European Cultural Routes for Alpine Cultural and Natural Heritage

This essay focuses on a feasibility study for a new cultural route dedicated to the mountain heritage of the Alpine Region (ALP) – Via Alpina, Mountaineering Villages – conducted on behalf of the Council of Europe in 2019, in the framework of the Routes4U Project. In recent years, tourists have become increasingly attracted to the local culture and natural aspects of the mountains; these tourists require custom-made products, far removed from the concept of mass tourism that exploits Alpine natural and cultural resources. This study confirms that natural and cultural heritage can be the key for mountain regions to achieve overall satisfaction for a significant number of “quality” tourists. Several European projects dedicated to Alpine cultural and natural heritage are analysed with a special focus on those whose main objectives are social inclusion and participation in policy-making strategies. Alpine heritage is placed at the centre of a cultural route proposal to improve its protection at an international level and to provide different regions with sustainable cultural tourism options. Furthermore, the proposal allows heritage tourism of the ALP to be socially and economically beneficial to the local community without impairing the natural environment or the preservation and management of cultural heritage.