## 6 Conclusions  
Through a survey-based questionnaire, the paper investigated the most important needs, preferences, and expectations of SMEs and people operating in the digital tourism and cultural heritage sector. In particular, the paper explored how companies can be supported in considering the right features and functionalities when dealing with the \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{34.1 pt} p{34.1 pt}} \hline \hline
**ID** & \multicolumn{1}{c}{**Best Practices**} \\ \hline
1 & For extended and immersive user experience, digital contents, mobile applications, cloud-based platforms, and XR tools need to be combined \\
2 & CH platforms should be supported by IoT technology, smart devices, beacon sensors, and 3D models to enable real-time and context-aware interactions \\
3 & User data should be collected and elaborated for providing customers with tailored services and customized experience based on their interests and preferences \\
4 & Gamification and storytelling elements make cultural exploration more engaging and educational SMEs should focus on developing analytics and data-driven capabilities to extract valuable insights from IoT data, which can help optimize visitor journeys and operational efficiency \\
6 & Data privacy and security frameworks need to be implemented to establish a trustworthy relationship between users and technologies \\
7 & Digital content should be created, managed and provided according to regional preferences, customization needs, and cultural diversity \\
8 & Visitors need to be supported, both physically and digitally, in all the phases of their experience, from journey planning, to site visiting, and after their experience \\
9 & Digital applications and services should be designed to ensure a valuable customer experience both in the physical site and remotely \\
10 & Digital solutions should engage customers beyond their experience in terms of time, space, and provided value \\
11 & CH platforms should be integrated with third-party services in order to provide the customer with complementary and additional services \\
12 & Social community enhances the sense of belonging to a group of people with common interests and preferences with whom they share emotions and perceptions \\
13 & Digital user data should be accurately stored and analyzed for elaborating insights and foresights based on historical data \\
14 & Digital platforms should be associated with the use of multimodal interaction interfaces to ensure inclusivity \\
15 & Open standards and tools should be used to facilitate interoperability and scalability of digital solutions with third parties \\
16 & AI predictive models should be integrated for improving visitors flow management \\
17 & Adaptive learning and educational models could be customized for different user segments \\
18 & Platforms should be designed to provide value for customers and SMEs in terms of site visiting, management, and maintenance \\
19 & Ethical concerns should be considered for a sustainable use of cultural heritage \\
20 & CH platforms should have robust backup and disaster recovery mechanisms to protect digital cultural assets from cyber threats or system failures \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Best practices for assisting SMEs in digital solutions for the CH and tourism industry. design and development of a novel digital platform for an immersive and enhanced user experience. The analysis was conducted in five countries adjoining the Mediterranean Sea: Italy, Jordan, Spain, Cyprus, and Turkey. The intention of the authors was to explore how SMEs belonging to different cultures and regions can cooperate for sustainable competition of their business, by leveraging a common thread, i.e., enhancing customers' experiences through digital products and services. Based on the empirical evidence, the findings supported the identification of a set of 20 best practices that could be considered by SMEs in designing and developing a CH digital platform for enhancing user experience.