Intimate relationships exist between the enhancement and preservation of cultural heritage and tourism as a fundamental driver for regional development. The time has come to give due recognition to there scaling processes affecting heritage and tourism destinations, intended both as upscaling and downscaling. Rescaling heritage andtourism destinations can be seen as both a strategy pursued by national and regional agencies, or as unintended consequences of the constant interplay between an increasingly complex array of stakeholders, including cross-national institutions and local communities.

Argument

Intimate relationships exist between the enhancement and preservation of cultural heritage and tourism as a fundamental driver for regional development. The time has come to give due recognition to the rescaling processes affecting heritage and tourism destinations, intended both as upscaling and downscaling. Rescaling heritage and tourism destinations can be seen as both a strategy pursued by national and regional agencies, or as unintended consequences of the constant interplay between an increasingly complex array of stakeholders, including cross-national institutions and local communities.

The aim of the RSA research network is to examine tourism diversity from the perspective of regional development in order to identify current challenges and opportunities in a more systematic manner, and hence provide the basis for a more well-informed integration of tourism into regional development strategies and move beyond political short-termism and buzzword fascination.

The Rimini workshop aims to discuss and exchange ideas, experiences, and research results about cultural heritage and tourism with a particular focus on the rescaling processes. This endeavour has in fact the potential of shedding new light on the intricate and multilayered decision-making processes underpinning the rescaling of heritage and tourism.

The Rimini workshop welcomes papers on topics including : 

• tourism and cultural routes: networks, governance, impact
• tourism and cultural heritage in regeneration/rejuvenation strategies
• cultural heritage off-the-beaten track: governance, impact, policies
• power dynamics, social conflicts and inequalities related to cultural
• heritage and tourism
• quality of life and wellbeing in heritage and tourism
• the role of cultural heritage and tourism for smart specialization strategies
• destination management vs. cultural heritage management
• co-operation in heritage and tourism development between the core and
• the periphery of regional areas
• sustainable uses of the past
• host-guest relationships
• the role of creativity and creative industries in heritage and tourism
• events and festivals as development drivers
• impact assessment of cultural tourism policies
• competition between heritage sites and destinations
• creating, utilising and comparing place brands
• social sensemaking and the co-construction of cultural heritage

We will also be happy to accept papers addressing other aspects of tourism and regional development

Key dates

• 30th October 2015 | Deadline for abstract submission

• 15th November 2015 | Notification of accepted papers
• 20th December 2015 | Deadline for early bird registration
• 20th January 2016 | Deadline for registration
• 10/12 FEBRUARY 2016 | RIMINI

Proposals

Abstracts (title and an abstract of not more than 300 words) should be submitted to Lorenzo Zirulia lorenzo.zirulia@unibo.it

no later than 30th October 2015.

About the Rimini worshop

The event is open to researchers and practitioners, young and old, with an interest in tourism and regional development. It is organised by the Center for Advanced Studies in Tourism (CAST), the interdisciplinary coordinating body for all the activities related to tourism within the University of Bologna. The event will take place at the Rimini Campus (120 km from Bologna), beginning on Wednesday, 10th February, and ending on Friday, 12th January. It will combine keynote and paper presentations and other interactive work sessions.

Please check the workshop website for further information: www.turismo.unibo.it/RSA2016

Worshop fee

The workshop fee is 200 Euros.

Early bird and RSA members registration is offered at a discounted rate of 180 Euros. RSA Member will be granted the Early bird rate also after the deadline for Early bird registration. The fee covers meals, coffee, and refreshment during the workshop, and some recreational activities.

Travel bursaries

The RSA has kindly provided bursaries of up to 200 Euros to support travel for students or other delegates with an accepted paper and limited financial means of their own in order to encourage as wide a participation in the working group as possible. Participants can join the Association and request a travel bursary at the same time.

Bursaries will be distributed on first-come-first-serve basis. For your application please contact Henrik Halkier halkier@cgs.aau.dk

Conference proceeding

On the basis of the workshops of the research network, the intention is to produce one or more publications, in the form of special issues of peer reviewed journals.

Research network

The Tourism and Regional Development research network is a recognised meeting point for all those with an interest in issues relating to tourism from a regional development perspective.

The research network is financially supported by the Regional Studies Association and organised by: Henrik Halkier, Aalborg University, Denmark | halkier@cgs.aau.dk Marek Kozak, University of Warsaw, Poland | m.w.kozak@uw.edu.pl

Local organisers

• Alessia Mariotti | University of Bologna | Dept. for Life Quality Studies
• Francesco Barbini | University of Bologna | Dept. of Management
• Massimo Giovanardi | University of Leicester | School of Management
• Roberto Patuelli | University of Bologna | Dept. for Economics
• Chiara Rabbiosi | University of Bologna | Dept. for Life Quality Studies
• Lorenzo Zirulia | University of Bologna | Dept. for Economics

Schedule

• Wednesday, 10th Feb. 2016 | Opening at about midday
• Thursday, 11th Feb. 2016 | Workshop, full day including study visit
• Friday, 12th Feb. 2016 | Closing at about 5 pm