The concept of Regional Competitiveness (RC), in the last years, had a considerable influence on the development of strategies and policies focused on sub-national areas from an economic and social perspective. In particular, RC attracted the substantial attention of policymakers due to the possibility of evaluating and comparing different territories without any established political or conceptual framework. Conversely, scholars have long debated the meaningfulness of territorial competitiveness itself and, in case, which dimensions have to be included. This study reviewed the most recent scientific literature concerning RC with a bibliometric approach based on topic modelling. The use of a textual-based statistical approach offered an interesting insight into the RC research domain. We highlighted the topics discussed by scholars, showing the patterns emerging across years and from different publication types, and marked the differences between the vocabulary used by authors coming from EU and non-EU countries. Finally, a comparison between the RC issues coming from the literature analysis with the RC issues defined by policymakers tried to link the two standpoints followed by the institutions and the academia in a more comprehensive conceptual framework.

Since the 2000s, space tourism has once again become a topic of great media interest thanks to the technological evolution in the aerospace sector and with the reduced costs of access to space. The paper aims to provide a systemized picture of this topical issue, analyzing it from four connected levels: the products under development or already available on the market; the economic operators involved; the demand; the opportunities for destinations on Earth. The paper also analyses some of the key challenges for operators and territories in order to grasp the real benefits from the development of space technology for recreational purposes.

Tourism driven by classical and opera music is a very promising and undervalued segment for many destinations. This letter outlines the current and potential demand for music tourism from a sample of classical music and opera lovers, shedding light on the characteristics of this type of traveller and their travel habits. A cluster analysis identifies 4 clusters with significant differences in terms of attitudes toward music-related journeys and the results are discussed in order to advance some strategic suggestions for the development of destinations and for promoting innovative collaborations between the tourism and performing arts sectors.

The article explores the dynamics of community involvement in managing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ivrea, Italy, designated as the “Industrial City of the 20th Century” in 2018. Ivrea is known for its historical connection to the Olivetti factory, whose existence shaped the town’s material and immaterial identity. The UNESCO-designated area in the north of the city features a mix of diverse buildings from the 1930s to the 1960s, serving various purposes and a variety of cultural activities. The research, commissioned as part of a larger project for updating the Site Management Plan by the Municipality of Ivrea, the managing authority of the UNESCO Site, aims to critically employ participatory approaches in the Management Plans of industrial heritage sites, analyse their role in preserving industrial heritage, and identify a new future for the city where cultural and creative industries play a vital role, or, in other words, to develop the site of Ivrea as a permanent cultural cluster. By employing an action-research methodology rooted in multidisciplinary and participatory approaches, this study focuses on the key role of residents and their connection to the industrial cultural heritage and the city to envision the site’s future. Initial findings from semi-structured interviews reveal a limited awareness of the Site Management Plan in the community and underscore the need for enhanced participatory governance. The article highlights how the collaborative efforts of stakeholders, particularly youth, yield innovative ideas, paving the way for social advancement, economic sustainability, and local promotion. Ultimately, this study envisions the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a central component of the city’s identity and a catalyst for the well-being of the involved communities.