Enhancing Disaster Resilience in Cultural Tourism: A Comparative Analysis of Relief and Recovery Policies for Arts, Heritage, and Intangible Culture in the United States and Italy

L. Hamilton; S. Splendiani

doi:10.37075/YB.2024.2.01

Authors

Assist. Prof. L. Hamilton, PhD Student University of Kentucky Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4933-2571
Assist. Prof. Dr S. Splendiani University of Perugia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5874-6508

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37075/YB.2024.2.01

Keywords:

Resilience, Disaster policy, Cultural tourism, Cultural heritage, Intangible heritage

Z11, Z32

Abstract

Disaster management policy in the US and Italy has historically focused on the relief and recovery of tangible cultural assets vital to cultural tourism, including cultural heritage sites and museums. However, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how disaster policies can protect intangible cultural assets, including the performing arts and creative workers. This study conducts a comparative analysis of cultural disaster relief and recovery policies in the USA and Italy, specifically focusing on the 2017 earthquake in Central Italy, the 2021/2022 tornado and flooding events in Kentucky, USA, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims to identify the complexities and opportunities in governmental disaster policy related to intangible culture and how this particular area of cultural tourism can be integrated into broader disaster management frameworks toward greater resiliency. Through a review of governmental policy documents and primary as well as open-source data, the analysis reveals that pre-determined national governmental units dedicated to emergency response and recovery are critical for effective disaster management in cultural heritage, yet often lack the specialized knowledge and, to some extent, the resources, to fulfill long-term recovery, particularly with intangible cultural assets. Insights gained from this study contribute to developing recommendations for enhancing more inclusive disaster policy language that recognizes intangible cultural heritage and its role in sustainable cultural tourism in disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies.

References

Bosher, Lee, Kim, Dowon, Okubo, Takeyuki, Chmutina, Ksenia, & Jigyasu, Rohit (2019). Dealing with multiple hazards and threats on cultural heritage sites: an assessment of 80 case studies. Disaster Prevention and Management An International Journal, 29(1), 109-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/dpm-08-2018-0245

Research Service of Chamber of Deputies (2022). Le misure adottate a seguito dell'emergenza Coronavirus (COVID-19) per il settore dei beni, delle attività culturali e dello spettacolo. URL: https://www.camera.it/temiap/documentazione/temi/pdf/1219334.pdf?_1720388871956 (accessed 2024-07-07)

Grazia De Paoli, Rosa, Di Miceli, Enrica, & Giuliani, Francesca (2020). Disasters and Cultural Heritage: planning for prevention, emergency management and risk reduction. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/949/1/012084

Dixon, E. & Shelton, R. (2023). Housing Damage from the 2022 Kentucky Flood. Ohio River Valley Institute and Appalachian Citizens' Law Center. URL: https://ohiorivervalleyinstitute.org/housing-damage-2022-ky-flood/ (accessed 16 March 2024)

Fonner, D., Voss, G., & Voss, Z. (2023). Following the Funding: Distribution of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds for the Arts and Culture Sector. SMU DataArts. URL: https://culturaldata.org/media/2884/distribution-of-federal-funding_2023.pdf (accessed 25 May 2024)

Hamilton, Leah (2024). Kentucky Arts in Disaster: An Impact Report. Kentucky Arts Council. URL: https://finearts.uky.edu/arts-administration/kentucky-arts-disaster-impact-report (accessed 2023-10-01)

C Hargrove (2017). Cultural heritage tourism: 5 steps for revitalization and sustainable growth. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.

International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) (2020). World Disasters Report 2020. URL: https://www.ifrc.org/document/world-disasters-report-2020 (accessed 25 May, 2024)

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2023). Summary for Policymakers. Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Core Writing Team (Ed. Lee, H. and Romero, J.), pp. 1-34.

ISPRA (2021). Dissesto idrogeologico in Italia: pericolosità e indicatori di rischio (No. Rapporti 356/2021). ISPRA. URL: https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/attivita/suolo-e-territorio/dissesto-idrogeologico/indicatori-di-rischio (accessed 7 July 2024)

ISTAT (2020). Statistiche Flash. URL: https://www.istat.it/it/files/2020/06/CS_Occupati_disoccupati_APRILE_2020.pdf (accessed 7 July 2024)

Jigyasu Rohit (2016). Reducing Disaster Risks to Urban Cultural Heritage: Global Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Heritage Management, 1(1), 59-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2455929616649476

Markham, A., Osipova, E., Lafrenz Samuels, K. & Caldas, A. (2016). World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. URL: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000244893 (accessed 25 May 2024)

Ministry of Cultural Heritage (2017). Relazione Conclusiva Attivita' Coordinate a seguito degli eventi sismici 2016 – 2017 del Centro Italia 24 agosto 2016 – 6 aprile 2017. URL: https://cultura.gov.it/mibac/multimedia/MiBAC/do- (accessed 2023-10-01)

Ministry of Cultural Heritage (2017). Sisma Del Centro Italia, Report 2017. URL: https://www.beniculturali.it/sismacentroitalia (accessed 7 July 2024)

National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) (2024). Creative Economy State Profiles: Kentucky. URL: https://nasaa-arts.org/nasaa-research/creative-economy-state-profiles/ (accessed 25 May 2024)

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) (2022). New Data Show Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Arts and Culture Sector. URL: https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2022/new-data-show-economic-impact-covid-19-arts-culture-sector (accessed 15 June 2024)

National Weather Service (2023). The Violent Tornado Outbreak of December 10-11, 2021. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. URL: https://www.weather.gov/pah/December-10th-11th-2021-Tornado (accessed 15 December 2023)

National Weather Service (2023). Historic July 26-July 30th, 2022 Eastern Kentucky Flooding. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. URL: https://www.weather.gov/pah/December-10th-11th-2021-Tornado (accessed 15 December 2023)

Richards, Greg (2018). Cultural tourism: A review of recent research and trends. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 36, 12-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2018.03.005

Symbola Foundation (2023). Io sono Cultura Annual Report 2023. URL: https://symbola.net/ricerca/io-sono-cultura-2023/ (accessed 7 July 2024)

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (2024). The disaster risk reduction (DRR) glossary. URL: https://www.undrr.org/drr-glossary/terminology#D (accessed 15 June 2024)

UN Tourism (2017). General assembly, twenty-second session. URL: https://www.unwto.org/archive/global/event/general-assembly-twenty-second-session-0 (accessed 30 June 2024)

United Nations Educational, Scientific, & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2022). Basic Texts of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. URL: https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/2003_Convention_Basic_Texts-_2022_version-EN_.pdf (accessed 25 May 2024)

United States Bureau of Economic Analysis (2022). Arts and Cultural Production Satellite Account, U.S. and States. URL: https://www.bea.gov/data/special-topics/arts-and-culture (accessed 25 May 2024)

United States Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (2013). 2013 Cultural & Heritage Traveler Study. Mandala Research and Consulting

United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (2023). 2023 National Preparedness Report. US Department of Homeland Security. URL: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_2023_npr.pdf (accessed 15 March 2024)

United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (2024). Declared Disasters 2018 – 2023. US Department of Homeland Security. URL: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations (accessed 7 December 2023)