Cultural tourism
Cultural tourism is a type of
Overview
Cultural tourism experiences include, but are not limited to, architectural and archaeological treasures, culinary activities, festivals or events, historic or heritage, sites, monuments and
Proponents of cultural tourism say that it gives the local population the opportunity to benefit financially from their cultural heritage and thus to appreciate and preserve it, while giving visitors the opportunity to broaden their personal horizons. Cultural tourism also has negative sides. There may be negative effects on local residents, such as making the local economy unstable, increasing the
This form of tourism is becoming generally more popular throughout the world, and a recent OECD report has highlighted the role that cultural tourism can play in regional development in different world regions.[6] Cultural tourism has recently shifted towards meeting the growing desire for cultural "experiences" in particular.
Sectors of cultural tourism can be distinguished both by the destination (urban cultural tourism, rural cultural tourism, etc.) as well as the theme of the trip (heritage tourism, popular culture tourism, etc.).[7] The main subcategories are discussed in more detail below.
Subcategories of Cultural Tourism
Heritage tourism
- Archaeological sites
- Monuments
- Architecture
- Museums
- Religious Sites
Heritage tourism involves traveling to a site of cultural significance to engage with the heritage of the region and local population. In recent years, more attention has been put on the inclusion and thoughtful representation of the history of marginalized groups for the tourist audience, marked by UNESCO’s updates to their World Heritage List, which is a comprehensive list of significant heritage sites. [8]
Arts tourism
- Theater
- Concerts and music venues
- Galleries
- Festivals, carnivals and events
- Literary sites
Arts tourism involves traveling to the location of an art exhibit, which includes live-performances, museums, and libraries. Arts tourism is a relatively less common form of cultural tourism, due both the historical exclusivity of the arts scene, and the option for artists to go on tour, eliminating the need for tourism. Even so, in recent years, the arts community has put increased emphasis on prioritizing the accessibility of local art and exhibits. [8]
Creative Tourism
- Photography
- Painting
- Pottery
- Culinary arts
- Language learning
Creative Tourism involves active participation from tourists in cultural experiences specific to each holiday destination. This form of tourism is more recently theorized and defined by Greg Richards and Crispin Raymond in 2000. They defined creative tourism as: “Tourism which offers visitors the opportunity to develop their creative potential through active participation in courses and learning experiences, which are characteristic of the holiday destination where they are taken." (Richards, Greg et Raymond, Crispin, 2000).
This type of tourism is opposed to
Similarly,
Urban cultural tourism
- Historic cities
- Regenerated industrial cities
- Waterfront development
- Arts and heritage attractions
- Shopping
- Nightlife
Urban cultural tourism involves traveling to urban sites of cultural significance, which often offer a range of both historical and recreational attractions. Certain major urban cities with cultural offerings are listed in UNESCO’s world heritage site and have been lauded for their promotion of cross-cultural exchange. Other urban cultural tourist sites are post-industrial cities, who offer tourists a slice of their history alongside modern recreation, such as shopping and nightlife. [8]
Rural cultural tourism
- Village, farm or agro-tourism
- Eco-museums
- National parks
- Wine trails
Rural cultural tourism involves traveling to rural sites of cultural significance. Similarly to urban cultural tourist sites, many rural sites are cities whose main industries have declined, that supplement their economies by offering various attractions, such as wine-tasting. Other rural cultural sites have great historical significance, such as national parks. [8]
Indigenous cultural tourism
- Hilltribe, desert or mountain trekking
- Visits to cultural centers
- Arts and crafts (by local artists)
- Cultural performances
- Festivals
