Young researchers are essential to the RurAllure project, a visionary endeavor dedicated to rural community revitalization along the pilgrimage routes. Their enthusiasm and modern expertise infuse the project with fresh ideas and innovative solutions, bridging tradition and progress. Dominique Gialdini, a neo-graduate from the Spanish University of Girona, focused his master’s thesis on “Inward journey through the Valle d’Aosta: stakeholders’ perspectives on sustainability and resilience along the Via Francigena pilgrimage route”. 

Below are insights of his reseach.  

What is your thesis about and what inspired you to choose this topic? 

My thesis is focused on analyzing local stakeholders’ perceptions about the sustainability and resilience of the Via Francigena pilgrimage route through the Italy’s Aosta Valley. As a student of tourism who spent substantial time focusing on the three pillars of sustainability (economic, socio-cultural, and environmental) and as a Catholic, I had an interest in investigating a case study that combined cultural tourism, slow tourism, rural tourism, and spirituality. Since the Camino de Santiago is a widely known and heavily trafficked path, I decided to focus on a European Cultural Route that is still in the process of becoming a household name, as I felt my research would be more meaningful for a route in the development and growth process. I chose the Valle d’Aosta at the suggestion of EAVF Director Luca Bruschi, who connected with me with regional tourism Director Laurette Proment. I focused on local stakeholders (including DMO professionals, hoteliers, mayors, and other public figures) because I was interested in collecting a mosaic of perspectives and synthesizing them to provide insight into the general satisfaction of and concerns for the route. 

According to your analysis, has sustainability been more enhanced in the field of tourism development in the last years? 

While conducting my literature review, I came to understand that the concept of sustainability has expanded and developed over time. Rather than looking at carrying capacity in absolute terms, as was once common, limits of acceptable change are now better understood to be dynamic and contingent upon stages of development within a destination. Additionally, resilience has come into focus. It is commonly accepted that unforeseen changes occur in a given destination, and these changes can disrupt the sustainability of a place; however, resilience is the measure of how quickly a destination can get back to normal. In the case of the Valle d’Aosta, for example, landslides were a prime example of disruptive events to consider. It appears that sustainability, indeed, has come to the forefront of the focus of many destinations, and the Via Francigena is no different. In order to practice responsible tourism development, my friends whom I met on the route (both the EAVF team and local stakeholders) have identified that sustainability is an important component in the safeguarding of a tourism asset. The post-COVID world has made those in the tourism industry more aware of the effects of tourism. In places where endemic animals returned during the lockdowns or where water clarity increased substantially, we were able to see what a place looks like without heavy human presence; these phenomena allowed us to better conceptualize that different management techniques can influence the state of a destination. It is now understood by many in tourism that there are both intrinsic and extrinsic values in acting sustainably; a destination remains beautiful and continues to attract visitors who spend money! 

Resilience is one of the key words of your thesis, how does it relate to the slow tourism? 

Resilience is an important concept in tourism that affects destinations across the globe. In the context of slow tourism, resilience is important when mitigating adverse situations, such as natural disasters or human-caused situations. For example, strikes can affect the ability of a rural destination to be accessible for visitors; how do these destinations fare when such obstacles occur? Additionally, how does a destination cope with a devastating event, such as a fire that destroys cultural assets? Resilient destinations have crisis mitigation plans and are able to reposition themselves in order to stay relevant. One situation that was brought to my attention during my research is that, due to warmer winters, the length of ski season in the Valle d’Aosta has decreased substantially. Some locals explained that they hope that diversification (such as becoming an emerging destination for hiking) will mitigate the negative economic effects of a given situation. It has been observed that travelers interested in slow tourism tend to be more conscious of their impact on a destination; therefore, slow tourism destinations tend to be more susceptible to environmental rather than visitor-induced situations that must be addressed through resilient action. 

In your survey, what are the main tourist development models of the post-covid period? 

The post-COVID period has led to a surge in interest for rural tourism. I now live in rural Tennessee, and it was in places like my county where people began to escape the claustrophobia of lockdowns and difficult situations in urban settings. Overall, tourists in recent years have begun to flock to rural areas and destinations that are nearer to where they live. Some of these trends are thanks to concerns over travel restrictions and are also influenced by the growing demographic that considers its carbon footprint. As time goes on, it appears that further distance and international tourism are returning to normal. Slow tourism has grown in popularity not only among older generations but also among younger adults who are interested in locally sourced and organic products. The anxieties of Covid have led many to develop a respect for tradition and grassroots activities, which leads them to places like agrotourism accommodations, honey farms, and olive groves. Additionally, many people desire to rediscover who they are and advance their wellbeing through spiritually and physically rejuvenating activities. Since cultural routes such as the Via Francigena are natural conduits for adventure and self-discovery, I believe that they will grow in popularity in the years to come. 

Consult here the full thesis