II. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: TURISMO DOP AND MODELS OF SUSTAINABLE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT 2.1. Origins and conceptual foundations Turismo DOP arises as an extension of the European Geographical Indications system, a legal instrument that protects and enhances agricultural and agri‑food products linked to a specific territory. Its theoretical premise lies in the integration of production, culture, and landscape according to a logic of “cultural circular economy”—a concept developed by Fondazione Qualivita to describe the capacity of local systems to generate economic and identity values through sustainable practices. Unlike traditional food and wine tourism—often fragmented and geared toward experiential consumption—Turismo DOP is based on certified supply chains, shared rules, and collective actors. This makes it an institutional and regulated model in which authenticity and sustainability are guaranteed by a system of rules, controls, and shared responsibilities. 2.2. Foundational principles of Turismo DOP The theoretical model is structured around three fundamental pillars: • Authenticity – Turismo DOP guarantees a real and verifiable link between the tourist experience and the territory of origin, based on PDO and PGI product specifications. Every visit or tasting must represent the product in its productive and cultural truth. • Education – The tourist experience is understood as an active learning process. Visitors engage with production processes, traditions, and the ethical value of food. In this sense, Turismo DOP assumes a pedagogical function, promoting food awareness and responsible citizenship. • Sustainability – The model adopts a circular vision of local development, combining profitability, landscape protection, and social inclusion. Turismo DOP promotes a resilient territorial economy founded on short supply chains, local employment, and biodiversity conservation. 2.3. From food and wine tourism to identity tourism While food and wine tourism often limits itself to the valorisation of typical products, Turismo DOP proposes a comprehensive narrative of the territory, in which each element—producer, landscape, culture—helps to build a coherent 318 MAURO ROSATI
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