Transition Pathways and Cultural Itineraries for Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Tourism

Cultural Heritage is a material, immaterial and spiritual resource, which plays an important role both in economy and people life, and should be made accessible physically, intellectually and/or emotionally in an inclusive way, left no one behind, according to the main founding principle of UN Agenda 2030. If in a virtuous relationship with the Cultural Heritage and appropriately integrated into urban and territorial planning, tourism can be a driver of sustainability, since it is considered as one of the most powerful agents of territorial and environmental change, able to improve the social conditions of present and future generations, meeting, at the same time, the needs of economic development, of respect of the principles of landscape and Cultural Heritage protection and development, of peace, tolerance comprehension and dialogue between peoples. Thus, it can become a creator of society, a factor of economic growth, an actor of the territorial structure and of an inclusive local sustainable development, leaving no one behind, in line with UN 2030 Agenda. In light of the above, and with reference to some of the author’s ongoing research activities, the paper is focused on the cultural itineraries of particular European and/or national relevance, accessible through forms of sustainable soft mobility, representing a way to experience the widespread natural and cultural heritage, as well as an opportunity for enhancing the natural, cultural attractions, and the involved territories. In addition to the reference to some significant examples, the paper suggests future prospects in the current EU 2021–2027 programming framework, for a tourism that can be a driver of sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean context, with an integrated and strategic approach and consistent with the urban and territorial planning guidelines.