
Cultural tourism is a type of
tourism
Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the Commerce, commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. World Tourism Organization, UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as ...
in which the visitor's essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the cultural attractions and products offered by a tourist destination. These attractions and products relate to the intellectual, spiritual, and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and
architecture
Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...
, historical and cultural heritage,
culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries as well as the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.
[Buczkowska, K. (2011). Cultural Tourism – Heritage, Arts and Creativity. Poznań: 38-50.]
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
landmarks, museums and exhibitions, national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries, and religious venues. It includes tourism in
urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as
theatre
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a Stage (theatre), stage. The performe ...
s,
as well as tourism in remote, indigenous regions. In the twenty-first-century
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, national parks and a limited number of
Native American councils continue to promote "tribal tourism." The U.S.
National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is an List of federal agencies in the United States, agency of the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, within the US Department of the Interior. The service manages all List ...
has publicly endorsed this strain of cultural tourism, despite lingering concerns over exploitation and the potential hazards of
ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of nature-oriented tourism intended to contribute to the Ecological conservation, conservation of the natural environment, generally defined as being minimally impactful, and including providing both contributions to conserv ...
in Native America.
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
cost of living
The cost of living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living for an individual or a household. Changes in the cost of living over time can be measured in a cost-of-living index. Cost of living calculations are also used to compare t ...
for local residents, increasing pollution, or creating
environmental problems. Also, the local population is at risk of coming into contact with new ways of life that can disrupt their
social fabric.
This form of tourism is becoming generally more popular throughout the world, and a recent
OECD
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; , OCDE) is an international organization, intergovernmental organization with 38 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and international trade, wor ...
report has highlighted the role that cultural tourism can play in regional development in different world regions.
[Greg Richards et Crispin Raymond, « Creative Tourism », ATLAS News 23, janvier 2000] 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.). 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.
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.
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
mass tourism and allows the destinations to diversify and offer innovative activities different from other destinations.
Similarly,
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
launched in 2004 a program entitled ''
Creative Cities Network''. This network aims to highlight cities around the world that are putting creativity at the heart of their sustainable
urban development
Urban means "related to a city". In that sense, the term may refer to:
* Urban area, geographical area distinct from rural areas
* Urban culture, the culture of towns and cities
Urban may also refer to:
General
* Urban (name), a list of peop ...
plan. Creative cities are organized into seven categories representing seven different creative fields: crafts and folk arts,
digital arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature, and music. As of January 2020, the network has 246 members across all categories. In order to promote the development of this new type of tourism, a
non-profit organization
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
was created in
Barcelona
Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...
in 2010: Creative Tourism Network. Its missions involve, among others: the promotion of creative tourism, the creation of a network of "Creativefriendly" cities but also awards celebration, The Creative Tourism Awards."
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.
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.
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."
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.
Experts recognize that "the capitalization of Native identity has been a feature of Native and European interaction since the early colonial period."
However, although this legacy is perhaps echoed by modern day indigenous tourism, involvement in the tourism industry allows indigenous populations "
o takepart in the global economy on their own terms."
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.
Environmental impacts of cultural tourism
Negative

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." 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.
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.
Positive
Tourism can bring communities economic growth from both job creation and tax revenue 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"
Cultural tourism stimulates economic growth, preserves heritage, and fosters cross-cultural understanding. It promotes sustainable development and community revitalization,
contributing to both local economies and global cultural enrichment through the preservation and celebration of diverse traditions.
See also
*
Archaeological tourism
*
Cultural diplomacy
*
Cultural tourism in Egypt
Egypt has a thriving cultural tourism industry, built on the country's complex history, multicultural population and importance as a regional centre.
History
Egypt's cultural tourism trade has fluctuated since the 19th century, increasing in po ...
*
Film tourism
*
Impacts of tourism
*
Literary tourism
*
Overtourism
*
Sex tourism
*
Tourist trap
References
Further reading
* Bob McKercher and
Hilary du Cros, ''Cultural Tourism: The partnership between tourism and cultural heritage management'',
Routledge
Routledge ( ) is a British multinational corporation, multinational publisher. It was founded in 1836 by George Routledge, and specialises in providing academic books, academic journals, journals and online resources in the fields of the humanit ...
, 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
*
Family Heritage TourismCultural Heritage Tourism*
GoUNESCO
GoUNESCO is an umbrella of initiatives that help promote awareness and provide tools for laypersons to engage with heritage. GoUNESCO was created by Ajay Reddy in 2012. It is supported by UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific an ...
�
Culture and Heritage Travel ChallengeHeritage Tourismfrom the
National Trust
The National Trust () is a heritage and nature conservation charity and membership organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the ...
Success factors for museums & non-profit cultural attractions
Sri Lanka Cultural Tour Package
{{Authority control
Adventure travel
Types of tourism