Cultural tourism: the "minor" art center in Italy

At a time of increasing globalization, the protection, conservation, interpretation and presentation of the heritage and cultural diversity of any particular place or region is an important challenge for people everywhere (Icomos, 1999). Therefore, culture and cultural tourism are taking on a new meaning in the context of economic globalization. From an economic standpoint, cultural heritage consists of heritage assets that also incorporate a cultural value that goes beyond the intrinsic economic value (Savarese, 2005). The public must also preserve this cultural value through a set of economic activities that promote protection, conservation and consumption. Cultural tourism can play a propulsive action in countries characterized by a great number of relevant sites that can attract international tourists. For these reasons, promoting management and business models to increase the effectiveness of cultural heritage as an economic production factor is one of the most pressing issues currently faced by the public and private sector at the international level for its contribution to economic growth and sustainable development. In particular, smaller centers are gathering particular interest.