Defining Cultural Tourism

Tourism across the world is getting an impetus because there is so much that people want to see
and experience. In fact, visiting another country is one of the best ways to learn about the culture
and language of that country. However, of late, people are indulging in cultural tourism that has
given tourism a whole new meaning.
What is Cultural Tourism?
Cultural tourism is a type of tourism that allows the tourist to participate in local cultural
activities, like festivals and rituals. As a result, the tourist can enjoy a genuine cultural exchange
with the locals.

It also enables local communities to accept their culture as cultural tourism is a major driver for
growth. So, communities go out of their way to celebrate and promote their culture as it makes
them different from other communities. A good example is the carnival celebrated in Rio de
Janeiro and Goa before Lent begins. While in Rio it is a raucous celebration where locals and
tourists party and indulge in everything under the sky, in Goa, the mainstay of the event is a
parade followed by dances and feasts.
Why Should Countries Focus on Cultural Tourism?
Cultural tourism benefits local communities. Some of the benefits of cultural tourism that
government and local tourism bodies should be aware of include the following:

Cultural tourism has a positive economic impact on the destination and can help underserved
communities to thrive and flourish
The money that this form of tourism bring in can be used within local communities for social
good
It helps preserve the local culture while allowing communities to emphasize the uniqueness of
their culture to differentiate it from other locations
It helps destinations market themselves and compete with more competitive locales on an even
footing
Popular Countries for Cultural Tourism
As countries realize the importance of cultural tourism and how it can drive local economies,
they are focusing on building cities and towns that can attract overseas visitors to experience and
savor culture like never before.

No doubt France leads the field of cultural tourism, with Paris being the hub of European
culture. People from across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas visit Paris for retail
therapy at the Champs Elysees. With the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral burned down, Paris still is
home to gastronomy and art. People usually come to visit the Eiffel Tower, spend time at the
Louvre and enjoy Arc de Triomphe. Of course, if you are in France during the Cannes Film
Festival, you will be able to enjoy a unique experience.
China too is steeped in history and traditions that are fascinating and appealing. Many overseas
visitors, particularly from the US, the UK, Europe, and Australasia throng Shanghai. It is a
global financial hub and is the largest city in the country. It is the best place to experience the
history and culture of this nation. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely stroll at the Bund, learn about the
local history at the Shanghai Museum, and enjoy peace at the Yu Garden. There are numerous art
galleries and restaurants that can fill the time in between these cultural attractions.

Turkey has always been at the forefront of cultural tourism, in particular Istanbul, which
straddles Asia and Europe. Some of the best places to enjoy a cultural experience include Hagia
Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, and the Bosphorus. Even shopping and
browsing through the Grand Bazaar can be a cultural experience. Istanbul fascinates cultural
lovers from Asia, the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada, and the USA. People come here to check
out the architecture and learn about the Ottoman Empire.
Cultural tourism is incomplete without a visit to India, the land of the Ganges, Taj Mahal,
Varanasi, and Qutub Minar. Every city in India offers a unique cultural experience to visitors.
Whether you want to experience the religious culture or historical culture, India has a lot to offer.
It is one of the primary reasons that people from across the globe flock to India. You can visit
Varanasi to experience Hinduism or spend time in Bodh Gaya, the tiny hamlet in Bihar where
Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The art of weaving in Rajasthan and saree weaving in
Andhra Pradesh also offer insights into the local culture.

Culture tourism is a win-win experience. The visitors enjoy the rich heritage and learn about the
local cultures and traditions while local communities enjoy development without forsaking their
cultural values and beliefs.

Cultural tourism, the best way to travel and get to know the world
Nothing defines a country and makes it unique like its culture. Seeing its art, experiencing its traditions,
trying its cuisine and strolling through its history are without doubt the best guides to discovering a
country. And that, precisely, is what cultural tourism is all about. Fancy a trip to cities like Amsterdam,
London, Paris or Barcelona?

Unlike sun and beach tourism, where the main attraction is rest, cultural tourism basically pursues one
objective: understanding, in the broadest sense of the word. Getting to know the history, art and people
of a place, tasting its food, discovering its customs and enjoying at first hand a different way of seeing
the world.

