A NEW FRAME FOR SUSTAINABLE HERITAGE ASSESSMENT : A Case Study of Biosphere Tourism

Abstract: This project considers a new frame for tangible cultural heritage sustainability assessment that is based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. For that, we use a methodology of literature research and doing a case study of Biosphere Tourism, a certification company for sustainable tourism entities and destinations. The literature research considers past and present certification programs, the concept of sustainability assessment - how it was born and the different methods that currently exist -, and how heritage can be related to tourism and sustainability. It is also seen how tourism exploitation's impacts on tangible cultural heritage can be shown in many different forms. For the case study, the key points for the Biosphere assessment method are explained, and we can see how their method is framed on both the 17 SDGs and the theory of the three pillars of sustainability. Also, we examine some examples and strategies of what destinations assessed by Biosphere have done to improve their cultural heritage, and examples of cultural heritage entities assessed by them. During this project, we find out that there is a lack of research on the matter of cultural heritage in relation to sustainability assessment. We conclude by proposing a new frame for cultural heritage assessment, a minimum criterion that should be followed when assessing a cultural heritage entity, so as to ensure that there is a base from which we can grow and develop sustainably. we examine some examples and strategies of what destinations assessed by Biosphere have done to improve their cultural heritage, and examples of cultural heritage entities assessed by them. During this project, we find out that there is a lack of research on the matter of cultural heritage in relation to sustainability assessment. We conclude by proposing a new frame for cultural heritage assessment, a minimum criterion that should be followed when assessing a cultural heritage entity, so as to ensure that there is a base from which we can grow and develop sustainably. we examine some examples and strategies of what destinations assessed by Biosphere have done to improve their cultural heritage, and examples of cultural heritage entities assessed by them. During this project, we find out that there is a lack of research on the matter of cultural heritage in relation to sustainability assessment. We conclude by proposing a new frame for cultural heritage assessment, a minimum criterion that should be followed when assessing a cultural heritage entity, so as to ensure that there is a base from which we can grow and develop sustainably.