The general objective of the project is to explore the potential of marginal and peripheral areas when managed by local communities and stakeholders. This is sought through the implementation of six specific objectives, to which the following actions correspond and are implemented:
- Participatory approaches are adopted, transforming locals into protagonists, aiming to reduce negative impacts, learning from good practices to be replicated, and translating practices into strategies and policies.
- Stakeholders are mapped and bottom-up strategies are implemented to produce positive effects for both locals and tourists.
- Ten pilot cases of living territories and communities are investigated and, on the basis of findings, innovative customised solutions are co-created.
- Data analysis is performed using advanced econometric methods and machine-learning tools which are pioneering introduced into tourism research. Findings will suggest recommendations for effective and sustainable policies, create new synergies among public and private stakeholders and new investments, including Structural Funds.
- Training is offered at pilot level and internationally. At pilot level, it is employed for pilot coordinators to improve their understanding of local needs and requirements, for local communities and stakeholders to analyse and enhance their own socio-cultural and economic value, and for local governance to achieve public participation, community-building and local empowerment towards the cultural tourism sector. At international level, training is offered in the form of a webinar, tackling: cultural heritage knowledge, social awareness of socio-cultural local identity and territorial cohesion.
