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1. Introduction
The main aim of this chapter is to thoroughly present the role and positions of cultural
tourism, as one of modern tourism industrys most dynamically developing branch, in
todays global tourism market both from the theoretical and the practical point of view.
With the definition of cultural tourism, we try to point at the complex problems of the term
as it is proved to be a controversial issue in tourism, since there is no adequate definition
existing. In the absence of a uniformly accepted definition, cultural tourism can be
characterised both from the perspective of supply and demand and also from the point of
view of theoretical and practical approach.
We can state that cultural tourism is a very complex segment of the tourism industry, its
supply is diverse and versatile. The future positions of the discipline will probably be
strengthened both directly and indirectly as with the change of the recreational needs the
aim to get acquainted with the cultural values is strongly increasing. Mass tourism though
will of course never loose its positions, but tourists taking part in the supply of the 4S will
become visitors with more diversified needs concerning cultural interest.
So apart from the theoretical discussion, the chapter aims to provide an insight into the
tourism segments and attraction structure of cultural tourism as well.
2. The problems and definition of the term culture and cultural tourism
2.1 Defining the term culture
To define cultural tourism first of all we have to determine the meaning of the term culture.
In this chapter we do not intend to investigate this very complex concept from different
aspects and approaches or with a very detailed analysis but we wish to provide an insight
and a starting point since we feel that the determination of the context provides us the basics
for the researches on cultural tourism.
So in this approach first of all we intend to highlight one of the first scholars who dealt with
the identification of culture by providing a classic approach which is widely accepted in the
scope of social sciences researchers. According to TYLOR (1871) culture is that complex
whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and
habits acquired by man as a member of society (Tylor, 1871.) This definition seems to be a
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202 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
favourable approach to our investigations as well since the determination can be used in a
wide content opening the possibilities to the possible connection with other disciplines, and
at the same time the definition is exact and concrete.
When analysing the meaning of culture we also would like to provide the approach and
definition of the Websters New Encyclopaedic Dictionary which states that culture is the
characteristic features of a civilisation including its beliefs, its artistic and material products, and its
social institutions. (Websters New Encyclopaedic Dictionary, p. 244)
On the other hand we also wish to explain that there is a strong and maybe ever lasting
debate on the definition of this very complex term. Anthropology originally stated that
culture and cultures are unique bounded entities with limits and specific characteristics. Cultures
were static, in that they could be captured by anthropological analyses. Their customs, habits, mores,
relationships, uniquenesses could all be detailed, and in doing so, the ways in which each culture was
separate from all others could be seen. (http://www.sccs.swarthmore.edu/users/00/
ckenned1/culture.html)
On the other hand recent trends of the research on culture show that culture is not a
bounded, unchanging entity. Cultures are not separated from each other providing a chance
to continuously interact and contact with each other. Of course this trend would also
strongly determine the formation and development of cultural tourism as well.
From the more recent perspective we intend to highlight the definition of HOFSTEDE (1997)
who states that: Culture refers to the cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs,
values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations,
concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a group of
people in the course of generations through individual and group striving (Hofstede, 1997).
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 203
According to HOFSTEDE (1997) the core of a culture is formed by the values (Figure 1.)
which in terms of tourism will be the basics for the attraction of a given destinations well.
The different levels of culture will be the rituals, the heroes and the symbols of the given
culture which again would serve as a basis for tourism purpose travels.
We also agree with the definition of the Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute according to
which Culture refers to the following Ways of Life, including but not limited to:
Language: the oldest human institution and the most sophisticated medium of
expression.
Arts & Sciences: the most advanced and refined forms of human expression.
Thought: the ways in which people perceive, interpret, and understand the world
around them.
Spirituality: the value system transmitted through generations for the inner well-being
of human beings, expressed through language and actions.
Social activity: the shared pursuits within a cultural community, demonstrated in a
variety of festivities and life-celebrating events.
Interaction: the social aspects of human contact, including the give-and-take of
socialization, negotiation, protocol, and conventions. (http://www.roshan-
institute.org/474552)
Based on the above mentioned we can state that culture is part of the lifestyle which a
multitude of people are sharing. The similarities in spoken and written language, behaviour,
lifestyle, customs, heritage, ideology and even technology connect the individuals to groups
of people in a certain culture. So now if we take into consideration cultural tourism these
groups will constitute on the demand side on the one hand those tourists who are
possessing cultural motivation during their travel and on the other hand from the supply
side the destination which is disposing those attraction which are capable to desire the
attraction of a culturally motivated tourists or visitor. So based on the upper mentioned we
could also state that the altering explanations of cultural tourism could also be derived from
the altering meanings and interpretations of the term culture.
