Introduction to the project
Cultural tourism entails opportunities but also risks. If not managed properly, cultural tourism can easily turn into a “value extractive” industry, generating negative environmental, social and cultural impacts on local communities and ecosystems. To this scope, the Be.CULTOUR project has worked for over three years to co-create and test sustainable human-centred innovations for circular cultural tourism through collaborative innovation networks/methodologies and improved investments strategies.
Targeting deprived, remote, peripheral or deindustrialised areas and cultural landscapes as well as over-exploited areas, local Heritage innovation networks have co-develop a long-term heritage-led development project in the areas involved enhancing inclusive economic growth, communities’ wellbeing and resilience, nature regeneration as well as effective cooperation at cross-border, regional and local level.
Project in Action
Be.CULTOUR has identified four transversal innovation approaches linked to the project’s objectives towards circular cultural tourism in the Pilot Heritage Sites:
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Circular Tourism
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Human-centred, fair and responsible tourism
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Cultural europeanisation
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Smart destination management
A community of innovators (which includes regional authorities and municipalities, clusters and associations, museums and tourist boards, entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, citizens, researchers, practitioners as well as project partners) in 6 pilot regions has co-created innovative place-based solutions for human-centred and circular cultural tourism, followed by 16 Mirrors and 3 Community Advisors.
ERRIN has built a community of passionate regional representatives committed to shaping the future of cultural tourism in their territory. The Be.CULTOUR community has learnt about innovative approaches to regional development through circular cultural tourism.
ERRIN's role
ERRIN, through its Cultural Heritage and Tourism Working Group, has played a crucial role in mobilising pilot regions, including Cyprus, Spain (Aragon), Italy (Basilicata), Sweden (Vastra Gotaland), Romania (North-East Romania), and Serbia (Vojvodina Region). These regions formed a Community of Practice that addressed specific territorial challenges related to cultural tourism. ERRIN’s responsibilities extend beyond these pilot regions, as it managed a Community of Interest involving 16 additional 'mirror ecosystems.' By providing mentoring and support services, ERRIN empowered local and regional governments, along with their stakeholder ecosystems, to act as catalysts for transformation, ensuring the sustainable development of cultural tourism solutions crafted through the Be.CULTOUR project.
Benefit for members and links with ERRIN's WGs and priorities
Be.CULTOUR aligns closely with ERRIN's priorities by advancing sustainable, human-centered innovations in cultural tourism through collaborative methodologies and strategic investments. The project specifically targeted areas that are deprived, remote, peripheral, deindustrialised, or over-exploited, making it highly relevant for ERRIN members interested in regional development, sustainability, and cultural heritage. By connecting with ERRIN’s Cultural Heritage & Tourism working group, the project offered members opportunities to engage in innovative practices that enhance economic growth, community well-being, and environmental resilience. This alignment ensured that the project contributes meaningfully to the shared objectives of ERRIN and its members.
Project Outputs
The guidebook, developed as one of the final outcomes of the Be.CULTOUR project, offers a comprehensive summary of lessons learned and recommendations from the Action Plan implementations, highlighting the improvement stories in the Pilot Heritage Sites and their territories.
Be.CULTOUR Toolkit
The Be.CULTOUR Toolkit, created as a practical guide for local authorities and tourism operators, provides actionable steps for implementing circular tourism strategies. It includes methodologies, tools, and case studies from the pilot regions, offering a replicable model for other regions.
