Intangible cultural heritage (ICH), representing living cultural traditions, faces threats due to limited social exposure and declining inheritors, creating cultural and economic challenges. The global tourism industry has also faced unprecedented challenges from public health crises such as pandemics, which affect both cultural heritage preservation and visitor mobility. Recent research has shown that machine learning can serve as a critical tool for early outbreak prediction and crisis management in tourism planning. Tourism development presents opportunities to protect and sustainably leverage ICH resources. This study examines the integration of intangible cultural heritage protection with sustainable tourism development in Changsha, China—a historical city renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Combining literature analysis, field visits, and qualitative methods, the research systematically evaluates the current status of Changsha’s intangible cultural heritage, identifying key challenges including aging inheritors, inadequate youth engagement, and fragmented promotion. Results highlight the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, particularly involving local government, community groups, and cultural inheritors. Strategic recommendations include innovatively developing heritage-based tourism products, enhancing targeted promotional activities, and expanding the commercialization of local cultural assets to strengthen their protection. This research enriches the understanding of sustainable approaches to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage through tourism and provides practical insights applicable to similar urban heritage contexts. Ultimately, integrating intangible cultural heritage into Changsha’s tourism sector can sustainably promote cultural preservation, enhance the local economy, and enrich tourist experiences.
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