Purpose Tourism increasingly shapes World Heritage Sites, creating tensions between conservation, governance and local development. Although sustainability is a core objective of the World Heritage Convention, it remains insufficiently operationalized at the site level. This study aims to address this gap by developing and applying the Sustainability Prism 4.0, an analytical framework designed to assess sustainable tourism development at World Heritage Sites through the integration of sustainability dimensions, governance processes and empirical indicators. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative comparative case study approach was adopted. The Sustainability Prism 4.0 was applied to Bahla Oasis (Oman) and Khiva Oasis (Uzbekistan). Data were collected through document analysis, participant observation and 13 semi-structured expert interviews with heritage managers, government representatives, tourism stakeholders and restoration experts. The material was analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis supported by MAXQDA. Findings The results reveal substantial sustainability challenges at both sites, particularly regarding governance coordination, implementation of management plans, and balancing conservation and tourism development. The application demonstrates that the Sustainability Prism 4.0 enables a structured assessment of sustainability by linking conceptual dimensions with empirically observable indicators across different governance contexts. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to two cases and does not aim for statistical generalization. As a first application, the framework requires further testing in additional World Heritage contexts. It contributes to heritage literature by explicitly integrating the cultural dimension as a standalone pillar and offering a rigorous assessment model specifically designed for data-scarce, non-Western contexts. Practical implications The findings have practical implications for heritage managers and policymakers seeking diagnostic tools to assess and improve sustainable tourism development at World Heritage Sites. Originality/value The paper introduces a low-threshold management tool for practitioners to operationalize international standards at the site level. It contributes to heritage literature by explicitly integrating the cultural dimension as a standalone pillar and offering a rigorous assessment model specifically designed for data-scarce, non-Western contexts.
Purpose This study examines how an ecomuseum approach mediates diverse heritage elements to foster an Ainu heritage ecosystem that aligns with Ainu worldviews, specifically iwor (hunting grounds in the Ainu language). Furthermore, it explores the potentials and tensions of the Sisirmuka Iwor Museum project in Biratori, Japan, which adopts a participatory ecomuseum approach challenging the historical disenfranchisement of Ainu stewardship within heritage management. Design/methodology/approach The study employs a case analysis of the Sisirmuka Iwor Museum project, aimed at integrating culture and nature, and tangible and intangible heritage, grounded in iwor, across the Saru River Basin. Methodologically, the study draws on ethnographic observations and participatory planning records from the Biratori community in 2023 and 2024, as well as scholarship on ecomuseum, heritage ecosystem and Indigenous heritage discourse, to evaluate how the ecomuseum approach can be mobilised in practice. Findings The ecomuseum planning phase advances dialogical interactions among multiple actors in Ainu heritage, which are operationalised in the practice of cultural revitalisation and biodiversity conservation in mutually reinforcing ways. However, systemic barriers rooted in settler-colonial legacies and entrenched heritage management practices risk reducing Ainu agency to mere culturalisation. For future improvement, the project aims to transition towards co-management, shared decision-making and the coevolution of knowledge about heritage with external stakeholders. Originality/value This study presents Japan’s first framework mediating Ainu worldviews and heritage management, aligned with the heritage ecosystem concept. By reframing iwor as a living relational system, it reasserts Ainu agency to reclaim stewardship within state frameworks and contributes to decolonial discourse.
Purpose This article develops the Circular Care Framework for sustainable heritage management. It connects maintenance, repair, material continuity, embodied carbon preservation and social-managerial care to show how heritage sustainability can be understood as a continuous practice of care and resource responsibility alongside restoration, adaptive reuse and energy upgrading. Design/methodology/approach The article adopts a targeted structured conceptual review and framework development approach. It synthesizes literature across sustainable heritage management, circular economy and the built environment, maintenance, repair and preventive conservation and embodied carbon, material continuity and building life-cycle thinking. Findings The conceptual synthesis identifies eight interrelated decision domains: retention, repair, maintenance, reversibility, adaptability, material continuity, embodied carbon preservation and social-managerial care. The framework positions circular care as a life-cycle-oriented decision logic that connects conservation ethics with resource and carbon responsibility. Research limitations/implications As a conceptual framework, the Circular Care Framework requires future empirical testing to validate its practical applicability in heritage buildings, historic urban areas, adaptive reuse projects and maintenance management processes. Originality/value The article contributes an integrative conceptual framework that positions maintenance, repair and material continuity as core sustainability practices in heritage management rather than as secondary technical operations.
