Tourist guides are increasingly prominent: "We are a place's identity card."

Between experiential tourism, culture, and traditions, the role of the tour guide is increasingly central to promoting local areas. This is the conviction of Durdica Bacciu, an archaeologist and tour guide who works primarily in northern Sardinia, particularly in the Olbia and Gallura areas. She spoke at a conference in Arzachena dedicated to the sector and the evolution of contemporary tourism.

"Today, tourism is changing rapidly," he explains. "Tourist needs, travel styles, and even expectations are changing. This is why guides must be able to listen, understand, and accompany people on increasingly authentic experiences." According to Bacciu, simply offering sea and relaxation is no longer enough: visitors are seeking excitement, stories, and direct contact with the local culture.

In recent years, slow tourism and food and wine tourism have become increasingly popular. "Taking a vacation isn't just about sleeping or eating," she explains, "but also about learning about the birth of a product, seeing how milk is processed, how cured meats are made, or what life is like in a rural home." These experiences transform travel into a moment of discovery and sharing. For the archaeologist, tour guides are "a place's identity card." This is an effective image for explaining the responsibility of those who accompany visitors to discover the area. "A guide must know the history, traditions, gastronomy, and everything that makes a place unique. Only in this way can they convey its soul."

In Gallura, two types of tourism coexist: seaside and cultural. The former seeks relaxation, services, and the allure of the beaches; the latter, however, seeks to understand the history and identity of the places. "The cultural tourist wants to understand the meaning of a traditional dress, a nuraghe, or a typical dessert," explains Durdica Bacciu.

Among foreign visitors, it's primarily non-Europeans who are most curious about Sardinia and the Nuragic civilization. "Our nuraghi always hold a great fascination. Many wonder who these ancient Sardinian navigators who crossed the Mediterranean were." And among the most curious stories recounted by the guide is that of a young French tourist who, years ago, asked her if paved roads existed in Sardinia... Finally, speaking of the iconic sites of Gallura, archaeologist and tour guide Bacciu has no doubts: "Luogosanto, its granite rocks, and the church of San Trano are magical to me!"