Dynamic intangible heritage and tourism in Flanders: needs, opportunities, and practices

This research project explores the role of tourism contexts on intangible heritage practices in Flanders. It focuses on two components: (1) insights from key actors from tourism and (intangible) heritage to map needs, opportunities, and valorisation potential; and (2) the development and application of an evaluation framework to systematically analyse and select relevant intangible heritage practices within tourism contexts. This instrument clarifies according to which criteria and considerations certain practices and communities are brought into focus, thereby offering a transparent and reproducible methodological basis. Based on this, a shortlist of practices will be produced that reflects the diversity and dynamics of intangible heritage tourism in Flanders. Throughout the research attention will be given to the role and possible impact of emerging digital technologies, such as GenAI, in strengthening the valorisation and interpretation of intangible heritage. The results will not only generate new insights into sectoral needs, opportunities for digitisation, and valorisation trajectories, but also deliver a concrete methodological tool that supports future research and policy development regarding intangible heritage tourism.