Heritage Tourism and Sustainable City Dynamics

Abstract

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.