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204 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
answer because there are almost as many definitions of cultural tourism as there are cultural
tourists. (McKercher & Du Cros 2002)
When starting with the definitions first we would like to mention the Dictionary of Travel,
Tourism and Hospitality Terms published in 1996 according to which Cultural tourism:
General term referring to leisure travel motivated by one or more aspects of the culture of a particular
area. ('Dictionary of Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Terms', 1996).
One of the most diverse and specific definitions from the 1990s is provided by ICOMOS
(International Scientific Committee on Cultural Tourism): Cultural tourism can be defined as that
activity which enables people to experience the different ways of life of other people, thereby gaining at
first hand an understanding of their customs, traditions, the physical environment, the intellectual ideas
and those places of architectural, historic, archaeological or other cultural significance which remain
from earlier times. Cultural tourism differs from recreational tourism in that it seeks to gain an
understanding or appreciation of the nature of the place being visited. (ICOMOS Charter for
Cultural Tourism, Draft April 1997). We strongly accept and favour this definition which on
the one hand seems to be a bit too long, but mentions and highlights not just the man made
attractions connected to cultural tourism, but the surrounding physical environment as well
providing a wider spatial scope to this form of tourism.
It is also interesting to mention that the definition has been improved through the years of the
committees practice since their 1976 definition was somewhat simpler and not that precise
than the previously mentioned one: Cultural tourism is that form of tourism whose object is,
among other aims, the discovery of monuments and sites. It exerts on these last a very positive effect
insofar as it contributes - to satisfy its own ends - to their maintenance and protection. This form of
tourism justifies in fact the efforts which said maintenance and protection demand of the human
community because of the socio-cultural and economic benefits which they bestow on all the
populations concerned. (1976 ICOMOS Charter on Cultural Tourism)
There are other definitions from this era which focus on one of the most important effects of
tourism on the tourists, namely the experiences. One of these definitions were set up by
Australian Office of National Tourism: Cultural tourism is tourism that focuses on the culture of
a destination - the lifestyle, heritage, arts, industries and leisure pursuits of the local population.
(Office of National Tourism 'Fact Sheet No 10 Cultural Tourism', 1997). The earlier
mentioned charter of the ICOMOS describes cultural tourism as: Cultural tourism may be
defined as that movement which involves people in the exploration or the experience of the diverse
ways of life of other people, reflecting all the social customs, religious traditions, or intellectual ideas
of their cultural heritage. (ICOMOS Charter for Cultural Tourism, Draft April 1997).
We provide two more definitions focusing on experience during the trip:
Cultural tourism is an entertainment and educational experience that combines the arts with
natural and social heritage and history. (Cultural Tourism Industry Group,
http://www.culturaltourismvictoria.com.au/).
Cultural tourism defines the phenomenon of people travelling specifically for the sake of either
experiencing another culture or the cultural attractions of a place. (Arts Industry Tourism
Council, 'Cultural Tourism Development in Victoria', June 1997).
So we see that some of the definitions try to focus on the attraction side of this system, some
on the geographical space and some on the experiences but fortunately almost all of them
focus on and highlight the role of the local population as well.
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Even there are some country or space specific definitions for cultural tourism such as in
Australia: Cultural tourism is defined by attendance by inbound visitors at one or more of the
following cultural attractions during their visit to Australia: festivals or fairs (music, dance, comedy,
visual arts, multi-arts and heritage); performing arts or concerts (theatre, opera, ballet and classical
and contemporary music); museums or art galleries; historic or heritage buildings, sites or
monuments; art or craft workshops or studios; and Aboriginal sites and cultural displays. (Bureau
of Tourism Research, 'Cultural Tourism in Australia', 1998, p.7).
One of the most important professional initiatives of cultural tourism is provided by the
ATLAS Cultural Tourism Research Project which was aiming to establish a transnational
database which could provide comparative data on cultural tourism trends across Europe
(Bonink et al. 1994). Due to its more than 15 years of activity the ATLAS Cultural Tourism
Research Programme has monitored one of the most rapidly growing areas of global
tourism demand through visitor survey and studies of cultural tourism policies and
suppliers (http://www.tram-research.com/atlas/presentation.htm). The ATLAS program
provides us two new definitions from a conceptual and a technical perspective:
Conceptual Definition
The movement of persons to cultural attractions away from their normal place of residence, with the
intention to gather new information and experiences to satisfy their cultural needs.
