Communities in motion: heritage as a driver of sustainable development
Territories that empty out, traditions that fade away, communities that lose their identity. Is this truly the destiny awaiting the places we love?
In the heart of the Golfo di Castellammare and the Terre delle Balestrate, this question resonates deeply. Here, tangible heritage — coastal landscapes, rural architecture, seaside villages, agricultural knowledge, and food and wine traditions — intertwines with a precious intangible heritage: collective memories, local festivals, storytelling, artisanal practices, and cultural identities passed down through generations.
Promoting and enhancing this heritage does not simply mean preserving it, but keeping it alive, recognizable, and shared. It means transforming it into a driver of sustainable development, capable of generating new local economies, strengthening a sense of belonging, and restoring a central role to the communities who inhabit these places.
In such a fragile context, what role can experiential and community-based tourism play in turning depopulation into an opportunity for collective renewal? It can become a concrete tool to activate participatory processes, build networks among associations, local stakeholders, and citizens, and develop a tourism model that places people, relationships, and territorial authenticity at its core.
Let’s discuss it together at the first Community Atelier
The meeting will be a moment of listening and dialogue with associations, local organizations, and territorial operators, aimed at identifying real needs, shared visions, and opportunities linked to community-based tourism as a lever against depopulation and as a tool for the integrated promotion of the heritage of the Golfo di Castellammare and the Terre delle Balestrate.
Join the discussion, bring your voice, and become an active part of your territory’s future.
We look forward to seeing you on
Thursday, March 12, 2026 | from 9:00 AM
at Borgo Danilo Dolci, Trappeto (PA)
Free event (lunch included) — to participate, please write to antonina.albanese@cesie.org e giulia.siino@cesie.org.
About HERITAS
HERITAS – Valorisation du patrimoine culturel à travers des parcours participatifs citoyens et la création d’itinéraires de tourisme communautaire is a project funded by the INTERREG Italie – Tunisie programme.
Partners
- CESIE ETS (Italy), Coordinator
- Le Vie dei Tesori (Italy)
- CAWTAR (Tunisia)
- ANIMED (Tunisia)
For further information
Read more about the project. Contact Antonina Albanese: antonina.albanese@cesie.org.
