Tourism, Heritage and Biodiversity in Sighisoara
Keywords:
heritage tourism, medieval cities, urban biodiversityAbstract
[EN] This study investigates the dynamic interplay between tourism and heritage conservation in the medieval city of Sighișoara, Romania. It highlights how modern tourism, while providing economic benefits, often exerts significant pressure on heritage sites, potentially altering their intrinsic cultural and environmental values. The research aims to analyze the challenges posed by intensive tourism, explore its impact on urban biodiversity, and propose sustainable heritage management strategies.
Methodologically, the study employs a multidisciplinary approach, including archival research, field studies, and comparative analysis with other European medieval cities. Key findings reveal that while tourism contributes positively to local economies, it also leads to overcrowding, commercialization, and degradation of heritage and natural resources. Recommendations include the implementation of ecotourism models, enhanced community engagement, and the development of robust management plans.
This paper contributes to the literature by addressing the specific challenges faced by inhabited medieval fortresses like Sighișoara and by proposing actionable strategies to balance tourism and heritage preservation. The integration of urban biodiversity into heritage conservation is emphasized as a novel approach, ensuring long-term sustainability and enriching the cultural identity of heritage cities.
[FR] Cette étude explore l'interaction dynamique entre le tourisme et la conservation du patrimoine dans la ville médiévale de Sighișoara, en Roumanie. Elle met en lumière comment le tourisme moderne, bien qu’apportant des avantages économiques, exerce souvent une pression significative sur les sites patrimoniaux, pouvant altérer leurs valeurs culturelles et environnementales intrinsèques. La recherche vise à analyser les défis posés par le tourisme intensif, à examiner son impact sur la biodiversité urbaine et à proposer des stratégies durables de gestion du patrimoine.
Sur le plan méthodologique, l’étude adopte une approche multidisciplinaire, incluant des recherches d’archives, des études de terrain et une analyse comparative avec d’autres villes médiévales européennes. Les résultats principaux montrent que, bien que le tourisme contribue positivement aux économies locales, il engendre également surfréquentation, commercialisation et dégradation des ressources patrimoniales et naturelles. Les recommandations incluent la mise en œuvre de modèles d’écotourisme, une participation accrue de la communauté et l’élaboration de plans de gestion solides.
Cet article apporte une contribution significative en abordant les défis spécifiques rencontrés par des forteresses médiévales habitées comme Sighișoara et en proposant des stratégies concrètes pour équilibrer tourisme et préservation patrimoniale. L’intégration de la biodiversité urbaine dans la conservation du patrimoine est mise en avant comme une approche novatrice, garantissant une durabilité à long terme et enrichissant l’identité culturelle des villes patrimoniales.
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