The life cycle of Cultural Route and Archaeological Park Programmes

THE LIFE CYCLE OF CULTURAL ROUTE AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK PROGRAMMES

The life cycle of these programmes consists of three major phases:

The first phase involves designing the Cultural Route/Archaeological Park programme, as well as preparing and adopting a relevant strategy, via the following steps:

1. a) Drawing up the initial strategy document
2. b) Public Consultation
3. c) Approval of the Strategy by the Regional Council
4. d) Approval of the ITI Strategic Planning by the Regional Governor

The second phase concerns the construction of the programme and coincides with 4 distinct steps aiming to:

1. a) ensure adequate infrastructure (operational and archaeological)
2. b) implement the marketing and digital actions of the programme
3. c) foster the participation of entrepreneurship, by connecting the Route with the local economy, the first step in creating an “enterprise cluster” based on a mutually accepted Local Quality Pact to support and promote the Route
4. d) manage the programme. This is achieved through a collective management structure known as the Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMO), which is charged with overseeing the project’s operation as a whole.

The third phase concerns the proper functioning of the cultural tourism product via the Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMO). The DMO daily ensures that the entire “chain” of resources and services of the holistic cultural tourism product maintains its high quality. For example, the DMO as route operator is tasked with monitoring the proper functioning and maintenance of infrastructure, coordinating cooperation with business and local communities, and attending to the continuous marketing of the route.

For DIAZOMA, the establishment of a dedicated structure supporting operators and new cultural tourism products and providing assistance to ensure their good operation and sustainability where necessary is the linchpin of this effort.