Rethinking Industrial Heritage Tourism Resources in the EU: A Spatial Perspective

Abstract

Industrial heritage serves as a poignant testament to the historical narrative of industrial civilization. The European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) is a pan-European network that connects industrial sites and museums to enhance public awareness of the significance of the industrial heritage sector and to promote sustainable development practices in urban areas through collaboration and cooperation between these sites. The ERIH is crucial in promoting economic, cultural, and social values associated with industrial heritage and creating opportunities for tourism and education in Europe. Taking the ERIH as the research object, the nearest-neighbor index, kernel density, geographic detector, and other methods are used in this study to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of European industrial heritage. The results of this study have implications for urban and regional planning endeavors aimed at advancing sustainable urban development. Furthermore, they contribute to cultivating a sense of place and identity by identifying and preserving industrial heritage institutions while fostering social cohesion and community identity practices. The results show that (1) the spatial distribution of European industrial heritage presents a cohesive distribution, and the spatial distribution is uneven; (2) the spatial distribution of European industrial heritage forms “dual cores, dual centers, one belt, three zones and multiple scattered points”—the center of gravity shows a trend of “first north and then east” and the north–south movement is relatively small; and (3) a combination of natural and social factors shape the spatial distribution of industrial heritage. Natural conditions, such as altitude, topography, and hydrological characteristics, influence the distribution patterns of industrial heritage sites. Meanwhile, human factors, including infrastructure level, cultural tourism potential, and social development, play a pivotal role in determining spatial distribution patterns. Among these factors, the socio-economic level exhibits the strongest influence, with an explanatory power of 0.763. The results of this study can contribute to the conservation and tourism practices regarding industrial heritage sites, thus promoting sustainable urban development practices.