Empirical Analysis for Future Excellence Tourism Policies: The Case of Arzachena (Sardinia, Italy)

Coastal areas have historically served as hubs of human activity. Accordingly, the development of port infrastructure has driven strategies for nautical tourism, which can significantly influence the regional economic landscape and foster synergistic collaborations among tourism-related stakeholders. While research on ports and seaside tourism is well established, studies investigating the connection between coastal and inland areas through port facilities remain limited. In the Mediterranean context, Sardinia (Italy) represents a case of highly seasonal tourism and is a prime destination for nautical tourism. In line with the Regional Strategic Plan, the enhancement of the island’s inland heritage has been encouraged to promote deseasonalization strategies. Acknowledging the prominent role of nautical tourism in Sardinia, this study is intended as a contribution to a broader research initiative focused on mapping the island’s nautical infrastructure. The analysis centers on the municipality of Arzachena (Province of Sassari), which hosts significant infrastructure for large vessels and luxury tourism. Through field research, cartographic analysis, and the application of isochrones, the study investigated the accessibility between local ports and Arzachena’s cultural assets. The results suggested a potential for proximity-based and day tourism, enabling nautical tourists to explore inland historical and cultural sites. Overall, further research could support the integrated valorization of coastal and inland resources, highlighting the potential of a territorial approach to nautical tourism planning beyond the coastline. This integrated perspective may yield long-term governance benefits, employment opportunities, and socio-economic development for inland Sardinia through enhanced use of marina facilities.