Purpose This study examines the post-industrial valorisation of Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No. 2 (KW2). Moving beyond the physical focus of adaptive reuse, it investigates how "selective connectivity" reconfigures relationships between material infrastructure, institutional authority and social memory. The study aims to demonstrate how market-oriented heritage governance can marginalise subaltern labour histories through institutional, spatial and mnemonic mechanisms.Design/methodology/approach Employing a qualitative research design, the study triangulates critical discourse analysis of planning documents, adaptive reuse reports, promotional materials and on-site interpretive texts with semi-structured interviews with institutional actors. By focusing on developer logic, it traces how a corporatised mediator configures heritage value. The absence of dockworkers' lived experiences is treated not as a data deficiency, but as an analytical indicator for examining structural marginalisation and uneven spatial production.Findings KW2's valorisation operates through selective connectivity via three interrelated mechanisms. First, institutional filtering through delegated and corporatised governance prioritises market-driven branding. Second, spatial filtering preserves visually legible industrial aesthetics while obscuring the material and physical friction of manual dock labour. Third, narrative filtering replaces complex labour histories with a sanitised waterfront spectacle. This systemic selectivity produces soft displacement by retaining the physical shell of industrial heritage while rendering labour narratives increasingly invisible.Originality/value This paper introduces selective connectivity as a framework for challenging assumptions that adaptive reuse necessarily produces holistic heritage integration. It develops an analytical approach that treats the absence of labour histories as a structural indicator of power within heritage ecosystems. By connecting discursive critique with corporatised spatial governance, it offers practical strategies - such as interpretive friction - for cultivating more resilient and multi-vocal heritage ecosystems.
PurposeThis study critically maps the epistemological development of vernacular architecture and cultural heritage studies (2001–2025). It examines thematic trajectories, scientific collaboration, geographical imbalances, and epistemic inequalities while assessing the recognition of local communities as knowledge-bearing actors. Design/methodology/approachA reflective–critical bibliometric analysis of 273 Scopus-indexed articles was conducted using PRISMA procedures. Co-authorship, co-citation and keyword co-occurrence networks were generated through VOSviewer. Interpretation draws on decolonial theory, epistemic justice and Global South epistemologies. FindingsFive thematic clusters structure the field: (1) descriptive, local, and symbolic approaches; (2) technocratic–institutional conservation; (3) socio-ecological and participatory approaches; (4) historic preservation, materiality and constructions; and (5) rurality, governance and peripheral heritage. Technocratic paradigms dominate network centrality, while community-oriented and decolonial perspectives remain peripheral. Notably, no decolonial cluster emerged, indicating that such discourse has yet to gain thematic visibility in the fieldScientific collaboration is heavily concentrated in Global North institutions, reinforcing structural asymmetries. Nevertheless, an emerging shift recognises communities not merely as data sources but as epistemic contributors. Research limitations/implicationsThe study positions bibliometrics as a critical tool for uncovering representational inequalities and advancing more inclusive knowledge systems. Practical implicationsIt encourages the integration of epistemic justice and decolonial principles in heritage practice to support socially grounded and community-based preservation efforts. Social implicationsStrengthening community agency in knowledge production enables more equitable, context-sensitive and culturally rooted conservation. Originality/valueThis study introduces a decolonial, reflective-critical bibliometric framework that exposes power relations in global heritage research and advocates for plural, situated and community-derived ways of knowing.
Purpose The Gunma Declaration advocates the Heritage Ecosystems approach to integrate economic, social and environmental pillars. This paper examines the robustness of this framework by reinterpreting terroir products as Agri-Food Heritage Ecosystems. Specifically, it elucidates how public-private collaboration integrates landscapes and heritage to drive value creation in rural areas.Design/methodology/approach Employing a qualitative case study combining a literature review and field surveys in Ard & egrave;che, France, this study analyzes public-private collaboration through stakeholder interviews. Specifically, it investigates the regional shift back to chestnut production and its strategic linkage with former silk mill heritage.Findings The region successfully reconstructed its core identity around chestnut production following sericulture's decline. Former silk mills function as "third places" and hubs connecting tourists with local products. The synergy between chestnut landscape restoration, traditional food culture, and silk heritage generates local vitality.Social implications By utilizing local resources related to traditional food culture to foster interaction among local residents and between residents and tourists, this approach promotes the region's self-sustaining and resilient development. Consequently, the Agri-food Heritage Ecosystem approach serves as an alternative, replicable model for rural revitalization.Originality/value This paper applies the Heritage Ecosystems framework to terroir products, offering a novel perspective. The Ard & egrave;che case demonstrates practical methods for stakeholder empowerment and economic revitalization through the synergy of agriculture and silk heritage. Based on this, the paper proposes a territorial governance framework for value creation through Heritage Ecosystems and sustainable community development.
