Perception of risk and identification of security measures when visiting cultural heritage

Abstract

The perception of safety is essential during tourist visits to historical monuments, whether they are built architectural heritage, civil, military, vernacular, or archaeological. This perception of security helps to guarantee, on the one hand, the physical integrity of visitors and, on the other hand, the preservation of different types of heritage. Many places visited have unique architectural characteristics, especially in the case of old buildings where architectural barriers and limited accessibility are more evident, with particular emphasis on castles, forts, fortresses, and archaeological heritage. Accidents in these places are relatively frequent, mainly related to falls by visitors. In this context, this article intends to address, in an introductory way, the need to study the perception of risk associated with visiting historic sites, to identify weaknesses and opportunities, and to enable the implementation of coherent strategies and actions to limit the risk of accidents, thus increasing the safety of visitors. A theoretical framework on the risk associated with visiting cultural heritage is presented, and the methodological procedures that will be developed in a more comprehensive research project on the subject are identified.