Connecting education, tourism and archaeology: A journey towards sustainability

Abstract

This paper examines the intersection of tourism, archaeological heritage and education within projects and research initiatives that promote sustainable management policies. Its primary aim is to identify experiences and strategies that balance heritage, tourism, and education, granting them equal relevance in objectives, outcomes, and implications. An integrative systematic review was conducted using the PICOC framework to define research questions and the PRISMA protocol to guide the meta-analysis. Data were extracted from the Web of Science database for the period 2020–2024, resulting in a final sample of 35 studies. The review reveals a strong commitment to conserving and promoting archaeological heritage through diverse actions, such as the provision of educational resources and training programmes, fostering sustainable cultural tourism, and facilitating educational tourism experiences. Most of the initiatives advocate integrated management policiesthat reinforce each other when combined. These findings underscore the importance of holistic approaches that align heritage conservation with educational and tourism objectives, contributing to sustainable cultural development.This study highlights the need to broaden research efforts aimed at determining an appropriate balance among the different management policies, including administrative, economic, educational, cultural and social dimensions.