Indigenous cultural tourism is defined as "any service or product that is a) owned and operated at least in part by an Indigenous group and b) results from a means of exchange with outside guests."[9] Most indigenous community have faced historic marginalization, which has led many proponents of cultural tourism to emphasize the need for sensitivity around these cultural events, as well as the importance of the indigenous population’s control over how their culture is represented.[8] Experts recognize that "the capitalization of Native identity has been a feature of Native and European interaction since the early colonial period."[9] However, although this legacy is perhaps echoed by modern day indigenous tourism, involvement in the tourism industry allows indigenous populations "[to take] part in the global economy on their own terms."[9]
Popular cultural tourism
- Theme parks and themed attractions
- Shopping malls
- Pop concerts
- Sporting events
- Media and film sets
- Industrial heritage sites
- Fashion and design museums
Popular cultural tourism involves any kind of tourist attractions that are modern and mainstream, such as amusement parks or sporting events. Popular cultural tourism has only recently been included under the umbrella of cultural tourism, as recreational activities have gained increasing recognition for their cultural significance.[8]
Environmental Impacts of Cultural Tourism
Negative Impacts
Increased tourist traffic often leads to greater rates of litter and pollution in a given community. This runs a risk for important cultural landscapes to be exposed to significant damage from human-caused wear and tear--"Tourists are in a peculiar position, because they do not live with the consequences of the pollution they help create or the shortages they help cause."[10] In many ancient European cities, such as Rome, Paris, and Florence, the buildup of air pollutants generated by car exhaust and gas-powered motors has caused the white stone to be covered in pollutants and turned to a gray or black color. These toxic exhausts can also accelerate the corrosion of culturally important stone monuments, statues and heritage buildings.[11]
Changing environmental conditions can have large impacts on human environments and heritage sites, as well. Cultural landscapes can be lost to rising waters and increasingly severe storms. This deterioration, and in the worst case, destruction, can be a major issue in coastal communities and low-lying islands. Floods and rising water levels can also be a direct threat to archaeological sites, historic buildings that hold cultural values, and heritage gardens.[11]
Positive Impacts
Tourism can bring communities economic growth from both job creations and tax revenues from ticket sales to festivals, museums, ancient ruins, religious sites and historic hotels. This increase in economic growth is welcomed by heads of conservation sites, as it often a major source of revenue for important cultural sites where government assistance is lacking. "Tourism can act as an impetus for creating public awareness of the need to preserve the built environment. The establishment of national parks, national monuments and other protected areas is often justified by the existence of tourism" [11]
See also
References
- ^ a b Buczkowska, K. (2011). Cultural Tourism – Heritage, Arts and Creativity. Poznań: 38-50.
- ^ Borowiecki, K.J. and C. Castiglione (2014). Cultural participation and tourism flows: An empirical investigation of Italian provinces. Tourism Economics, 20(2): 241-62.
- ^ Ketz, David. "Building a Cultural Heritage Tourism Program". Heritage Sites for Dialogue.
- ^ "Cultural Tourism: Attracting Visitors and Their Spending". Americans for the Arts. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
- ^ Demonja, Damir. "Cultural Tourism in Croatia after the Implementation of the Strategy of Development of Cultural Tourism" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-12-16.
- ^ Greg Richards et Crispin Raymond, « Creative Tourism », ATLAS News 23, janvier 2000
- ^ Buczkowska, K. (2011). Cultural Tourism – Heritage, Arts and Creativity. Poznań: 38-50.
- ^ a b c d e f Smith, Melanie K. (2003). Issues in Cultural Studies. Routledge.
- ^ – via JSTOR.
- JSTOR 20070682– via JSTOR.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84541-772-7.
Further reading
- Bob McKercher and Hilary du Cros, Cultural Tourism: The partnership between tourism and cultural heritage management, Routledge, 2002.
- Greg Richards, Cultural Tourism: Global and local perspectives, Routledge, 2007.
- Priscilla Boniface, Managing Quality Cultural Tourism, Routledge, 1995.
- Milena Ivanovic, Cultural Tourism, Juta and Company Ltd, 2009.
External links
- Media related to Cultural tourism at Wikimedia Commons
- Family Heritage Tourism
- Cultural Heritage Tourism
- GoUNESCO – Culture and Heritage Travel Challenge
- Heritage Tourism from the National Trust
- Success factors for museums & non-profit cultural attractions Archived 2020-02-14 at the Wayback Machine
- Sri Lanka Cultural Tour Package