The European Union’s cohesion policy, particularly through initiatives like Smart Specialization, seeks to reduce regional disparities by promoting sustainable tourism development that leverages local resources and cultural heritage. As tourism increasingly drives global economic growth, understanding the factors that enhance destination attractiveness is vital for rural inland areas. This paper aims to contribute to the evaluation of spatial dynamics in tourism by developing a comprehensive attractiveness index. A primary challenge in assessing tourism potential lies in synthesizing georeferenced data and relevant indicators into actionable insights. Using the STESY (Specialized Tourism EcoSYstems) domain framework and the structuration assessment proposed by Gatto, Corrado & Scorza (2025), we construct an attractiveness index that captures the multifaceted nature of cultural tourism value chains. Our methodology integrates both quantitative and qualitative metrics to assess the competitiveness of destination areas. The findings help to highlight regional strengths and weaknesses, aiding policymakers in developing targeted strategies for sustainable tourism development. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of evaluating carrying capacity and enhancing infrastructure to utilize the maximum tourism potential. In conclusion, this paper presents a robust tool for assessing tourism attractiveness in a given territory, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to foster balanced regional development and cultural heritage preservation.