Unesco world heritage sites as living laboratories for sustainable tourism: opportunities, risks, and management approaches

Journal title ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE
Author/s Alice Andreos, Giorgio Andrian
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/2
Language Italian Pages 20 P. 45-64 File size 419 KB
DOI 10.3280/ES2026-002004
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The relationship between Unesco designations and tourism is often misunderstood, as the founding documents of these programs do not aim to increase visitor numbers. On the other hand, the national and international visibility that such recognitions provide can make sites more appealing to tourists, sometimes leading to unsustainable consequences. Addressing these challenges requires a deeper appreciation of the significance of Unesco values and the development of governance models that integrate these values into broader spatial planning, fostering innovative management ecosystems.

Keywords: Unesco, Designated Sites, Tourism, Governance, Nominations

Jel codes: O21, Z32, Z38

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Alice Andreos, Giorgio Andrian, I siti unesco come laboratori di turismo sostenibile: opportunità, rischi e modelli di gestione in "ECONOMIA E SOCIETÀ REGIONALE " 2/2026, pp 45-64, DOI: 10.3280/ES2026-002004