Technical Definition
All movements of persons to specific cultural attractions, such as heritage sites, artistic and cultural
manifestations, arts and drama outside their normal place of residence. (ATLAS, 2009)
When taking into consideration the definition of the term cultural tourism of course we
highlight the approach of the UNWTO. The United Nations World Travel Organisation
provides us two perspectives of the definition of cultural tourism, namely a broad and a
narrow approach:
All movements of persons might be included in the definition because they satisfy the human
need for diversity, tending to raise the cultural level of the individual and giving rise to new
knowledge, experience and encounters. (broad definition).
Movements of persons for essentially cultural motivations such as study tours, performing arts
and cultural tours, travel to festivals and other cultural events, visits to sites and monuments.
(narrow definition). (UNWTO)
The broad approach can hardly be handled from the point of view of product development
and product management aspects since in this respect almost all the recreational travels
could be ranged to the scope of cultural tourism as due to the new experiences the tourist
will realize new observations and knowledge (Michalk & Rtz 2011).
If we take into consideration the narrow sense of the UNWTOs definition the programs,
events and sightseeings of the so called high or elite culture provides the basic attraction for
cultural tourism. In this respect monuments and heritage sites, festival tourism, exhibitions
and museums, visiting theatres and concerts and pilgrimage or study tours are the basic
products of cultural tourism.
According to MICHALK and RTZ in accordance with our perceptions as well one has
to take into consideration the popular culture also when investigating cultural tourism. In this
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206 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
respect we can highlight such tourism products as rock or pop music festivals, or movie
tourism (visiting places where famous films were shot) as well (Michalk & Rtz 2011).
Based on the above mentioned the definition of the two tourism researchers on cultural tourism
is the following: Cultural tourism is such a tourism product in which the motivation of the tourist
(providing the supply side) is getting acquainted with new cultures, participate in cultural events and
visiting cultural attractions and the demand sides core element is the peculiar, unique culture of the
visited destination. (Translated by the authors from Hungarian) (Michalk & Rtz 2011).
The 2005 report of the European Travel Commission on City Tourism and Culture
distinguishes between an inner and outer circle of cultural tourism:
I. The inner circle represents the primary elements of cultural tourism which can be divided
into two parts, namely heritage tourism (cultural heritage related to artefacts of the past) and
arts tourism (related to contemporary cultural production such as the performing and visual
arts, contemporary architecture, literature, etc.).
II. The outer circle represents the secondary elements of cultural tourism which can be divided
into two elements, namely lifestyle (elements such as beliefs, cuisine, traditions, folklore, etc.)
and the creative industries (fashion design, web and graphic design, film, media and
entertainment, etc.). (City Tourism and Culture The European Experience, 2005)
Here we also would like to mention and introduce the widely accepted definition of
Stebbins (1996) who states that Cultural tourism is a genre of special interest tourism based on
the search for and participation in new and deep cultural experiences, whether aesthetic, intellectual,
emotional, or psychological. (Stebbins, 1996)
Without the aim of listing all the definitions on cultural tourism, we would like to
emphasize that according to our point of view the scope of cultural tourism covers those
tourism segments that could not be classified to the elements of mass and passive tourism.
The classic attractions of cultural tourism can be classified into three groups:
Built and material values (buildings, material values of different art forms),
The cultural values connected to everyday life (free time, leisure, lifestyle, habits,
gastronomy,
Events and festivals (Aubert & Csap 2002).
According to our latest knowledge and as an edification from the above mentioned
definitions we should presume that the definitions of culture and tourism reflects together
the meaning of cultural tourism. In this case this part or area of tourism is a collecting
concept which is multiple and diversified from the point of view of several tourism
products with cultural attraction which are determined in the next chapter.
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 207
traditionally used social cultural values we should also highlight the role of the natural
environment concerning cultural tourism.
When we defined who is a cultural tourist the next step in our research would be the typology
of those taking part in cultural tourism. This typology seems to be almost as complex as the
previous definitions. In our work we accept and favour the typology of McKercher and Du
Gros who differentiated five types of cultural tourists based on the importance of culture in
their decision to travel and also the depth of their experience (Figure 2.).
