This paper examines the spatial conflicts between tourism, everyday residential life, and heritage conservation in high-density living heritage cities, using the Historic Centre of Macau as a case study. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space, it applies the triadic framework to analyse interactions among heritage governance and planning discourses, everyday spatial practices of residents and tourists, and lived experiences and senses of place. The study reveals that Macau’s heritage space is continuously produced through the physical and social overlap of tourism consumption, planning intentions, and residents’ daily practices. The extremely compact urban fabric of the area highlights the limitations of conventional tourism–conservation binaries. The paper argues that a spatial production perspective offers critical insights into sustainability challenges in high-density heritage cities under tourism pressure.

Heritage and tourism are closely intertwined, influencing one another as destinations develop. The ongoing Japanese-German research project (2024–2029) explores smellscapes as heritage and tourist attractions on isolated islands Minamidaitō in Japan and Hiddensee in Germany, highlighting the often-overlooked sensory dimension. The study employs a comparative, intercultural approach, revealing substantial cultural differences in how smellscapes are perceived and managed in heritage and tourism contexts. The findings underscore the need for sustainable tourism strategies and inclusive destination management that consider both global and local cultural perspectives. Policy and heritage preservation requirements are also addressed to ensure effective implementation and benefit for all stakeholders.

This paper looks to heritage futures through the lens of creative practice and living heritage preservation. Drawing on recent collaborative work with migrant communities and artists in Queensland, Australia, this paper describes the emerging method of ‘creative heritage’ as a hybrid approach to future heritage practice. Through commissioned works that engage with institutional collections and gaps, creative heritage empowers minority voices to record community histories and cultural memories through new, original compositions using performing and visual art forms. Outlining recent creative heritage outcomes from an Australian Research Council project, this paper explores the potential for this method to not only foster social cohesion, but also encourages collaborative heritage practices and critical new approaches to understanding, presenting, and preserving intangible cultural heritage.