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Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability in Geographic Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2025) | Viewed by 12216

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Dr. Lucrezia Lopez

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Guest Editor

Department of Geography, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Interests: human geography; tourism geography; heritage and heritage management; geography of pilgrimages and geography of sacred spaces; geo-humanities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Antonietta Ivona

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Guest Editor

Department of Economy and Finance, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Interests: economic geography; tourism; agriculture; heritage studies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In general terms, according to the UNWTO, sustainable tourism takes into account future economic, social, and environmental impacts, while preserving the needs of local communities and visitors. As a matter of fact, sustainable tourism is composed of three pillars: social justice, economic development, and environmental integrity. As far as sustainable cultural tourism is concerned, “culture” becomes the main driver for territorial sustainable development. In fact, it integrates the management of cultural heritage, tourism activities, and local communities. This mission implies relevant challenges, such as ensuring social and economic benefits for the involved agents and host communities, preserving the conservation of tangible and intangible heritage, and, no less important, designing policies and strategies aimed at connecting local actors and the needs of visitors.

Considering the outstanding importance of the development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the present Special Issue aims to address the understanding and impact of cultural tourism in sustainable territorial development. It also intends to gather research that point out the relevance of governance policies in promoting sustainable cultural tourism as a local economic resource.

This Special Issue covers theoretical and empirical research on Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience. Contributions presenting case studies and policy implementation are also welcome. The result will be an up-to-date source on the following themes:

Sustainable tourism development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Best practices for cultural tourism sustainability.
Sustainable event tourism.
Sustainable urban tourism.
Sustainable tourism planning and regional development.
Consumer behaviour.
Carrying capacity.
Visitor experience and visitor management.
Overtourism/undertourism.
Community development and sustainable cultural tourism.
Sustainable cultural tourism and climate change scenarios.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lucrezia Lopez
Dr. Antonietta Ivona
Guest Editors

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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.

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Keywords

sustainable cultural tourism
tourism development
overtourism/undertourism
visitor experience and management
tourism policies and strategies in cultural tourism
climate changes scenarios
UN sustainable development goals (SDGs)

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Related Special Issue

Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience—2nd Edition in Sustainability

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 25577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stintino (Sardinia, Italy): A Destination Balancing Tourist Gaze and Local Heritage

by Sonia Malvica, Valentina Arru, Nicoletta Pinna, Andreea Andra-Topârceanu and Donatella Carboni

Sustainability 2025, 17(12), 5650; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125650 - 19 Jun 2025

Abstract

The present study explores residents’ perceptions of Stintino (Sardinia, Italy) as a tourist destination. The municipality is predominantly known for La Pelosa beach, widely regarded as one of the most attractive coastal sites in Europe. However, its popularity has raised critical issues related to carrying capacity and seasonal overcrowding, contributing to a tourism model centered almost exclusively on beach-related activities. This study aims to investigate how locals conceptualize their place beyond the dominant seaside narrative, particularly considering Stintino’s identity as a former fishing village with a strong maritime tradition. As part of Italy’s designated inner areas, Stintino also embodies a deep-rooted connection to cultural heritage, further reinforcing the need for its preservation. Adopting a photovoice-based participatory visual methodology, this study engaged 15 local stakeholders from key sectors (hospitality, fishing tourism, retail, gastronomy, and cultural institutions) who produced and discussed photographic representations of their lived experience of the territory. The visual material was thematically analyzed using a conceptual framework informed by theories of place perception and social representations. The findings suggested a multifaceted territorial storytelling rooted in local heritage, symbolic spaces, and everyday practices. Tourism governance strategies could incorporate community-based approaches, such as participatory mapping and inclusive narrative development, to foster more sustainable and place-sensitive promotion models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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26 pages, 2086 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Revitalization of World Heritage Cities Through Cultural and Creative Industries: A Case Study of Pingyao Under the Cities, Culture, and Creativity Framework

by Li Zhao and Eunhye Kim

Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4292; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104292 - 9 May 2025

