Advancing Cultural Tourism Initiatives
Thomas Bartoli has arrived from Florence to join the UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures and the University’s Knowledge Environment in Sustainable Tourism (KEST) as an Erasmus Trainee. He will be based at the Kalmar campus for the next six months, focusing on cultural tourism and the development of a planned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Öland.
We asked Thomas about his research and why he moved to Sweden.
What is your research focus and areas of interest?
My research focus lies at the intersection of cultural heritage, sustainable tourism and land development. I am very interested in exploring policy and practical applications on fostering the protection of cultural heritage, while promoting sustainable tourism and land development. As a human geographer by academic preparation, I am very passionate about understanding the role of heritage in people's life and how tourism can be a sustainable engine to improve this connection for future generations.
Why do you want to spend time with the UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures?
UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures in Kalmar is, for me, a remarkable center for gaining additional knowledge about heritage protection, while engaging with amazing research connected to UNESCO Cultural Landscape of Southern Öland. This experience in Kalmar will enable me to improve my understanding on heritage policies and land protection, while raising awareness on the importance of creating “bridges” with past, present and future dimensions.
What do you hope to contribute with during your time here?
I hope to contribute by bringing new insights and perspectives on cultural heritage protection and tourism policies, particularly through a comparison between UNESCO’s Cultural Landscape and UNESCO’s Biosphere reserve, both of which are important strategies of land protection.
- I am pleased to welcome Thomas Bartoli to our Kalmar campus, says Cornelius Holtorf, Professor of Archaeology and holder of the UNESCO Chair on Heritage Futures. His addition to our team means that we can focus on cultural tourism and the development of a planned UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on Öland.
- We are particularly happy about our collaboration on this project with the Knowledge Environment in Sustainable Tourism (KEST), concludes Cornelius Holtorf.