SUSTAINABILITY IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURISM

Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: ELEONORA PAPPALARDO

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will be able to:

- Define and recognize the main aspects of Archaeological Tourism, as a branch of the broader cultural tourism; to outline its historical development, identify its target, define its "Motivation for travel", and characterize its destinations.

- Know the main regulatory references, the characteristics of the Institutions responsible for protection, enhancement and use.

- Know the major sites (archaeological areas and museums) of archaeological interest in the Italian territory, highlighting their strengths and critical points.

- Recognize the elements of fragility of specific archaeological sites, with particular reference to those most subject to risk connected to the load of flows and strong seasonality.

- Apply the principles of sustainability to the use of areas and sites of archaeological interest.

- Apply models for evaluating and defining the value and competitiveness of the territories hosting archaeological resources through the use of the Resource Based View and the VRIO framework.

- Students will be able to apply theory to practice, propose traditional (creative and co-creative) and innovative (immersive and VR use) models of use; they will be able to build and promote an offer based on archaeology.

Course Structure

The lessons will take place according to the following methods:

frontal lessons in the classroom.

- field trips

- laboratory activities at the LaTuM (Multimedia Tourist Laboratory) of the DiSFoR

- development of collective projects

Required Prerequisites

The course aims to delve deeper into the aspects linked to the use of the archaeological areas of the Italian territory, with particular reference to Sicily. General knowledge of the main archaeological areas of the territory, with particular reference to Sicily are encouraged: location, typology and general chronology. During the course, however, preparatory knowledge of the topics covered will be provided.

Attendance of Lessons

Attendance is not mandatory, but highly recommended. For working students, PPTs and handouts illustrating the practical activities will be provided via the studium platform.

Detailed Course Content

From Travel to the concept of Tourism; Definition of archaeological tourism and the associated target, with particular reference to the distinction between cultural tourism and archaeological tourism, also in a diachronic vision; Definition of cultural heritage in relation to the role of local communities; Different approaches to cultural heritage and culture (Positivists vs Constructivists); archaeological resources in Italy; the archaeological asset as a "tourism product": Resource Based View and VRIO Framework applied to cultural resources; models of past's fruition, between traditional protocols and innovative systems; sustainability models applied to archaeological tourism.

Course Planning

	Subjects	Text References
1	Origin of archaeological tourism: from the Grand Tour to the Industrial Revolution. Archaeological tourism as a branch of cultural tourism; definition of “archaeological tourism”
2	Definition of the target; Archaeological tourism and Agenda 20230; The “new tourisms”; Definition of Cultural Heritage; Cultural Heritage and community; Positivist and constructivist approach to the interpretation of Cultural Heritage.
3	Examples of relationships between Cultural Heritage and Communities in the world; Post Covid-19 archaeological tourism; The study of the past as a tool for building a better future;
4	The concept of "fruition"; “Performing Cultural Heritage”; use as a participatory moment; Creative model and co-creative model;
5	Creative model and co-creative model; operand resources and operant resources; archaeological assets as operant resources; Authenticity and memorable experiences; New models of use.
6	The “product” Archaeology; The strategic plan for tourism in Italy; the “Italy” offer: areas of archaeological interest in the national territory.
7	Areas of archaeological interest in southern Italy and Sicily.
8	Definition of "value" of the Italian offer; the “resource based view” applied to archaeological tourism; the V.R.I.O. framework.
9	How archaeological tourism is "measured".

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

The exam will focus on an oral test on the contents of the course and on the evaluation of a group project that will be proposed to the students during the lessons.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

What is archaeological tourism; difference between archaeological tourism and cultural tourism; targeting; how has the conception of the role of the past changed today, particularly in the post-covid era; what is the VRIO framework; what are the main models of fruition of archaeological tourism; what are the risks of immersive fruition and use of VR (Virtual Reality); what are the main Sicilian archaeological areas; what are the main sustainability protocols; how literature is divided in defining the role of cultural heritage; what is "participatory" culture.

Degree Course in

Planning of sustainable, cultural and naturalistic tourism