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Industrial Heritage Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development? A Case Study of Steirische Eisenstrasse (Austria)

Author

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  • Jörn Harfst

    (Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Jasmin Sandriester

    (Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36, 8010 Graz, Austria)

  • Wolfgang Fischer

    (Department of Geography and Regional Science, University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36, 8010 Graz, Austria)

Abstract

The valorization of cultural heritage for regional development (“Conservation 3.0”) has been a widely used concept in the last decade. Heritage institutions and the European Union have advocated and fostered the view of cultural heritage as a place-based development potential. Therefore, this article investigates the impacts of such approaches in the context of sustainable development. It does so with a specific focus on more peripheral, (old) industrial regions in Central Europe, where industrial heritage and industrial tourism play an important role. Based on this background, this article highlights the difficulties of establishing a tourism product based on industry-related features. The product mainly serves a niche market, thereby not helping to overcome structural disadvantages of peripheral regions. The economic impacts of industrial heritage tourism on the transition towards a more sustainable regional development are rather low. Nevertheless, the case study highlights the social benefits that industry-related tourism yields in regions in transformation, forming an important pre-condition for any future development. However, ecological aspects are not widely addressed in heritage tourism in this region. Policy-wise, stakeholders in peripheral regions should be more aware of the different limits and opportunities cultural heritage utilizations can bring in terms of achieving a more sustainable regional development.

Suggested Citation

  • Jörn Harfst & Jasmin Sandriester & Wolfgang Fischer, 2021. "Industrial Heritage Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development? A Case Study of Steirische Eisenstrasse (Austria)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3857-:d:527563
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    1. Guiling Wang & Lei Ye, 2022. "Spatial-Temporal Pattern of Mismatch Degree of High-Quality Tourism Development and Its Formation Mechanism in Taihu Lake Basin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Zebo Ni & Taohua Ouyang & Jianxiong Xu, 2023. "Research on the Sustainable Development of Enterprises That Evoke Industrial Heritage—A Case Study of Taoxichuan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Aleksandra Kuzior & Wiesław Grebski & Aleksy Kwilinski & Dariusz Krawczyk & Michalene Eva Grebski, 2022. "Revitalization of Post-Industrial Facilities in Economic and Socio-Cultural Perspectives—A Comparative Study between Poland and the USA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Zulmira Montenegro & Jorge Marques & Cristina Sousa, 2023. "Industrial Tourism as a Factor of Sustainability and Competitiveness in Operating Industrial Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.
    5. Aleksandra Kuzior & Oleksii Lyulyov & Tetyana Pimonenko & Aleksy Kwilinski & Dariusz Krawczyk, 2021. "Post-Industrial Tourism as a Driver of Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-14, July.

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