"HERITACCESS - ACCESS TO CULTURE AND HERITAGE IN RURAL SURROUNDINGS THROUGH THE INTERACTIVE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE" AIMED AT DEMOCRATIZING THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF TRADITIONAL RURAL HERITAGE WITH SO MUCH EDUCATIVE AND HISTORICAL VALUE, NOT YET ADAPTED FOR AN ELDER AND DISABLED VISITOR. TOGETHER WITH THE LATTER, THE SPECIFIC FULFILLED OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT WERE TO: - EXPLOIT THE HUGE HERITAGE THAT RURAL AREAS (WITH PREVALENCE FOR THE WINE TOURISM SITES) ARE REPRESENTING IN THE REGIONS OF THE PARTNERS INVOLVED; - BUILD THROUGH 360º PANORAMA DIGITAL TOURS THOSE SELECTED SITES THAT FOR HISTORICAL VALUE AND TRADITIONS DESERVE TO BE TRANSMITTED TO THE AUDIENCE WITH CERTAIN PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS (MOTOR, VISUAL, AUDITIVE). - LIST A SERIES OF GUIDELINES THAT WILL ALLOW FURTHER RURAL HERITAGE SITES TO ADAPT THEIR VISITORS' PATH TO THEIR PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS. - QUICKLY RESPOND TO THE CHANCE OF PEOPLE WITH REDUCED MOBILITY OR LOW KNOWLEDGE OF THE ULTIMATE TECHNOLOGY, TO ENHANCE THEIR DIGITAL LITERACY AND INTEREST IN THESE PLACES.
THE HERITACCESS PROJECT IS A RESPONSE TO SIGNIFICANT GAPS IN ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSIVENESS, AND DIGITAL LITERACY WITHIN RURAL HERITAGE SITES ACROSS EUROPE. RURAL HERITAGE, RICH IN HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, CULTURE, AND TRADITIONS, OFTEN REMAINS INACCESSIBLE TO ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES AND THE ELDERLY, LIMITING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN LIFELONG LEARNING EXPERIENCES LIKE WINE TOURISM, WHICH HAS ROOTS IN THE XVI CENTURY. DESPITE THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF RURAL TOURISM, PARTICULARLY IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19, MANY SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED HERITAGE SITES STRUGGLE WITH ACCESSIBILITY DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS AND OUTDATED INFRASTRUCTURE. MOREOVER, THE PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED A SURGE IN DEMAND FOR DIGITALIZATION AND TAILORED VISITOR EXPERIENCES, YET MANY RURAL AREAS REMAIN UNDERPREPARED. THE PROJECT TACKLED THESE ISSUES BY PROMOTING INCLUSIVENESS, ENHANCING DIGITAL LITERACY, AND REVITALIZING RURAL HERITAGE SITES TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. THE HERITACCESS INITIATIVE SOUGHT TO ADDRESS THE ISOLATION OF RURAL AREAS, THE ABANDONMENT OF HERITAGE SITES, AND THE EXCLUSION OF ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES FROM EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, THEREBY FOSTERING SOCIAL INCLUSION AND SUPPORTING THE RECOVERY OF THE TOURISM SECTOR IN POST-PANDEMIC EUROPE.