeneration of Italian Rural Villages: A Critical Analysis of Good Practices Toward the Definition of a Circular Rural Village
by Francesca Buglione, Piera Della Morte, Mariarosaria Angrisano, Antonia Gravagnuolo and Luigi Fusco Girard
Sustainability 2026, 18(3), 1405; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031405 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 664
Abstract
In the context of the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus, circularity and sustainability have emerged as central paradigms for rethinking development models in both urban and rural areas. While most literature focuses on cities, rural villages are increasingly recognised as [...] Read more.
In the context of the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus, circularity and sustainability have emerged as central paradigms for rethinking development models in both urban and rural areas. While most literature focuses on cities, rural villages are increasingly recognised as living laboratories where cultural heritage, landscape values, and community-based practices can support sustainable and responsible tourism. This study applies the Circular Development framework to 54 European case studies of rural regeneration, examining the interrelations among cultural heritage enhancement, sustainable tourism, circular resource management, and community engagement. Through a mixed-methods approach combining frequency and cluster analysis, the research identifies strategic domains and recurring configurations of actions, contributing to the definition of a conceptual model for the Circular Rural Village. Three pillars (Circular Tourism, Circular Land, and Circular Living) articulate how cultural identity, experiential tourism, ecological regeneration, and participatory governance can foster integrated and sustainable development. The findings offer insights for policy-makers and practitioners aiming to activate regenerative tourism and heritage-led circular transitions aligned with sustainability goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism)
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14 pages, 723 KB  
Article
Revolutionising Heritage Interpretation with Smart Technologies: A Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism
by Gokce Ozdemir and Sayyeda Zonah
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104330 - 10 May 2025
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6029
Abstract
This study investigates the integration of digital technologies in leading European museums to enhance heritage interpretation, increase visitor engagement, and contribute to sustainable tourism. As museums increasingly adapt to the digital age, they seek innovative solutions to enrich the visitor experience while promoting [...] Read more.
This study investigates the integration of digital technologies in leading European museums to enhance heritage interpretation, increase visitor engagement, and contribute to sustainable tourism. As museums increasingly adapt to the digital age, they seek innovative solutions to enrich the visitor experience while promoting sustainability. This research uses a content analysis approach to examine the strategies employed by four prominent museums—the Louvre, the British Museum, the Prado Museum, and the Rijksmuseum. Key digital initiatives, including virtual tours, educational apps, and online collections, are identified as central components of their efforts to improve accessibility, facilitate interactive learning, and attract a wider global audience. Our findings highlight that these digital innovations not only provide visitors with more engaging and informative experiences but also align with sustainability objectives such as reducing carbon footprints and supporting cultural preservation. This study concludes that by leveraging smart technologies, museums are evolving into dynamic, globally connected institutions that strike a balance between conservation and visitor engagement, thereby fostering a more sustainable and inclusive approach to heritage tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism)
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Review

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31 pages, 652 KB  
Review
Immersive HCI for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tourism Contexts: A Narrative Review of Design and Evaluation
by Zhan Xu, Feng Liu, Guobin Xia, Shuo Wang, Yiting Duan, Luwen Yu, Shichao Zhao and Muzi Li
Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010153 - 23 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and multisensory interaction are increasingly deployed to support the transmission and presentation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), particularly within tourism and heritage interpretation contexts. In cultural tourism, ICH is often [...] Read more.
Immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and multisensory interaction are increasingly deployed to support the transmission and presentation of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), particularly within tourism and heritage interpretation contexts. In cultural tourism, ICH is often encountered through museums, heritage sites, festivals, and digitally mediated experiences rather than through sustained community-based transmission, raising important challenges for interaction design, accessibility, and cultural representation. This study presents a narrative review of immersive human–computer interaction (HCI) research in the context ICH, with a particular focus on tourism-facing applications. An initial dataset of 145 records was identified through a structured search of major academic databases from their inception to 2024. Following staged screening based on relevance, publication type, and temporal criteria, 97 empirical or technical studies published after 2020 were included in the final analysis. The review synthesises how immersive technologies are applied across seven ICH domains and examines their deployment in key tourism-related settings, including museum interpretation, heritage sites, and sustainable cultural tourism experiences. The findings reveal persistent tensions between technological innovation, cultural authenticity, and user engagement, challenges that are especially pronounced in tourism context. The review also maps the dominant methodological approaches, including user-centred design, participatory frameworks, and mixed-method strategies. By integrating structured screening with narrative synthesis, the review highlights fragmentation in the field, uneven methodological rigour, and gaps in both cultural adaptability and long-term sustainability, and outlines future directions for culturally responsive and inclusive immersive HCI research in ICH tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Urban Tourism)
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