Cultural Tourism and Climate Change: Challenges and Adaptations in Italian UNESCO Sites

Given the growing impact of climate change on cultural tourism, it becomes crucial for cultural sites to readapt their management strategies and tourism offerings in response to the growing climate crisis and its impacts on the site itself. However, despite the growing academic literature on the impact of climate change on cultural sites and tourism, more research needs to analyse ongoing protection and adaptation strategies of heritage sites. Our research aims to contribute to this theme, focusing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To achieve this goal, our study employs a comprehensive methodology, encompassing (i) a literature review on climate change and heritage sites management, (ii) a systematic text analysis of available management plans of the 59 Italian UNESCO World Heritage Sites to identify the presence of “climate change” and “sustainable tourism” topics, and (iii) an online survey to gather insights from site managers regarding the sites’ vulnerability to climate change and their adaptation strategies. The statistical analysis of the survey responses reveals emerging trends in this context. A set of guidelines, recommendations, and practical implications for the implementation of sustainable tourism practices are provided in the conclusion. Monitoring and evaluation criteria are also proposed to assess the initiatives’ effectiveness. This research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable cultural tourism, offering valuable insights and practical recommendations for stakeholders to address the challenges posed by climate change.