The Territorialization of Cultural Heritage as an Opportunity for Its Adaptive Reuse From the Tourist Management

Abstract

Considering the territory as an expansive dimension of heritage offers a unique opportunity to promote both the conservation of assets and the development of the surrounding area. However, heritage often remains isolated from the holistic management of tourist destinations, failing to integrate as a “living” element. To address this issue, the study proposes a conceptual delimitation that takes into account the services provided by various facilities within the space and their uses. By analyzing the interdependencies between heritage and the territorial system, inspired by ecosystem service evaluation, a methodology is applied to the sculpture “Elogio del Horizonte” in Gijón, Spain. The results establish an initial delimitation for the case study, providing a foundation for identifying needs and generating proposals. This method aims to guide decision-making in heritage management in the tourism sector, going beyond mere economic profitability and prioritizing the community's needs.