A Tourism Potential Index for Cultural Heritage Management through the Ecosystem Services Approach

Tourism as a tool for the enhancement and conservation of heritage represents an opportunity for many managers of cultural properties. However, despite the numerous works developed so far on tourism governance, the elaboration of preliminary studies for decision-making in heritage buildings is still a challenge. Considering the ecosystem services approach, an index is proposed which allows tourism and cultural heritage managers to analyze and quantify the level of tourist exploitation (use) of a monument for the services (benefits) that it offers to society. In this paper, a multi-criteria evaluation system was proposed, related to the main use of the building and its relationship with various tourism components, which have been classified as cultural, leisure, recreational, lodging, catering, intermediation, transportation, and event organization. The model has been applied to the Parroquia del Mar (Alicante, Spain) of great cultural relevance, but not exploited for tourism. The results obtained demonstrate the usefulness and validity of the model, considered as a tool capable of bridging the gap between heritage conservation and its touristic use, highlighting the importance of the services offered as necessary attributes for its (re)valuation, combining the social benefits of its exploitation, its touristic use and the awareness of its conservation and protection.

Automated summary

Tourism as a tool for enhancing and conserving heritage provides an opportunity for cultural property managers. However, developing preliminary studies for decision-making in heritage buildings remains a challenge. A proposed index allows managers to analyze and quantify tourist exploitation of a monument based on the services it offers to society. A multi-criteria evaluation system related to the building's main use and its relationship with various tourism components was applied to a culturally significant building in Spain, demonstrating the model's usefulness in bridging the gap between heritage conservation and touristic use.