Regenerating villages in the inner areas through cultural and experiential tourism

This article discusses towns in the inner areas affected by depopulation. It starts with a broad introduction to illustrate the critical issues that threaten their very existence, but also their potential and hope, and the planning capabilities that sometimes characterise the communities that inhabit them. It then describes a methodology which outlines sustainable local development processes based on knowledge, safeguarding and enhancing the cultural heritage (tangible and intangible; natural and anthropic). The aim is to contribute ideas and substantial proposals to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of villages in the inner areas, creating new work opportunities linked to cultural and experiential tourism, strengthening the local identity and social networks. This methodology was tested as part of a research project – The Diaspora as a Resource for the Knowledge, Preservation and Enhancement of the Lesser Known Cultural Sites in Albania – carried out from 1 May 2019 to 31 July 2020 by the Interdepartmental Research Unit Florence Accessibility Lab of the University of Florence on behalf of the International Organization for MigrationIOM (the United Nations agency for migration). Members of the Albanian diaspora in Italy (university students and young architects and researchers) were part of the working group of the research, which focused on five Albanian villages situated from the north to the south of the country.