Authentic Tourist Experiences: The Value of Intangible Heritage
A special issue of Tourism and Hospitality (ISSN 2673-5768).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 13
Special Issue Editors
Interests: intangible heritage; cultural tourism; traditional festivals; cultural events; local identity; communities and tourism; cultural sustainability; tourist experience; heritage preservation
Interests: authenticity in tourism; cultural tourism; hospitality; hotel management; gas-tronomy; rail transportation
Interests: governance and tourism; tourism and leisure; cultural tourism; tourism, gas-tronomy and local identities; ecotourism; sustainable tourism; professional training in tourism
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Intangible cultural heritage—translated into practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and know-how passed down from generation to generation—is a fundamental element in building the identity of communities and, at the same time, a powerful lever for sustainable tourism development. This Special Issue aims to bring together contributions that explore the relationship between tourism and intangible heritage, with special emphasis on pilgrimages, festivals, traditional events and cultural manifestations that shape local and regional dynamics.
The main objective is to analyse how these traditional events and practices contribute to the enhancement of cultural tourism, promote social cohesion, strengthen the identity of territories and boost local economies. We also aim to reflect on the challenges inherent in this heritage—namely, its authenticity, preservation and potential risks.
The focus of this edition is on case studies, conceptual reflections and critical approaches that take into account different scales and geographical contexts, promoting diverse perspectives on the relationship between tourism and intangible heritage. We welcome research that addresses management and preservation strategies, cultural interpretation practices, public policies, innovation and sustainability.
The scope includes, but is not limited to, pilgrimages, religious and popular festivals, traditional music festivals, cultural fairs and community events that are relevant expressions of intangible heritage.
The aim of this Special Issue is to promote academic and practical debate on the role of intangible heritage in tourism, contribute to raising awareness among stakeholders and reinforce the importance of cultural safeguarding in a context of increasing globalisation and social transformation.
Dr. Hugo Martins
Dr. António Pinheiro
Dr. Eduardo Gonçalves
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. Tourism and Hospitality is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1200 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
- intangible heritage
- cultural tourism
- traditional festivals
- cultural events
- local identity
- communities and tourism
- cultural sustainability
- tourist experience
- heritage preservation
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