Regenerative Heritage Tourism in Practice: A Framework for Cultural and Economic Revitalization in Historic Cairo

This paper presents a scalable framework that integrates regenerative tourism principles with cultural heritage preservation to revitalize historic urban sites. The study concentrates on two crucial under-renovation sites in Old Cairo—Darb El-Labbana and Al-Hakim Mosque. The study explores how regenerative tourism can enhance cultural resilience, support community well-being, and foster economic sustainability. The framework is created by investigating different aspects: first, understanding what regenerative tourism means, then comparing it with real-life examples, and finally, making sure it fits with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Qualitative interviews with heritage planning experts involved in the selected sites validate the extracted framework. Findings reveal significant potential for adaptive reuse, community-driven governance, and digital innovation to support heritage-based tourism. However, challenges persist in stakeholder coordination, financial sustainability, and inclusive engagement. The study contributes a replicable model for tourism development in heritage contexts, particularly in the Global South, where urban heritage faces pressures from modernization and underinvestment. It offers practical insights for planners, conservationists, and tourism developers aiming to integrate cultural preservation with transformative tourism practices.