Viewed by 715

Abstract

World Heritage plays a vital role in promoting sustainable urban development. Cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have gained recognition as an effective instrument for urban revitalization in recent years. The Cities, Culture, and Creativity (CCC) framework introduced by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank emphasizes the core role of culture and creativity in enhancing urban competitiveness, attractiveness, and sustainability. Based on that framework, this study takes Pingyao as a case study, using a literature review and non-participatory observation, systematically examines its assets and resources, assesses the outcomes at the spatial, economic, and social levels, and explores how CCIs, with the support of enabling factors, contribute to urban revitalization. The findings indicate that Pingyao, relying on its historical and cultural heritage, promotes the development of CCIs, resulting in significant spatial optimization, economic growth, and social benefits, while also shaping unique cultural brands. This study verifies the applicability of the CCC framework in analyzing the urban revitalization mechanism, further reveals the role of CCIs in the revitalization of World Heritage cities, enriches the urban regeneration theory, and offers theoretical and practical reference for the revitalization and sustainable development of other World Heritage cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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36 pages, 16791 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Heritage Planning for Urban Mass Tourism and Rural Abandonment: An Integrated Approach to the Safranbolu–Amasra Eco-Cultural Route

by Emre Karataş, Aysun Özköse and Muhammet Ali Heyik

Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3157; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073157 - 2 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1151

Abstract

Urban mass tourism and rural depopulation increasingly threaten heritage sites worldwide, leading to socio-economic and environmental challenges. This study adopts a holistic approach to sustainable tourism planning by examining 84 cultural and natural heritage sites in and around Safranbolu and Amasra, two cities in Türkiye that are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and the Tentative List. Inspired by historical travelers’ itineraries, it proposes an eco-cultural tourism route to create a resilient heritage network. A participatory methodology integrates charettes within Erasmus+ workshops, crowdsourcing, various analysis methods while engaging stakeholders, and AI-powered clustering for route determination. The study follows a four-stage framework: (1) data collection via collaborative GIS, (2) eco-cultural route development, (3) stakeholder participation for inclusivity and viability, and (4) assessments and recommendations. Results highlight the strong potential of heritage assets for sustainable tourism while identifying key conservation risks. Interviews and site analysis underscore critical challenges, including the absence of integrated site management strategies, insufficient capacity-building initiatives, and ineffective participatory mechanisms. Moreover, integrating GIS-based crowdsourcing, machine learning clustering, and multi-criteria decision-making can be an effective planning support system. In conclusion, this study enhances the sustainability of heritage and tourism by strengthening participatory eco-cultural development and mitigating mass tourism and abandonment’s negative impacts on the heritage sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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16 pages, 3053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preserving and Developing Small Italian Borghi. An Economic Strategy to Enhance Sustainable Cultural Tourism?

by Antonietta Ivona and Lucrezia Lopez

Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1621; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041621 - 15 Feb 2025

Viewed by 932

Abstract

During recent years, a lot of attention has been given to economic and demographic trends in different rural areas. Considering this, the main aim of the present work is answering the following research question: Can a robust resilience of small towns and villages (also called Borghi, in Italian), bolstered by powerful planning and financial force through the NRRP, reverse the abandonment process? Our case study refers to Italy. In physics, resilience refers to the ability of a system to recover shape and balance after some form of turbulence. Applied to regional and urban development, this term is generally construed as the ability of a system to respond to changes that occur at different territorial scales. Beyond the interpretative differences, the potential of the concept of resilience for the analysis of the economic growth dynamics of the territories remains significant. The initial findings of this work reveal how the interventions in marginalised areas have failed to correspond to the intended ’territoriality’, thus compromising their effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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19 pages, 3393 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Responsible Urban Tourism as a Tool of Natural and Cultural Heritage Protection: Poznań (Poland) Orchids’ Case

by Aleksandra Machnik, Magdalena Kluza-Wieloch and Irmina Maciejewska-Rutkowska

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10669; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310669 - 5 Dec 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1047

Abstract

Nowadays, the public needs to be made more aware of the benefits of sustainability for the local environment. It appears that tourism is a particularly effective tool for teaching sustainability and responsibility because it not only provides new experiences but also explains and enhances the visited area. Visitors should become more conscious of the need to preserve the ecosystem as a result of this remarkable experience, which is caused by skillfully planned activities. The authors of this study discuss the effects of tourism in the natural enclave of Poznań (Poland) while presenting the findings of interdisciplinary studies on locally threatened orchid species. The number and condition of individual orchids have not changed significantly as a result of rather strong anthropopressure, according to observations made since 1997. The study area is an ideal place to enhance environmental education and responsible tourism because it is also rich in historical values. Such tourism can be considered responsible urban tourism. According to the questionnaire study, which was based on 1000 surveys, respondents expressed a developing emotional attachment to the area and commended the educational pathways and changes in land use. They also acknowledged that they did not know enough about the location, the environment, or the cultural legacy. The current study demonstrates that, while society has grown to value the Kopanina wilderness, it has also begun to consider nature conservation from a wider perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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19 pages, 2070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Horticultural Overtourism in Tokyo: Coopetition for Successful Enticement of Visitors from Over- to Less Crowded Gardens

by Sho Shimoyamada

Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9444; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219444 - 30 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1382

