Islandscapes and Sustainable Creative Tourism: A Conceptual Framework and Guidelines for Best Practices

Alexandra Baixinho,Gualter Couto,Pilar Damião Medeiros,Isabel Soares De Albergaria,Leonor Sampaio Da Silva,Carlos Santos,Rosa Maria Neves Simas

doi:10.3390/land10121302

Abstract

As strategies for the development of creative tourism multiply in contexts ranging from global cities to small communities, the need for a clearer conceptual framework, capable of better differentiating existing approaches, has become more evident. Building upon existing knowledge on cultural and creative tourism, and on a prior review of the literature on creative tourism on islands, this paper proposes a typology of creative tourism initiatives, and after examining this new categorization, develops the concept of sustainable creative tourism. Through highlighting the need for creative tourism developers, policymakers, and practitioners to deepen their engagement with more holistic and integrated approaches oriented towards sustainable development in all its dimensions (economic, environmental, social, and cultural), the authors systematize a set of international principles and policy recommendations meant to promote sustainable creative tourism development strategies, duly adjusted to different places and realities, with an emphasis on vulnerable islandscapes.

Highlights

Since its initial definition as “tourism which offers visitors the opportunity to develop their creative potential through active participation in courses and learning experiences which are characteristic of the holiday destination where they are undertaken” [4], the concept of creative tourism has been evolving, in tandem with wider shifts in cultural, social, and economic trends that have been shaping the relationship between tourism, culture, and creativity [1] (p. 1227), [5]
Portugal), the CREATOUR AZORES project aims to go further, developing its own integrated approach and pilot research agenda focused on creative tourism in island regions, which is duly adjusted to the unique intrinsic characteristics and the natural and cultural heritage of the Azores Islands, while simultaneously being useful and inspiring to similar island contexts
In response to recent challenges for creative tourism researchers identified by Duxbury and Richards [3], this paper aims to: (1) contribute to a more integrated and refined conceptual framework on creative tourism activities, building upon earlier works; (2) propose the notion of sustainable creative tourism, pushing the field towards sustainable development goals and guidelines; and (3) examine a wide range of principles and policy recommendations on sustainable tourism and sustainable cultural tourism, compiling a set of inspirational guidelines that can contribute to more sustainable creative tourism developments

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Portugal), the CREATOUR AZORES project aims to go further, developing its own integrated approach and pilot research agenda focused on creative tourism in island regions, which is duly adjusted to the unique intrinsic characteristics and the natural and cultural heritage of the Azores Islands, while simultaneously being useful and inspiring to similar island contexts. These conditions create a scenario where the impacts are both more intense and more noticeable, due to the fact that the capacity for auto-regeneration in insular systems is far weaker In this context of higher social, economic, and environmental vulnerability on islands, creative tourism provides “a potential opportunity for a win-win situation for local residents”, if it is properly planned and developed [20] (2) propose the notion of sustainable creative tourism, pushing the field towards sustainable development goals and guidelines; and (3) examine a wide range of principles and policy recommendations on sustainable tourism and sustainable cultural tourism, compiling a set of inspirational guidelines that can contribute to more sustainable creative tourism developments

Methodological Approach

Towards a Concept of Sustainable Creative Tourism

Findings

Final Considerations