IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i24p7254-d299005.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Towards Smarter Management of Overtourism in Historic Centres Through Visitor-Flow Monitoring

Author

Listed:
  • Mikel Zubiaga

    (Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Bizkaiko Teknologia Parkea, Astondo bidea, 700 Eraikina, E-48160 Derio, Spain)

  • Jose Luis Izkara

    (Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Bizkaiko Teknologia Parkea, Astondo bidea, 700 Eraikina, E-48160 Derio, Spain)

  • Alessandra Gandini

    (Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Bizkaiko Teknologia Parkea, Astondo bidea, 700 Eraikina, E-48160 Derio, Spain)

  • Itziar Alonso

    (Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Bizkaiko Teknologia Parkea, Astondo bidea, 700 Eraikina, E-48160 Derio, Spain)

  • Unai Saralegui

    (Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Bizkaiko Teknologia Parkea, Astondo bidea, 700 Eraikina, E-48160 Derio, Spain)

Abstract

Historic centres are highly regarded destinations for watching and even participating in diverse and unique forms of cultural expression. Cultural tourism, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is an important and consolidated tourism sector and its strong growth is expected to continue over the coming years. Tourism, the much dreamt of redeemer for historic centres, also represents one of the main threats to heritage conservation: visitors can dynamize an economy, yet the rapid growth of tourism often has negative effects on both built heritage and the lives of local inhabitants. Knowledge of occupancy levels and flows of visiting tourists is key to the efficient management of tourism; the new technologies—the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and geographic information systems (GIS)—when combined in interconnected networks represent a qualitative leap forward, compared to traditional methods of estimating locations and flows. A methodology is described in this paper for the management of tourism flows that is designed to promote sustainable tourism in historic centres through intelligent support mechanisms. As part of the Smart Heritage City (SHCITY) project, a collection system for visitors is developed. Following data collection via monitoring equipment, the analysis of a set of quantitative indicators yields information that can then be used to analyse visitor flows; enabling city managers to make management decisions when the tourism-carrying capacity is exceeded and gives way to overtourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Mikel Zubiaga & Jose Luis Izkara & Alessandra Gandini & Itziar Alonso & Unai Saralegui, 2019. "Towards Smarter Management of Overtourism in Historic Centres Through Visitor-Flow Monitoring," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7254-:d:299005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7254/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7254/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alisa Moldavanova & Holly T. Goerdel, 2018. "Understanding the puzzle of organizational sustainability: toward a conceptual framework of organizational social connectedness and sustainability," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(1), pages 55-81, January.
    2. Francesca Nocca, 2017. "The Role of Cultural Heritage in Sustainable Development: Multidimensional Indicators as Decision-Making Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-28, October.
    3. María García-Hernández & Manuel De la Calle-Vaquero & Claudia Yubero, 2017. "Cultural Heritage and Urban Tourism: Historic City Centres under Pressure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Shiran Geng & Hing-Wah Chau & Elmira Jamei & Zora Vrcelj, 2024. "Demystifying the Use of Open-Access Data in Smart Heritage Implementations," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-26, November.
    2. Chunyu Jiang & Seuk Wai Phoong, 2023. "A ten-year review analysis of the impact of digitization on tourism development (2012–2022)," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Aitziber Egusquiza & Mikel Zubiaga & Alessandra Gandini & Claudia de Luca & Simona Tondelli, 2021. "Systemic Innovation Areas for Heritage-Led Rural Regeneration: A Multilevel Repository of Best Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Tarmo Kalvet & Maarja Olesk & Marek Tiits & Janika Raun, 2020. "Innovative Tools for Tourism and Cultural Tourism Impact Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-30, September.
    5. Vitor Rodrigues & Celeste Eusébio & Zélia Breda, 2023. "Enhancing sustainable development through tourism digitalisation: a systematic literature review," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 13-45, March.
    6. Nansy Kouroupi & Theodore Metaxas, 2023. "Can the Metaverse and Its Associated Digital Tools and Technologies Provide an Opportunity for Destinations to Address the Vulnerability of Overtourism?," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-19, June.
