Cultural heritage constitutes a fundamental pillar of local identity and sustainable development. The integration of digital culture into heritage sites and cultural spaces is radically transforming the ways in which visitors perceive, experience, and attribute meaning to cultural heritage. In particular, forms of immersive experiences—such as virtual and augmented reality, interactive digital environments, multisensory applications, and digital tours—redefine how visitors interact with cultural spaces, enhancing their sense of presence and experiential engagement (Pratisto et al., 2022). Moreover, bibliometric evidence from international research confirms the rapidly growing interest in immersive technologies as strategic tools for cultural and tourism development (Zhang, 2024).
Based on the above, the present proposal is grounded in the theoretical premise that the activation of cultural heritage through digital practices, functions as a catalyst for the creation of experiential value, which increases the attractiveness of cultural sites and positively influences individuals’ intention to visit both the sites themselves and the broader cultural destination. This relationship is of particular importance for the sustainable development of local economies, as visit intention is associated with increased consumption of local products, longer length of stay, and the strengthening of local value chains.
Drawing on approaches from the experience economy, the digital transformation of culture, and sustainable tourism development, this paper proposes a conceptual model according to which cultural sites enriched with digital environments operate as hubs of cultural and economic activation.
Methodologically, a quantitative research design is proposed, employing a structured questionnaire administered to visitors of cultural sites that implement both digital and physical visitation practices.
The study will examine the Digital Water Museum of the Municipality of Sikyonians and the Archaeological Site of Ancient Corinth. These are two cultural hubs located in the Region of Peloponnese.
In conclusion, it is argued that immersive digital experiences do not merely constitute a technological innovation, but rather a critical strategic tool for shaping the sustainable development of local economies, whereby cultural value is transformed into social and economic benefit, activating local communities.
Research Questions
Keywords: digital experiences, sustainable local development, cultural sites, Region of Peloponnese.
Selected References
Pratisto, E. H., Thompson, N., & Potdar, V. (2022). Immersive technologies for tourism: A systematic review. Information Technology & Tourism, 24, 181–219.
Zhang, J., Wan Yahaya, W. A. J., & Sanmugam, M. (2024). The Impact of Immersive Technologies on Cultural Heritage: A Bibliometric Study of VR, AR, and MR Applications. Sustainability, 16(15), 6446.
