Boosting Bergamo’s Appeal: A Focus on Accessible Cultural Heritage

bergamo is actively enhancing its tourism sector by prioritizing inclusivity and leveraging its rich artistic and cultural heritage, especially for children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The Bergamo Heritage Lab, a collaborative initiative, recently showcased projects designed to make the city’s treasures more accessible and engaging for all.

This initiative, spearheaded by Manageritalia Lombardia and the University of Bergamo, unites university students with experienced managers and educators to develop innovative tourism solutions. The goal is to create a tourism experience that is not only accessible but also creative and capable of showcasing the city’s unique heritage.

Collaborative Efforts Drive Innovation

Key figures, including Elisabetta Bani from the University of Bergamo, Antonio Bonardo from Manageritalia Lombardia, and sergio Gandi, Bergamo’s Deputy Mayor, have voiced strong support for the Bergamo Heritage Lab. Gandi emphasized the projects’ inspirational value and their potential to inform the Management’s strategies for enhancing the city’s assets. Bonardo highlighted the importance of synergy between managers, students, and academia in developing inclusive and sustainable tourism solutions.

This collaboration that unites students,academic world and tourism manager is essential to promote integrated and sustainable management of our tourist and cultural offer. Bergamo continues his commitment to be a destination of excellence for Lombard and national tourism.
Sergio Gandi, Deputy Mayor of Bergamo

Bani underscored the initiative’s role in fostering dialog, innovation, and collaboration within the accessible and creative tourism sector.

Addressing Managerial Gaps in Italian Tourism

The Bergamo Heritage Lab also aims to strengthen managerial expertise within Italian companies. Italy lags behind European competitors in the number of managers per worker, with tourism being particularly deficient.While Lombardy boasts a significant portion of Italy’s tourism managers,Bergamo’s numbers remain relatively low. This initiative seeks to address this gap by fostering the next generation of tourism leaders.

In 2024, tourism contributed significantly to Italy’s economy, accounting for 10.8% of the GDP and 13% of employment, underscoring the sector’s importance and the need for skilled management.

Innovative Projects for enhanced Accessibility and Engagement

Over 90 students, doctoral candidates, and researchers have contributed to the Bergamo Heritage Lab, presenting projects that address various aspects of accessible tourism. Thes projects include:

• Accessibility improvements for UNESCO Site: Solutions to enhance physical, sensory, and digital accessibility of the Venetian fortifications of bergamo, including tactile paths, multilingual audio guides, and inclusive transportation options.
• International School Heritage Tourism for All: A plan to improve accessibility to the Astino monastery and valley through a multidisciplinary approach.
• Creo-Lab Tourism and Creative Industries: Initiatives to leverage the brembana Valley’s heritage through creative experiences like escape rooms and interactive apps that connect tourists with local farms and traditions.

Unlocking Italy’s Untapped Potential

Damiano De Crescenzo, coordinator of Heritage Lab Manageritalia Lombardia, emphasized Italy’s unparalleled cultural and environmental heritage, including its numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. He argued that these assets are currently underutilized economically and that the Heritage Lab aims to mobilize expertise to transform them into engines of growth and innovation.

Italy has unparalleled cultural and environmental heritage in the world: 60 sites recognized by UNESCO; 10 only in Lombardy.The value of these assets is extraordinary, the same is their economic underutilization.
Damiano De Crescenzo,coordinator Heritage Lab Manageritalia Lombardia

This involves investing in new tourism professions and promoting sustainable practices that respect the unique characteristics of each location.

Expert Insights and Future Outlook

A roundtable discussion featuring industry professionals and experts, including roberta Garibaldi from the University of Bergamo and Christophe Sanchez from Visitbergamo, explored the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and the sustainable use of Lombardy’s UNESCO sites. The discussion highlighted the need to balance tourist experiences with heritage conservation, particularly in anticipation of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Gian Mario Gambirasio of Manageritalia Lombardia concluded by emphasizing the value of engaging with young talent from around the world to develop skills relevant to Bergamo’s tourism sector.The Bergamo Heritage Lab serves as a precursor to the Bergamo Next Level 2025 review, fostering dialogue between students, academics, and professionals to promote inclusive and sustainable tourism.