PurposeThe Capuchos Convent of Alferrara has remained in ruins for over two centuries. Rather than physically restore it to an image of the past, this paper aims to investigate to what extent its ongoing ruination could offer a viable path for shaping its future. Design/methodology/approachA design-research methodology is used to frame this question within an architectural design course. The course is informed by heritage and conservation theories to arrive at five non-invasive intervention paths. FindingsThe five interventions suggest that active elements like water and plants can reframe static perceptions of heritage as fixed cultural assets. They can catalyze the site as a locus of cultural and ecological practices rooted in the site’s intangible values, particularly its ascetic tradition. Originality/valueThe research is pivotal by exploring future revitalization directions for the convent in line with its past ethos. It offers alternative paths to commercialization and responds to climate threats like drought that will likely plague the region in coming years. More broadly, the paper contributes to broader discussions in contemporary heritage and conservation practices as well as architectural pedagogy in the era of the Anthropocene.
PurposeThis article discusses the role of the digital curator in cultural heritage, highlighting trends in training programs and best practices of museums in the digital age. It emphasizes the potential of geolocation in a Web Geographic Information System (Web-GIS) environment to enhance the accessibility and preservation of digitized museums. The analysis, conducted as part of the “DCbox – Digital Curator Mapping and Design” project, emphasizes the need for professionals specializing in digital cultural heritage and redefines the digital curator as a mediator between culture, technology and global audiences. Design/methodology/approachThe study explores the evolution of the curator’s role since 2000, examining opportunities and challenges of digital humanities and analyzing EU-funded projects and emerging trends. It focuses on the incorporation of digital technologies by museums through geolocated analysis, proposing a customized educational program for training professional digital curators. The conclusions and recommendations of the report are based on a thorough analysis of national situations and case studies from neighboring countries. FindingsThe analysis of training programs and museum best practices led to the proposal of a customized educational program aimed at training professional digital curators. This program considers various multidisciplinary areas, blending specific topics and subjects to achieve a unique set of functional skills, encompassing both theoretical and practical aspects. Originality/valueThe innovative aspect of this paper is the approach to geolocating digitized museums through a Web-based GIS, providing detailed informational profiles of various offerings, including augmented, virtual, mixed reality and virtual tours.
Purpose The paper explores the strategic opportunities in smart heritage fruition (SHF) by taking Umm Qais as a case study since its cultural heritage has yet to be explored through digitization. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interview was used, along with observation and document analysis. The empirical data were analyzed thematically using NVivo Findings This paper explores the determinants and practical dimensions in digitized heritage technologies (DHTs) to enhance SHF at Umm Qais. Also, it proposes a digitization plan for Umm Qais's main attractions. This study reveals a multifaceted approach with significant implications for digitized heritage and smart fruition. However, sites' digital transition necessitates careful consideration of the proposed determinants. Originality/value This study advances the concept of SHF by developing an integrated framework that links digitization determinants, stakeholder dynamics, and on-site/off-site implementation strategies within a multi-layered heritage context. This research operationalizes SHF as a cohesive, technology-led and participatory management approach. The proposed model provides both conceptual clarity and practical guidance for applying digitized heritage strategies in similarly complex heritage sites.
