Cultural Heritage and UN Agenda 2030 Territorialization through Innovative Inclusive Tourism Strategies

According to the World Tourism Organization, when properly managed, tourism can play a crucial role in achieving all 17 SDGs, being able in promoting inclusive growth, environmental protection, and the development of resilient societies. At the same time, with reference to the EU Green Deal and the Next Generation EU Programme, the cultural lever has an increasing importance, also considering the essential elements of sustainability, such as cohesion, social integration and inclusion, innovation, and well-being. The proposal is focused on the role of cultural heritage to territorialize UN 2030 Agenda and its main goal of leaving “no one behind” through sustainable inclusive cultural tourism models and their planning with an integrated approach in harmony with the local environmental and social context. As a matter of fact, the valorization of cultural heritage for sustainable inclusive development can generate new forms of economy and re-generate cities and territories, including inner areas. The selection of significant case studies in the EU panorama aims, on the one hand, to highlight the strong relationship between tourism and culture for sustainable development, also in light of the ongoing ecological and digital transition process, and on the other hand to contribute to filling the gaps still existing on the front of inclusion and accessibility of cultural heritage to all, without exception. From the concluding considerations arise further perspectives for future research on the topic.