Cultural Landscapes: A Multi-Stakeholder Methodological Approach to Support Widespread and Shared Tourism Development Strategies

Abstract

Starting from the most recent international debate on the theme of cultural landscape, this study explores the theme of landscape as a ‘common good’ and as a field of investigation and experimentation of an innovative model of long-term sustainable tourism development. In this context, the document illustrates a multi-stakeholder spatial decision-making process based on an evaluation approach that is useful to support decision-makers in defining improvement strategies for resilient landscapes. The methodology was experimented on and tested as part of the ‘Sila Labscape’ project conducted in Sila National Park (Southern Italy), a UNESCO site of excellence. The purpose of the study is to support the park’s community in acquiring a greater awareness of the values and resources present within the park and to stimulate co-design for the enhancement and management of environmental and cultural sites. Starting from the representation of the landscape perceived by users, it is possible to trace the values and meanings of the most attractive places. The most relevant results concern the identification of perceived landscape values, the recognition of shared values, and their consequent use to map ‘places of value’. The elaboration, structuring, and evaluation processes allow the tracing of new touristic routes and the expression of shared intersubjective perception that are useful for supporting decision-makers in the development of potential integrated development strategies and actions.