    7. J. Ramon Gil-Garcia & Tzuhao Chen & Mila Gasco-Hernandez, 2023. "Smart City Results and Sustainability: Current Progress and Emergent Opportunities for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dana Badau & Adela Badau, 2018. "The motric, Educational, Recreational and Satisfaction Impact of Adventure Education Activities in the Urban Tourism Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Stefania Środa-Murawska & Elżbieta Grzelak-Kostulska & Jadwiga Biegańska & Leszek S. Dąbrowski, 2021. "Culture and Sustainable Tourism: Does the Pair Pay in Medium-Sized Cities?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Georgiana Daniela Stoica & Violeta-Andreea Andreiana & Mircea Constantin Duica & Maria-Cristina Stefan & Irina Olimpia Susanu & Mihaela Denisa Coman & Dorin Iancu, 2022. "Perspectives for the Development of Sustainable Cultural Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Norbert Sipos & Norbert Pap & Tibor Gonda & Ákos Jarjabka, 2021. "Feasibility and Sustainability Challenges of the Süleyman’s Türbe Cultural-Tourism Centre Project in Szigetvár, Hungary," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Agata Zachariasz & Dorota Jopek & Laura Kochel, 2023. "Heritage and Environment: Greenery as a Climate Change Mitigation Factor in Selected UNESCO Sites in Krakow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-40, August.
    6. José Manuel Ordóñez-de-Haro & Jordi Perdiguero & Juan-Luis Jiménez, 2020. "Fuel prices at petrol stations in touristic cities," Tourism Economics, , vol. 26(1), pages 45-69, February.
    7. Alessio D’Auria & Pasquale De Toro & Nicola Fierro & Elisa Montone, 2018. "Integration between GIS and Multi-Criteria Analysis for Ecosystem Services Assessment: A Methodological Proposal for the National Park of Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-25, September.
    8. Carlos Smaniotto Costa & Marluci Menezes & Petja Ivanova-Radovanova & Tatiana Ruchinskaya & Konstantinos Lalenis & Monica Bocci, 2021. "Planning Perspectives and Approaches for Activating Underground Built Heritage," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    9. Kristine Kern & Janne Irmisch & Colette Odermatt & Wolfgang Haupt & Ingrid Kissling-Näf, 2021. "Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    10. Joris Van Doorsselaere, 2021. "Connecting Sustainable Development and Heritage Education? An Analysis of the Curriculum Reform in Flemish Public Secondary Schools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    11. Antonella Lerario & Silvia Di Turi, 2018. "Sustainable Urban Tourism: Reflections on the Need for Building-Related Indicators," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-25, June.
    12. Xingshan Wang & Lu Tang & Wei Chen & Jianxin Zhang, 2022. "Impact and Recovery of Coastal Tourism Amid COVID-19: Tourism Flow Networks in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-17, October.
    13. Friederike Behr & Gero Oertzen & Manuel Dienst, 2021. "Managing Sustainability and Carbon-Neutrality in the Public Administration—Case Report of a German State Institution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    14. Elena Gorbenkova & Elena Shcherbina, 2020. "Historical-Genetic Features in Rural Settlement System: A Case Study from Mogilev District (Mogilev Oblast, Belarus)," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-17, May.
    15. Shen Wang & Guohe Huang & Yurui Fan, 2018. "A Multistage Distribution-Generation Planning Model for Clean Power Generation under Multiple Uncertainties—A Case Study of Urumqi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-30, September.
    16. Palazzo, Maria & Vollero, Agostino & Vitale, Pierluigi & Siano, Alfonso, 2021. "Urban and rural destinations on Instagram: Exploring the influencers’ role in #sustainabletourism," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    17. Tomas Kačerauskas & Dalia Streimikiene & Rasa Bartkute, 2021. "Environmental Sustainability of Creative Economy: Evidence from a Lithuanian Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-18, August.
    18. Alina Kulczyk-Dynowska & Beata Bal-Domańska, 2019. "The National Parks in the Context of Tourist Function Development in Territorially Linked Municipalities in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-22, April.
    19. Goran Skataric & Velibor Spalevic & Svetislav Popovic & Nenad Perosevic & Rajko Novicevic, 2021. "The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-35, July.
    20. Samuel Fernández-Salinero & Ángel García Collantes & Francisco Rodríguez Cifuentes & Gabriela Topa, 2020. "Is Job Involvement Enough for Achieving Job Satisfaction? The Role of Skills Use and Group Identification," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-11, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7254-:d:299005. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.