thumb|Cultural tourism in [[Egypt in the 19th century.]]

right|thumb|Tourists at [[Hearst Castle, California.]]

thumb|Tourists taking pictures at the [[Khmer Empire|khmer Pre Rup temple ruins, an example of cultural tourism.]]

Cultural tourism is a type of tourism 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, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries as well as the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.

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 theatres,

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. Cultural tourism has recently shifted towards meeting the growing desire for cultural "experiences" in particular.thumb|220px|A decorated water well in [[Zalipie, Lesser Poland Voivodeship|Zalipie, Poland]]

thumb|Tourists at the cultural historical Old Town of [[Porvoo]]

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. 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. 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. 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
  • Film tourism
  • Impacts of tourism
  • Literary tourism
  • Overtourism
  • Sex tourism
  • Tourist trap

References

Further reading

  • 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
  • Sri Lanka Cultural Tour Package