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208 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
The basis of this distinction is the extent of a tourist involved in cultural tourism. The first
three groups create such a demand side in which decision for travel culture and cultural
tourism plays an important role while to 4th and 5th group are such tourists who are only
casually and incidentally involved in this part of the travel industry. Naturally, those
tourists are involved the most in cultural tourism who belong to the first group.
Source: Ontario Cultural and Heritage Tourism Product Research Paper, 2009
Fig. 3. The place of cultural tourists in the complete tourist flow
As we have already seen, tourists can be totally, partially or only incidentally be involved in
cultural tourism or in culturally motivated activities. So it is natural that due to this
phenomenon we believe that statistically it is very hard to register tourists belonging to
whichever category of tourism activities. We can distinguish between specific and incidental
cultural tourists but we also have to stress that the boundary between each categories is very
hard to be determined as well.
It is also to be stressed that taking into consideration the number of tourists involved in
cultural tourism, so in other words the quantitative aspects, the most of the tourists will be
registered to the incidental category and the least amount of people will travel to an
attraction or destination with a 100% of cultural motivation.
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210 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
The major (directly) connected tourism products for cultural tourism are rural tourism
(traditions, lifestyle, local gastronomy), wine tourism (grape and viticulture), conference
tourism and eco-tourism (local culture, lifestyle).
In the following parts of the chapter we try to focus on and introduce the major tourism
products that can be related to and so characterising cultural tourism.
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Based on the above mentioned in accordance with the definition of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation's Heritage Tourism Program (http://culturalheritagetourism.
org/documents/2011CHTFactSheet6-11.pdf) we would state that heritage tourism is an
important part of cultural tourism based on experiencing the places and activities that
authentically represent historic, cultural and natural resources of a given area of region.
Taking into consideration the classification of cultural tourism, The Unites Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) differentiates different types of
heritage such as monumental, movable, intangible and world heritage.
If we take into consideration the forms of heritage and heritage tourism we can differentiate
between material (built heritage, architectural sites, world heritage sites, national and
historical memorials) and non-material heritage (literature, arts, folklore) and cultural
heritage sites such as museums, collections, libraries, theatres, event locations and memories
connected to historical persons.
We also agree with the identification and classification of Timothy and Boyd (2003) stating
that heritage can be classified as tangible immovable resources (e.g. buildings, rivers, natural areas);
tangible movable resources (e.g. objects in museums, documents in archives); or intangibles such as
values, customs, ceremonies, lifestyles, and including experiences such as festivals, arts and cultural
events. (Timothy & Boyd, 2003)
Heritage tourism is quite a new phenomena on the one hand concerning cultural tourism
but on the other hand its routes can be traced back to the ancient times of human history.
Due to the modern trends of tourism its demand has been rapidly growing from the 1990s
but especially in the 21st century.
Of course in the focus of heritage tourism it is heritage itself which mean such a cultural
value from the past which is worth to be maintained for the new generations. Within
heritage, we can differentiate between natural and cultural heritage as well. So when we
would like to define heritage tourism it is essential to highlight that it is such a form of
tourism that is based on heritage in which heritage is one the one hand the central element
of the tourism product and on the other hand it provides the major motivation for the
tourist. (Swarbrooke, 1994)
The recent trends of the extraordinary growth of heritage tourism development are due to
several phenomena experienced in social life and the trends of the tourism industry:
The media participates more and more acutely in introducing the heritage sites;
By the increase of the education level of the population an increasing need has been
emerged to travels with cultural (heritage) purposes;
Heritages became a product consumable for the tourist due to the intermediary role of
the tourism industry;
The personal and social value and support of heritage and heritage tourism has grown
from the second half of the 20th century. (Berki, 2004)
By the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century new trends have
emerged in heritage tourism as well. There were significant changes on the fields of heritage
attractions, the need for complex tourism products also has been grown on the demand side
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212 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
and so the traditional cultural attractions (such as museums) had to revalue their original
role. (Richards, 2001)
The characteristic segments for the modern heritage tourism are the following:
Tourists are represented mainly with a higher educational background;
The specific spendings of these tourists are higher than average;
Tourists are rather coming from the urbanised areas and from the more developed
western world.
Their majority is in their middle ages without children;
According to the length of stay we can state that in the case of heritage tourism the time
for the travel is shorter while the frequency of the travels is higher. (Berki, 2004)
2.4.1.1 World heritage
World heritage sites were created by the UNESCOs Convention Concerning The Protection
Of The World Cultural And Natural Heritage adopted by the General Conference at its
seventeenth session in Paris, 16 November 1972.
