Cultural Heritage and tourism, a key relationship for smarter and sustainable development

The common thread of all European policies and strategies beyond the 2020 horizon is that they recognize that the new models of economic and social development should be based on the enhancement of the environmental and cultural heritage of cities and territories. Furthermore, the European Council has repeatedly stressed the crucial role tourism plays in generating growth and employment in the EU and called on all parties to join forces to timely implement the Agenda for European sustainable and competitive tourism. In this context, cultural tourism is expected to become increasingly important to sustainable development policies. In fact, it implies experiencing local culture, traditions and lifestyle; participating in arts-related activities, visiting museums, monuments and heritage sites; but also focusing on landscape, nature, traditions, wine and food, handicraft products. In particular, minor historic centres show a strong bent and potential in this respect, which are not always properly exploited, especially in the regions of southern Italy, where they might be, instead, the drivers of innovative models of harmonious development.