The Alagna Walser Green Paradise Project as a Tool for Enhancing the Cultural Heritage and Creativity Pillar

This contribution describes the activities carried out in the territory of Alagna Valsesia on the slopes of Monte Rosa (north-east of Piedmont) as part of the Alagna Walser Green Paradise (AWGP) project, developed through scientific collaboration with the Piedmont Region and the Municipality of Alagna Valsesia. The project is structured into four research pillars: cultural heritage and creativity, environmental sustainability, digitalization, and accessibility. With reference to the cultural heritage and creativity pillar, the concept of authenticity has been identified as an essential element in the tourism sector since it encourages the link between tourists and destinations. Alagna Valsesia is analyzed as an “authentic” tourist destination through the analysis of three specific areas, that is, food and wine, artifact and products, and landscape. Therefore, the AWGP research group was involved in developing an integrative tourism proposal based on the evaluation of the existing offer. The results show that Alagna Valsesia embodies its authenticity with the tradition of the territorial culture, and they help to highlight some improvement proposals related to (1) the creation of a visual communication system, (2) the enhancement and measurement of the attractions and the tourist offer on the territory with the use of dissemination tools in the various sites of interest, and (3) the introduction of new itineraries (i.e., De.Co.).