Overcoming overtourism? Proximity-based tourism, cultural heritage and bottom-up place-based innovation, Guest Editors: Francesca Bragaglia, Luca Tricarico and Fabrizio Aimar

Overtourism has become a growing concern in academic, political, and public debates due to its profound social, economic, and environmental consequences. It has sparked urgent discussions about how to mitigate the negative effects of mass tourism on local communities and fragile ecosystems. Among the proposed solutions, proximity tourism offers a compelling approach by encouraging a shift toward slower, more locally embedded forms of travel, fostering community participation, and reimagining traditional tourism paradigms. Proximity tourism transcends the idea of geographical, organizational and relational closeness, inviting individuals to engage deeply with familiar and lesser-known places through new perspectives. This approach not only challenges traditional, attraction-focused tourism but also opens opportunities for social innovation and participatory frameworks that prioritize community well-being, inclusivity, and equitable development. However, proximity tourism also requires critical examination. Risks such as the folklorization of local cultures, the unsustainable development paths of near-home destinations, and the creation of new forms of negative externalities demand careful consideration. How can proximity tourism genuinely empower communities while avoiding these pitfalls?