My research explores how digitised tourism experiences developed by community-led initiatives, such as those in favelas and Indigenous territories, can support place transformation, heritage preservation, and digital mobility. Virtual tourism and digital mobilisation provide these groups with ways to attract visitors, raise political awareness, and advance local agendas. However, many face significant barriers to digital investment, often due to limited technical and financial resources. While digital tools are gaining ground, their broader impacts on social cohesion, economic autonomy, and heritage sustainability remain underexplored. Through participatory approaches, my study co-produces and examines the experiences of people, places, and processes involved in digitising underrepresented heritage in the Global South. Focusing on favelas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the research aims to foster digital autonomy and sustainable heritage practices