Purpose This study aims to propose a sustainable artificial intelligence (AI) approach for the historic building components classification. To this end, the energy efficiency of deep learning models is investigated in the detection of key architectural elements of churches in the Historic Town of Congonhas, Brazil. In addition, practical tests are conducted at the Sanctuary of Bom Jesus, a significant Brazilian monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Design/methodology/approach The methodology proposed in this paper consists of five main stages: (1) data collection through the capture of photographs of cultural heritage buildings,(2) dataset organization for training, validation, and testing experiments, (3) selection of six traditional deep learning models from the literature, (4) design of experiments for simulation and real-world testing and (5) sustainable artificial intelligence calculations to assess the energy efficiency of the deep learning models. Findings The results demonstrate that it is possible to conduct experiments for historic building component classification using more energy-efficient computational models, such as MobileNet and MobileNetV2. In other words, these models require less energy for training the artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the sustainable AI models achieved accuracy levels comparable to those of more energy-intensive structures. Originality/value This study presents an innovative contribution through a comprehensive analysis of energy consumption for historic building component detection using computer vision. Additionally, the case study involving sustainable artificial intelligence applied to a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Congonhas represents a novel approach in the recent literature.
PurposeThis article analyses the application of circular economy (CE) strategies in the renovation of rural Mediterranean dwellings through three case studies in the province of M & aacute;laga, Spain. The research aims to document and evaluate practices of adaptive reuse, selective deconstruction and the integration of local materials in the context of rural heritage regeneration.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative multiple-case design was employed, combining documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with clients and estate agents to explore both technical and socio-economic dimensions.FindingsThe results demonstrate that CE-oriented rehabilitation can significantly reduce resource consumption and embodied carbon emissions, while preserving cultural identity and architectural authenticity. Furthermore, the study reveals emerging market trends, with international buyers increasingly valuing sustainable and heritage-friendly housing, suggesting that circular renovation contributes not only to environmental goals but also to the social and economic revitalisation of rural areas.Originality/valueThe article concludes by highlighting the theoretical implications for heritage studies and the practical potential of replicable, place-based circular strategies in Mediterranean contexts. This article contributes to the growing literature on CE applications in the built environment by examining rural housing rehabilitation in a Mediterranean context. It offers a contextualised understanding of how adaptive reuse and selective deconstruction can align environmental goals with heritage preservation and local revitalisation. The study adds value by integrating technical and socio-economic perspectives, providing evidence-based insights that can inform sustainable renovation practices and territorial policy in rural areas.
PurposeThis research addresses emerging questions concerning heritage conservation in contemporary theme parks by positioning the role of material change within their cultural practices.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts an explorative single-case study approach focused on Efteling in the Netherlands, drawing on participatory observations within the park's management in 2024. Ongoing projects were assessed through observations and conversational interviews with project members, illustrating varying degrees of material change that challenge conventional conservation practices. Additionally, dialogue with heritage authorities informed a culture-specific conservation strategy.FindingsEfteling can be regarded as an active cultural landscape, significant in the postwar emergence of escapist mass tourism, continuing to serve this purpose today. As theme parks construct staged environments, material authenticity holds limited relevance, while sustained appeal through change is essential to their viability. Consequently, this case-based research indicates that conservation approaches rooted in material authenticity may be insufficient as a primary organizing principle to preserve the cultural value of an operational theme park; alternatively, the living heritage approach offers a viable perspective, prioritizing cultural continuity over material preservation.Originality/valueThis research introduces theme park culture as an underexplored topic within heritage research. By articulating the mechanisms that enable the sustainable safeguarding of its cultural values, the study primarily clarifies how theme park heritage can be understood and approached as a subject of preservation. Secondarily, it extends the scope of the living heritage approach by demonstrating its relevance in dialogue with a commercially driven context.
Purpose The construction of Shree Ram Temple at Ayodhya will be very influential to the tourism industry within the area, particularly regarding its growth and development. This article evaluates the quality of life (QoL) of the residents within the framework of the multi-faceted impacts occasioned by the tourism development. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative research design based on the tourism QoL model and the social exchange theory (SET). A total of 22 participants were selected using purposive sampling methods, and the characteristics of the participants were selected to ensure diversity and to represent the range of occupations and demographics that are relevant to the study. Semi-structured interviews were carried out on four dimensions of QoL, namely economic, social, cultural and environmental, with parameters drawn from SET. Qualitative data were coded thematically using NVivo 14 software for systematic coding and identification of recurrent themes associated with perceived costs and benefits of tourism (Exhibits). Findings While tourism does generate financial profits, it has social, cultural and environmental consequences that are not limited to the financial world. This study addresses the gaps over the recognition of the socio-psychological impacts and understanding of the holistic effects of tourism on the well-being of residents. Research limitations/implications The findings highlight the importance of taking a holistic approach to tourism governance in heritage cities. This study adds useful information for policymakers and planners in order to promote community resilience and inclusive growth. It promotes sustainable tourism models that harmonise economic development, cultural integrity and ecological stewardship. Originality/value The construction of the temple of Shree Ram will have a positive effect on tourism in Ayodhya. However, there is a need for critical analysis of the phenomenon of the rapid growth of tourism, especially in how it affects local communities. The current research relies on the perspective of the local residents with regard to several dimensions of tourism based on the SET. The findings revealed that tourism has an impact on residents in economic, social, cultural and even at the environmental level.
