Influence of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Label on the Tourist Development of German Cultural Cities

The research project deals with urban destinations that have a World Heritage site in their tourism portfolio. Specifically, the project examines the extent to which the designation of a cultural site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site affects the qualitative development of the destination in which it is located. For this purpose, the model of Sternad and Mödritscher is used, which deals with qualitative growth leaps in companies. The nine growth areas identified in their approach are examined and specifically adapted to destinations. By means of qualitative interviews in four German destinations with World Heritage sites, the aim is to determine whether a development in these areas is discernible after the World Heritage designation.