Abstract

Garden managers face the dilemma of promoting and preserving their gardens. Overtourism in popular gardens can be solved by cooperating to entice visitors to alternative, less popular gardens. However, such an enticement strategy may not be successful because garden managers not only cooperate with but also compete against each other (i.e., coopetition). How can garden management practitioners forge a coopetitive relationship to encourage visitors to move from over- to less crowded gardens? Addressing this question, this study aimed to propose a successful coopetitive strategy to redistribute visitors. This study was drawn primarily from semi-structured interviews with garden staff of an overcrowded national garden and multiple less crowded metropolitan gardens. A thematic analysis of qualitative data revealed a lack of cooperation between national and metropolitan gardens and highlighted the former’s aspirations for further growth despite perceived overtourism. This study proposes using the ambiguous cultural status of national and metropolitan gardens as a catalyst for coopetition between them, and contributes to the discourse on sustainable cultural tourism by broadening its scope and redressing the scholarly imbalance between an overemphasis on visitors’ behaviour and a dearth of attention on practitioners of (horti)cultural tourism. Theoretical contributions are detailed at the end of this article. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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15 pages, 766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on Tourism Responsiveness and Habitat Environment-Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in Huizhou Area

by Xin Wang, Jingjing Lai and Yanlong Guo

Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3424; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083424 - 19 Apr 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1967

Abstract

The tourism market for traditional villages in China is expanding, with the Huizhou region being particularly prominent. Traditional villages offer rich tourism resources. To ensure sustainable tourism development in the Huizhou region, this text explores the issues of tourism responsiveness and the sustainability impacts on the human environment in the development of traditional villages. The entropy weight-TOPSIS method is used to analyze the evaluation index system of the tourism response in Huizhou. Based on the three criteria of village resource endowment conditions, local economic development environment, and regional tourism development environment, a set of twenty indicators has been selected to establish an evaluation system for the tourism responsiveness of traditional villages in Huizhou. Feasible suggestions have been proposed to address the existing problems and the results of the data analysis in order to further improve tourism responsiveness. This study offers fundamental research for the sustainable development of traditional villages in Huizhou and the enhancement of tourism services in these areas. The results of this study show the following. (1) The highest weighting coefficient of the guideline layer of the garden green area affects the development of village tourism. (2) The high density of cultural heritage in traditional villages is conducive to the improvement of the service level and quality of the traditional village tourism, which will make the traditional villages more culturally connotative. (3) By studying the proportion of the tertiary industry in the GDP of the Huizhou region and its trend of change, it is possible to assess and study whether the tertiary industry’s development is in line with the law of industrial structure evolution. This also helps us to optimize and adjust the important impact of the tourism industry structure in the Huizhou area. (4) The tourism reception can be based on the data concerning passenger flow and scenic spots to plan the number of tourists and excursion routes, as well as optimize the service facilities, in order to alleviate the overcrowding situation, improve the experience of the tourists and satisfy the needs of the tourists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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28 pages, 15469 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Evaluation Study on Tourists’ Environmental Satisfaction after Re-Use of Industrial Heritage Buildings

by Chenqi Han, Yimin Song and Yang Zhao

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 3032; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16073032 - 5 Apr 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2402

Abstract

As a witness to history, industrial heritage embodies the cultural, technological, and economic values of a particular era. Transforming it into a cultural and creative park can imbue new functions and vitality, supporting and promoting sustainable urban development. This paper focuses on the Mili Cultural and Creative Park in Quanzhou as its research subject. Through interviews and questionnaire analyses from the perspective of tourists, five evaluation factors are extracted: spatial environmental elements, social cultural elements, landscape and greening elements, supporting facilities elements, and transportation and location elements. An analysis of tourist satisfaction using the semantic differential method reveals a higher satisfaction with spatial environmental elements, social cultural elements, and landscape and greening elements, while satisfaction with supporting facilities elements and transportation location elements is low. Additionally, the modified IPA method is employed for the analysis, revealing poor overall performance in supporting facilities elements and transportation and location elements. In subsequent efforts, priority should be given to improving the quantity and reasonable distribution of garbage cans, organization of events in the park, traffic conditions outside the park, parking around the park, and park accessibility. The aim is to further optimize the environment after the reuse of industrial heritage, enhance tourist satisfaction, and promote urban sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Cultural Tourism: Balancing Preservation, Development and Visitor Experience)

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