Purpose The study aims to explore the heritage ruins of Bamuni Hill in Sonitpur, Northeast India, Assam, which stand as tangible evidence of the ancient panchayatana group of temples dating from the 10th–12th Century Common Era. These ruins include a significant collection of temple artifacts, such as stone figurines and sculptures. This research integrates photogrammetry-based 3D modeling with audio-visual elements, enabling users to explore the monument remains through a 3D virtual museum platform, thereby enhancing public engagement with cultural heritage beyond physical limitations. Design/methodology/approach This research demonstrates the effectiveness of photogrammetric documentation and 3D technology for presenting heritage ruins. The study offers an innovative and accessible way to interact with historical artifacts, contributing to heritage education. The design methodology begins with capturing high-resolution images for photogrammetric documentation, which are processed to generate 3D models using point cloud data. These digital replicas are refined through mesh optimization and retopology to accurately represent the ruins, followed by texturing and visualization. Findings The study presents a comprehensive approach to digitally preserving and presenting heritage sites. This strategy enhances cultural heritage education by promoting public interaction beyond physical boundaries and supporting future conservation and restoration initiatives. Social implications The design and implementation achievements would support the digital preservation of this cultural landmark and its profound legacy, thereby aiding future restoration and conservation efforts led by either the Archaeological Survey of India or the local community. Originality/value This research innovatively integrates traditional heritage preservation practices with digital technologies, offering a comprehensive framework for safeguarding and presenting heritage sites in the digital era. Additionally, this approach strengthens educational initiatives aimed at understanding cultural heritage from a broader perspective.
Purpose Cultural Vitality (CV) nurtures creativity, enhances engagement with the local community and supports the art and culture of the place. In quest of exploring the impact of International Labelling (IL) in enhancing CV and reinforcing Sustainable Development (SD), the study pursues a comprehensive Morphological Analysis (MA) and builds a hypothetical framework bridging culture-driven urban tourism with sustainable growth. Design/methodology/approach An ethno-morphological study based on the Durga Puja Festival (India) was adopted to identify the critical dimensions of culture-driven urban tourism. A series of in-depth interviews and cross-sectional studies were carried out to develop a hypothetical research framework for empirical (quantitative) validation thereon. Findings Critical dimensions such as Cultural Investment, Collaborative Partnership and Embracing Glocal Approach were identified as major constructs towards achieving CV of a destination. IL and Responsible Consumption were found to moderate the effect of antecedents and CV upon sustainable growth. Research limitations/implications The present research limits its scope to the geographical boundary within India, keeping cross-boundary research for future study. This study will aid future researchers and scholars in expanding the domain of culture-driven urban tourism. Practical implications The present study bears significance to the urban policymakers, governing bodies, marketers and tour operators in embracing a culture-driven perspective while undertaking a suitable strategy towards developing CV, promoting urban-tourism attributes and vis-à-vis ensuring its SD. Originality/value This study makes a novel attempt at adopting an ethno-morphological approach and blending culture-driven tourism with sustainable growth while exploring the impact of IL, all together in a research initiative, making it a single-point reference in urban tourism literature.
PurposeThis study aims to examine how existential authenticity (intrapersonal and interpersonal) influences family tourists' well-being, integrating service-dominant logic and family co-creation behavior as a moderator.Design/methodology/approachA survey of 347 family tourists in Pingyao Ancient City, China, was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Well-being was operationalized through subjective well-being (SWB), recollection and word of mouth (WOM).FindingsExistential authenticity significantly enhances well-being across all dimensions. Family co-creation behavior strengthens the effects on SWB and WOM but exhibits varying moderating roles across pathways.Practical implicationsHeritage destinations should foster authentic experiences and encourage family co-creation to enhance tourist well-being and positive post-visit behaviors.Originality/valueThis study advances value co-creation theory in family tourism by empirically linking existential authenticity, co-creation and well-being in heritage settings.
