Lo sviluppo territoriale e turistico della Sardegna attraverso la valorizzazione delle acque sorgive locali

Tourism is a multidisciplinary sector whose ever-evolving and improving performance positively influences the global economy, leading to an increase in employment opportunities, purchasing power, and, consequently, the well-being of local populations. These positive effects are even more significant in a territorial context such as Sardinia, where the employment rate remains consistently below the national average. In this region, tourism not only increases the percentage of employed individuals but does so in favor of traditionally disadvantaged categories, such as women and young people. Policies supporting the Travel & Tourism sector aim to promote offerings that direct visitor flows toward the island by favoring alternative itineraries over traditional seaside destinations. These policies emphasize the involvement of rural, inland, and mountainous areas, which boast unique characteristics in terms of natural beauty, climate, culture, archaeology, and gastronomy. The goal is to decentralize and extend the tourism season. The presence of abundant springs and related architectural structures represents one of the many distinctive features of the rural areas within the Province of Nuoro. These can be leveraged through dedicated tourism routes, falling within the category known as "walking tourism." This approach carries a dual significance: on one hand, it narrates and preserves the strong social, historical, and cultural ties between local communities and water—an element that has historically held political, religious, and social power since the Nuragic era; on the other hand, it highlights the public health benefits associated with the consumption of these waters. In this context, the present study focuses on an in-depth analysis of spring waters from a chemical and physical perspective, with the aim of assessing their safety, mineral content, and the most suitable target consumers. At the same time, the research explores the inclusion of these springs among the region’s sites of tourist interest, to enhance the attractiveness of the involved locations and generate positive economic impacts linked to tourism.