Source: http://whc.unesco.org/
Fig. 4. The logo of the UNESCOs World Heritage Sites
One of the major driving force for this decision was that the convention noted that the
cultural heritage and the natural heritage are increasingly threatened with destruction not only by
the traditional causes of decay, but also by changing social and economic conditions which aggravate
the situation with even more formidable phenomena of damage or destruction. http://
whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/
Since this decision in 1972 by today the World Heritage List includes 936 properties both
from cultural and natural heritage which the World Heritage Committee considers as
having outstanding universal value. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/ By 2011, this
number is classified into 725 cultural, 183 natural and 28 mixed properties in 153 States
Parties.
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 213
Article 1
For the purposes of this Convention, the
following shall be considered as "cultural
heritage":
architectural works, works of monumental
sculpture and painting, elements or
structures of an archaeological nature,
monuments: inscriptions, cave dwellings and
combinations of features, which are of
outstanding universal value from the point
of view of history, art or science;
groups of separate or connected buildings
which, because of their architecture, their
homogeneity or their place in the
groups of buildings:
landscape, are of outstanding universal
value from the point of view of history, art
or science;
works of man or the combined works of
nature and man, and areas including
archaeological sites which are of
sites:
outstanding universal value from the
historical, aesthetic, ethnological or
anthropological point of view.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Convention, the
following shall be considered as "natural
heritage":
consisting of physical and biological
formations or groups of such formations,
natural features which are of outstanding universal value
from the aesthetic or scientific point of
view;
which constitute the habitat of threatened
geological and physiographical species of animals and plants of
formations and precisely delineated areas outstanding universal value from the point
of view of science or conservation;
or precisely delineated natural areas of
outstanding universal value from the point
natural sites
of view of science, conservation or natural
beauty.
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214 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
Source: http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&l=en&action=stat&&&mode=table
Fig. 5. Number of World Heritage properties by region
Source: http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&l=en&action=stat&&&mode=table
Fig. 6. Number of World Heritage properties inscribed each Year
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 215
of the rural regions which are able to represent independently the attraction of the given
area. In many cases however in the core of thematic attraction development there is an
artificial attraction (Aubert & Csap 2002; Berki & Csap, 2008).
The forming of the thematic routes can be reckoned among the methods of the thematic
supply development, so the foundation of the thematic parks, or the destination supply
development of the close sense.
The thematic routes according to Puczk & Rtz (2000; 2007) are such tourism products
which row up natural or man made attractions accessible by different transport forms
around a chosen topic or theme. When developing thematic routes, the more increased
application of the given attractions is a general aim due to which this supply will be more
strongly taking part in the tourism of the given region and area.
In recent years the number of the thematic routes multiplied, while the forms of the
cooperation were transformed as well. The earlier loose networks make their co-operation
system increasingly stronger, their activity can be characterised by a long-term co-
ordination practice.
The participants of the co-operations in the initial period were the operators and proprietors
of the attractions so in a number of cases local governments or organisations owned by the
local governments to which later on the enterprises of the competition sector joined as
well. Besides this, to the lower level of hierarchy the co-operation with only marketing
functions is characteristic. In this case the aim of the given characters is the increasing of the
efficiency of the advertisements besides the reduction of the specific advertisement
expenses. On the higher organization level of co-operations with extended activities a
standardisation process is experienced with creating a common image. The appearance of
such a supply supposes the creation of travel packages as well due to the connecting
attractions. (Berki & Csap, 2008)
On the successful operation of the thematic routes we find numerous successful methods
and examples in an outside Europe. Forming an international co-operation may have a
number of advantages but challenges as well to the participants. The creation of the route
is seemingly an easy task so the attractions have to be selected and developed adequate to
the main theme, and applying management methods as well. It can be referred to the
positive effects that considering costs these supplies are created with a small range of
investment, they be diverse both spatially and timely, can contribute to the unutilised
tourism resources and can captivate a new demand group for the cultural and heritage
tourism.
We keep count on the benefits side of thematic route creation that
They can realised with a relatively small investment,
Are able to diverse the tourism demand both timely and spatially,
They are able to utilize unexploited resources,
A new demand group can be captivated to the given attraction.