PurposeThis study addresses the disconnect between how authorities present heritage and how people experience it by testing sensory mapping as a method to bridge theoretical considerations of the ecosystem approach with on-ground heritage practices. Focusing on Yanaka, Tokyo's historic district facing urban change, this research explores how sensory ethnography can reveal everyday heritage values that differ from authorized heritage discourse.Design/methodology/approachFourteen participants conducted a 2.5-h sensory mapping workshop on July 7th 2024. Each participant received an empty paper map and was randomly assigned a specific sensory category (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste) and urban morphological element (following Lynch's framework). Participants walked freely through and Yanaka, marking their sensory experiences and documenting them through photographs and recordings. Routes were compared with official heritage tour paths to identify convergences and divergences.FindingsWhile participant routes showed some overlap with official tours, significant divergences emerged, particularly in residential areas. Hebi-michi (snake alley) and the Kayaba Coffee area emerged as unexpected sensory hotspots. Remarkably, sensory experiences triggered personal memories, with one participant recalling nostalgic moments from their hometown, suggesting heritage experiences transcend physical boundaries.Originality/valueThis represents the first sensory heritage mapping study in Yanesen, contributing a replicable methodology that connects ecosystem approaches with everyday heritage theory. The method offers heritage managers practical tools for understanding how people actually experience urban heritage, potentially informing more inclusive and accessible preservation strategies that acknowledge heritage as a living, sensory ecosystem.
Purpose This paper examines the Historic Center of Mexico City (CHCM) to analyze the importance of multi-level actors – including communities, local authorities, the national government and international organizations – and the relations between them. A Heritage Ecosystem (HE) approach is used to understand how historic monuments are effectively protected. Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic approach was employed to uncover the roles of local stakeholders. The analysis focused on community-implemented rehabilitation projects conducted by a small group of active community members in the CHCM. Additionally, interviews with community members and local authorities were conducted to strengthen the findings of previous research. Findings By applying the HE approach, this paper demonstrates that theories of conservation and management of heritage led by the Authorized Heritage Discourse do not necessarily apply to bottom-up projects aimed at protecting monuments. However, examining the complex interconnections among heritage attributes, economic, political, and social systems, communities and history allows observers to understand the multiple values present within the HE. The significance of the relationship between local authorities and communities was highlighted as crucial for understanding the CHCM case. Originality/value This paper introduces a social scientific approach, combined with the HE framework, as a novel method for analyzing heritage values and conservation mechanisms. An original Model of Interaction between local authorities and communities is presented to facilitate the analysis of their interrelationships, providing a foundation for future research on other case studies.
PurposeThis article examines how the heritage ecosystem approach can inform adaptive reuse, cultural preservation and community engagement in the Al Jazeera Al Hamra (AJAH) Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah, in the framework of the recent Gunma Declaration on Heritage Ecosystem (2025). The article evaluates AJAH's conservation and activation strategies, community engagement and economic dimensions, identifies challenges and proposes recommendations to sustain the site as a living cultural, social and environmental asset.Design/methodology/approachThe article proposes a qualitative analysis of a case study using multiple, triangulated data sources: repeated site visits and observations (2018-2025), analysis of policy and planning documents and visitor/management materials, and stakeholder evidence drawn from interviews and informal discussions. The study situates empirical findings within international frameworks to evaluate adaptive-reuse programming and community-centred management.FindingsAJAH shows that performative activation can help conserve physical fabric, while community engagement fosters education, participation and local pride. Programmatic activation shifted the site from "museumification" to a living cultural venue. Still, challenges persist: limited seasonal use, predominantly top-down community engagement and rising economic pressures with risk of commodification and gentrification related to nearby luxury developments.Originality/valueThe article applies the emergent heritage ecosystem lens to a Gulf pearling village that predates the Gunma Declaration yet implicitly embodies many of its principles. It advances the concept of adaptive authenticity as an analytical lens to reconcile conservation, performative reuse and community values in rapidly transforming contexts. The findings offer guidance for similar heritage settings in the UAE and globally.
