THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE IN ITALY

The aim of the paper is to show as a systemic approach might significantly increase the economic impact of the cultural sector. The systemic approach is emphasized by “cultural district” approach which is based on an integrated development plan of a territory which shall: 1) be of the holistic kind. That is, it shall involve all the actors (public and private) and all the resources (historical, architectural, landscape related, etc.) and facilities (infrastructures, reception services, research and training services, etc.) present in the territory; 2) consider all the dimensions of the cultural sector: from the material to the nonmaterial dimension, from the supply of services to the growth of participation of the local community, from economic-quantitative aspects to qualitative ones; 3) be vertically and horizontally integrated. Vertically, both at a high level, with the national and regional plans, and at a lower level, orientating the plans of the individual sections of the cultural sector (museums, performing arts, etc.). Horizontally, integration with city-planning projects, with the economic development plan, with the transportation plan and with the plans in the fields of education, training, and so on.