Context
E.INS ecosystem – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next generation Sardinia is the program funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan to strengthen the collaborative relationship between the scientific world and business, mitigate the social impacts generated by the crisis, and increase the level of territorial inclusion in Sardinia.
The e.Ins program is divided into different research areas called spokes. The field of roots tourism is part of Spoke 2 and includes research activities and on-the-ground activities.
- The research objective is to explore the sense of attachment that second and third-generation Sardinian migrants feel towards Sardinia, as well as their aspirations to participate in roots tourism. The project specifically investigates the motivations behind their family members’ (grandparents/parents) migration, their emotional and cultural ties to Sardinia, travel experiences to the island, sense of belonging, participation in diaspora-related activities abroad, and any aspirations to maintain or strengthen their bond with Sardinia. The study uses qualitative methods (interviews with second and third-generation Sardinians living abroad).
The research team is composed of Giuseppe Melis (full professor), Ivan Etzo (associate professor), and Tatiana Mednikova (research fellow), all from the Department of Economic and Business Sciences at the University of Cagliari. - The on-the-ground activity is called Sardinian Roots, a place of contact and interaction between territories and the Sardinian diaspora: an ecosystem of innovation that combines culture, technology, and participation to enhance local roots and identities.
The project’s three phases
Involvement of the territory
It is based on dialogue, activating a process of listening and co-design with local communities, schools, cultural and tourism operators, administrations and associations. Through public meetings, participatory workshops and accessible digital tools, local identities are enhanced and ties with the diaspora are strengthened.
Activation of the Destination Management System (DMS)
Provision and management of a DMS platform for Roots Tourism, with a bilingual showcase site, training for operators and consulting for digital promotion and territorial marketing.
The expected result is the creation of a territorial network of operators and institutions that will manage the tools created for the “Sardinian Roots” destination.
Managing the Sardinian Roots Network
Provides for the launch of the “Sardinian Roots Network,” an operational and strategic structure that takes up the legacy of the project, coordinates the network of operators involved and ensures the continuity of Roots Tourism promotion beyond the duration of the grant.
Sample areas
For the implementation of this ambitious project, a careful selection of four representative sample areas of the Sardinian territory was conducted: Sulcis, Trexenta, Barbagia di Ollolai and Sassarese. This choice was guided by the need to develop field research activities and actively involve local economic operators, while ensuring geographic coverage and diversification of tourism conditions.
The areas were identified following the following criteria:
- Coincidence with historical regions: The selected areas were chosen for their correspondence with the historic regions of Sardinia, ensuring a deep immersion in local specificities;
- Tourism representativeness: the sample areas cover a variety of tourism settings, including both inland and coastal areas, and territories with different levels of tourism development. This approach will allow the project strategies to be tested and adapted to different realities;
- Balanced geographical distribution: the choice of the four areas ensures a balanced distribution throughout the island.