WHAT IS CULTURAL TOURISM? IMPACTS AND BENEFITS

Although tourism, in one form or another, has always been linked to learning, the fact is that since the
1970s, when UNESCO produced the Convention on World Cultural and Natural Heritage together with
proposals to conserve and promote it, cultural tourism has experienced huge growth throughout the
world, but especially in Europe. In fact, currently there are 1,121 declared World Heritage Sites, the
majority of them spread around three countries: Italy (55), China (55) and Spain (48) - two of them on
the Old Continent.

"Culture is one of the driving forces for the growth of tourism." This was stated barely a year ago by the
Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Zurab Pololikashvili, during the third
conference on cultural tourism organized by the UNWTO and UNESCO. And one statistic backs it up -
cultural tourism in the world represents nearly 37% of the total for the sector.

Benefits? There are many. Intangible ones, like the conservation of cultural and artistic heritage, local
prosperity for non-traditional tourist destinations and the establishment of links between different
cultures. And also tangible ones, like the impact on the economy and jobs. The money spent by cultural
travelers has a very positive repercussion, both at financial level and in the creation of jobs in sectors
such as the hotel and catering industry, trade and culture.

TYPES OF CULTURAL TOURISM

Cultural tourism is almost as diverse as culture itself in that it can embrace practically any activity
connected with, or peculiar to, a country, area, city or town: art, cinema, language, sport, religion,
architecture, gastronomy, nature or any kind of folklore. But there are other much less conventional,
and in some cases very alternative, types of cultural tourism. Here are some examples:

So-called tombstone tourism is not as morbid as you might think. Cemeteries like those in Paris and
London, or the Recoleta, in Buenos Aires, are some of the sites most visited by tourists for their history
and beauty. Indeed, according to Architectural Digest, the Argentinian cemetery has around 2,000
visitors a day, most of them tourists.
Tourism for fans of The Lord of the Rings saga, based on J.R. Tolkien's book and brought to the screen by
Peter Jackson. The activities include visits to the places where the film scenes were shot, most of them
in New Zealand. A similar tour is being offered in cities like Dubrovnik (Croatia), Belfast (Northern
Ireland) and Reykjavik (Iceland) where scenes from the Game of Thrones series were filmed.

War tourism visits sites that witnessed historic battles; UFO tourism goes to sites known for UFO
sightings; ghost tourism takes you into forests and houses that are supposedly haunted, and so on.

THE 10 CITIES WITH THE GREATEST TOURIST HERITAGE

According to Totally Money External link, opens in new window., which compiles data such as the
number of theatres, museums, art galleries, concert halls, etc. and compares them with population
figures, foreign tourists and the money they spend - the ten cities with the broadest cultural offering
are:

1. Amsterdam: 96 theatres, 81 museums, 54 art galleries, 2 World Heritage Sites, 8 concert halls and 43
Michelin Guide restaurants.

2. Dublin: 127 theatres, 57 museums, 32 art galleries, 6 concert halls and 5 Michelin Guide restaurants.

3. Prague: 129 theatres, 110 museums, 201 art galleries, 1 World Heritage Site, 4 concert halls and 3
Michelin Guide restaurants.

4. Miami: 72 theatres, 18 museums, 27 art galleries, 1 World Heritage Site, and 1 concert hall.

5. Paris: 245 theatres, 147 museums, 69 art galleries, 1 World Heritage Site, 6 concert halls and 100
Michelin Guide restaurants.

6. Barcelona: 80 theatres, 95 museums, 46 art galleries, 1 World Heritage Site, 3 concert halls and 25
Michelin Guide restaurants.
7. Milan: 43 theatres, 76 museums, 42 art galleries, 1 World Heritage Site, 4 concert halls and 17
Michelin Guide restaurants.

8. Rome: 93 theatres, 151 museums, 42 art galleries, 5 World Heritage Sites, 3 concert halls and 18
Michelin Guide restaurants.

9. Vienna: 55 theatres, 103 museums, 14 art galleries, 2 World Heritage Sites, 7 concert halls and 9
Michelin Guide restaurants.

10. London: 878 theatres, 186 museums, 125 art galleries, 4 World Heritage Sites, 17 concert halls and
67 Michelin Guide restaurants.