Cultural Landscapes and Botanic Gardens: The Case of Mon-Repos Garden in Corfu Island, Greece

Abstract

Cultural landscapes play an essential role in preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage assets promoting the sustainable tourism prospect. The paper explores the development of cultural landscapes and the role they can play in preservation, management and promotion of historic areas which have the ability of playing an active role in social life, triggering and awaking social and environmental values. The overall objective is to present how the development of Mon-Repos, a historical and environmental landmark which is located in Corfu Island, can become a Botanic Garden (BGCI network) toward sustainability concept. More specifically, the paper presents firstly the importance of culture as an agent combined with historic and nature assets having as a result a distinctive cultural landscape, secondly proposes the establishment of Mon-Repos Botanic Garden through recommendations on strategic management plan, and thirdly presents how cultural and environmental issues add prospects on innovation potential in tourism value chain. Finally, the authenticity of the paper relies on the development of Mon-Repos site through a holistic approach taking into account the principles of sustainability, cultural tourism enhancement as well as historic and cultural values.