Toward Sustainable Landscape and Tourism Planning: A Methodological Framework for the Regeneration of Marginal Rural Areas in Eastern Sicily

Dario Mirabella, Monica C. M. Parlato (), Mariagrazia Leonardi and Simona M. C. Porto
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Dario Mirabella: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Monica C. M. Parlato: Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF), University of Padua, 35020 Padua, Italy
Mariagrazia Leonardi: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Simona M. C. Porto: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Rural landscapes play a key role in preserving ecological processes, cultural identity, and socio-economic well-being, yet these areas often face challenges such as land degradation, water scarcity, and an inadequate road network. A sustainable approach to rural landscape and tourism planning is essential for enhancing both environmental resilience and socio-economic vitality in areas facing degradation and global change. This study aims to develop and validate an integrated methodological workflow that combines Landscape Character Assessment (LCA), ECOVAST guidelines, SWOT analysis, and open-source GIS techniques, complemented by a bottom-up approach of spontaneous fruition mapped through Wikiloc heatmaps. The framework was applied to a case study in Paternò, Eastern Sicily, Italy—a territory distinguished by its key local values such as Calanchi formations, proximity to Mount Etna, and cultural heritage. Through this application, eight distinct Landscape Units (LUs) were delineated, and key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for sustainable development were identified. Using open-access data and a survey-free protocol, this approach facilitates detailed landscape assessment without extensive fieldwork. The methodology is readily transferable to other rural Italian and Mediterranean contexts, providing practical guidance for researchers, planners, and stakeholders engaged in sustainable tourism development and landscape management.

Keywords: landscape analysis; landscape protection; LCA; ECOVAST; landscape planning; landscape fruition; marginal rural areas; sustainable tourism planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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