Conclusions and Policy Considerations

The last chapter reviews the logic of the book and summarizes the main results obtained. Based on the book’s findings, some policy considerations are expressed in this conclusive chapter. Policy reflections on the relevance of conservation, preservation and valorization programs are articulated together with an overview of the role of the European Union in the cultural heritage field. Some warnings are indicated in terms of the potential risk of interferences between tourism and both territorial identity safeguarding and cultural heritage preservation. In fact, special attention must be paid to the potentially dangerous downsides and consequences of mass tourism for both heritage conservation and local communities’ well-being and sense of belonging. Some perspectives for future research close the chapter together with a reflection of the role of cultural heritage in the post-COVID-19 scenario. Now more than ever cultural heritage should perform a fundamental role and should be put at the center of recovery strategies catching up all its essential values for communities, nations, regions and inhabitants and exploiting all its potentialities for local reconstruction and development.