Assessment Criteria
Historical, Touristic and Institutional Pillars
Approaching this assessment effectively requires moving beyond the mindset of a simple administrative checklist and embracing the exercise as a high-level strategic reflection. The core philosophy of this model is that heritage is “activation”.
It’s not a static destination but a continuous journey of growth tailored to the unique identity of each site.
Because any model is, by its nature, a simplified representation of complex realities, your primary task is to use this framework as a navigational aid to build a strategy optimized for your own organization’s specific needs.
Governance model
The Responsibility of the Manager
True activation of a site requires an honest confrontation with your current situation. This process demands a rigorous, analytical posture across three areas:
Historical Rigor: you must approach your site not just as a location, but as a scientific responsibility. This means committing to the validation of historical truths, the orderly preservation of memories, and the humility to collaborate with scientific experts to ensure that your heritage stands as a reliable legacy
Territorial Vision: in tourism, your mindset must shift from isolation to integration. You are asked to evaluate your site as a professional node within a wider socio-economic network. This requires the commitment to ensure that your site is accessible—physically, digitally, and culturally—and that it actively contributes to the development of your territory.
Institutional Accountability: governance is the foundation of sustainability. The mindset here is one of professionalization. You must commit to transparency in your finances, clarity in your legal form, and the strengthening of your relationships with civil society and schools.
The Methodology of Reflection
A model cannot replace the will of an organization. To optimize the results for your specific context, you must approach the work with a precise methodology:
Analytical Depth
Do not rush. Dedicate the time necessary to move slowly through each pillar, allowing the questions to prompt deep reflection on your management style.
Collective Intelligence
Heritage management is a collaborative effort. Seek the commitment of your colleagues and stakeholders. A representative institutional profile can only be built by incorporating diverse perspectives and internal debate.
Evidence over Intuition
Ground your answers in reality. Search your archives, consult your visitor data, and verify your records. The precision of the strategy you build depends entirely on the accuracy of the data you provide.
Core Evaluation Areas
The framework evaluates three interconnected dimensions: Historical depth, Touristic accessibility, Institutional maturity. Criteria adapt to site scale, distinguishing local from international contexts. The model cannot replace the will of an organization.
Historical
This section evaluates the scientific and narrative depth of your site. It aims to transform raw historical data into a structured and preserved legacy.
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For Local Sites the focus is on establishing a verified historical foundation. You will evaluate your site based on the accuracy of its historical reconstruction, the orderly collection of memories and physical relics, and the existence of a structured relationship with scientific experts to support your research. Additionally, you will work on an organic program for securing and restoring your assets.
For International Sites the requirements expand to include accessibility and academic outreach. Beyond the local standards, international sites are encouraged to focus on their ability to catalogue heritage for public access, publish research in multiple languages and employ dedicated experts. You will also assess your capacity to conduct active research, host visiting scholars and facilitate the lending of your heritage assets to other international institutions.
Touristic
This section focuses on how your site is perceived and utilized by visitors, ensuring that the historical experience is supported by modern accessibility and territorial integration.
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For Local Sites the model verifies the fundamental visitor infrastructure, including roads, parking, and the quality of infographics and signage. It also reviews site accessibility, the promotion of eco-friendly or “slow” travel options, and how well the site is connected to other local landmarks and regional tourism players.
For International Sites in addition to physical infrastructure, the international level assesses “cultural accessibility”—ensuring the site is understandable to a global audience. It looks for the use of advanced digital tools, the development of special visitor programs, and the strength of your international connections beyond the local region.
Institutional
This pillar moves beyond the physical site to evaluate the health and professionalism of the managing organization itself.
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For Local Sites the assessment covers your ability to secure financial aid, your legal form, and your recognition as a protected asset. It evaluates your relationships with local bodies, schools, and civil society, while also verifying your transparency through economic, financial, and social balance sheets.
For International Sites the international scope demands higher levels of organizational complexity. Beyond the local metrics, you will work on the presence of salaried staff, the involvement of diverse experts, and the implementation of cross-control bodies to ensure high-level governance and accountability.
Recommendations for an Effective Assessment
To help you prepare for the assessment, we have outlined the specific thematic areas the model evaluates. Depending on whether your site is classified as “Local” or “International” in scope, you will be guided through a series of verification and improvement modules across our three core pillars.
Invest the necessary time
A thorough self-analysis cannot be rushed. We suggest setting aside dedicated time to go through each section thoughtfully. Moving slowly through the questions allows you to reflect on the nuances of your management style and the specific realities of your heritage site.
Engage in internal collaboration
Heritage management is rarely a solo endeavor. We strongly encourage you to involve your colleagues and key stakeholders in the process. Discussing the questions as a team often reveals different perspectives on your site’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to a more balanced and representative institutional profile.
Consult data and documentation
Do not rely on memory or intuition alone. For the most precise results, have your internal documents, visitor data, and institutional records on hand. Verifying facts and figures during the assessment ensures that the recommendations generated by the model are based on your organization’s actual performance and current capacity.
Critical thinking and optimization data
Ultimately, this tool is designed to make you think. Use the assessment as a prompt to analyze your site through new lenses. Since the model is a simplified vision of reality, it is up to you to apply your professional judgment to the findings, optimizing the suggested path to fit the unique cultural and social context of your organization.
The model provides the structure and the guidelines, but it is your professional commitment that transforms these criteria into a functional roadmap.
We invite you to use this tool not just to find answers, but to ask the right questions about the future of your organization.