Apart from the above mentioned we may interpret as an additional positive economic
effect,
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 217
Source: http://www.culture-routes.lu
Table 4. A List of Cultural Routes in Europe
This route system consists of thematic- and regional routes as well (Table 5).
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Villages only offer cultural heritage (cluster 1) and no or very limited visual arts, performing
arts or the creative industries;
Towns offer cultural heritage (cluster 2) and the visual and/or performing arts (cluster 3), but
no or very limited creative industries;
Cities offer cultural heritage and the performing and/or visual arts (cluster 4) and possibly the
creative industries (cluster 5);
Metropolises offer cultural heritage and the performing and/or visual arts and the creative
industries (cluster 6). (City Tourism and Culture, p. 6.)
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1985: Athens
1986: Florence
1987: Amsterdam
1988: Berlin
1989: Paris
1990: Glasgow
1991: Dublin
1992: Madrid
1993: Antwerp
1994: Lisbon
1995: Luxembourg
1996: Copenhagen
1997: Thessaloniki
1998: Stockholm
1999: Weimar
2000: Avignon, Bergen, Bologna, Brussels,
Helsinki, Krakow, Reykjavik, Prague,
Santiago de Compostela.
2001: Porto and Rotterdam
2002: Bruges and Salamanca
2003: Graz
2004: Genoa and Lille
2005: Cork
2006: Patras
2007: Luxembourg and Sibiu
2008: Liverpool and Stavanger
2009: Linz and Vilnius
2010: Essen for the Ruhr, Pcs, Istanbul
2011: Turku and Tallinn
2012: Guimares and Maribor
2013: Marseille and Kosice
2014: Ume and Riga
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc2485_en.htm
Table 7. The European Capitals of Culture (1985-2014)
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 221
Throughout the years this initiative was not only fostering the cultural industry of the
cities but they were a driving force regenerate the cities, raise the international profile of the
ECCs and enhance their image from the point fo view of their own inhabitants. They also
gave new vitality to their cultural life, raised their international profile, boosted tourism and
enhanced their image in the eyes of their own inhabitants. http://ec.europa.eu/culture/
our-programmes-and-actions/doc413_en.htm
Since 1985 there was a debate and research on what impacts the ECC title had on the
development of the cities or on the change of their image etc. People and researchers were of
course criticising the major events or thematics one city was preparing for the given year. Not
considering and arguing with these approaches we have to state that so far this initiative
became one of the most important ones from the European Union in order to achieve a certain
development on the image change and cultural development of major cities in Europe.
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thematics such as music festivals and events and all the other forms of fine arts festivals and
events (of course we can highlight gastronomy, religion, folk, film, history etc. topics as
well). The different festivals can contribute to the development of the given areas or regions
and also promote the cognition of the local population or residents of an area.
A very important role of festivals and events that (however they usually produce a timely
concentration in the high season in majority) they act against seasonality, since a vast
amount of festivals and events are organised in the low season.
On the other hand if we take into consideration the size of the megaevents and the carrying
capacity of places for instance so the huge amount of the number of people visiting these
places in a relatively short time we have to stress that cultural events and festivals could
have a seriously negative impacts on the environment and on the local population as well.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/culture/key-
documents/doc/study_impact_cult_creativity_06_09.pdf
Fig. 8. Components of culture-based creativity
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The most recent trends of cultural tourism investigate more and more on the topic of
creative tourism. Of course the link between creativity and culture is obvious and it is also
natural that those people who are involved in creative industries (artists or professionals
that are active in cultural/creative industries) will be in a way or other linked and connected
to culture and cultural tourism as well. So as a driving force of the ever developing and
diversifying cultural tourism culture is taken to encompass traditional cultural and artistic
activities (performing arts, visual arts, cultural heritage and literature) as well as cultural industries
(printed works, multimedia, the press, cinema, audiovisual and phonographic productions, craft,
design and cultural tourism). (The Impact Of Culture On Creativity, 2009, p. 21.)
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 225
If we take into consideration and observe the impact and importance of cultural tourism on
the global tourism market we have to strongly emphasize that according to the recent
research data published by the OECD in 2009 entitled The Impact of Culture on Tourism it
seems that worldwide almost 360 million international tourism trips were generated by
cultural tourism in 2007, accounting to around 40% of all global tourism (OECD, 2009).
Furthermore if we take into consideration that these numbers were only directly affecting
the tourism industry we have to stress that the indirect contribution of cultural tourism is
naturally even higher due to its multiplicator effects. The mentioned study also stresses that
the amount of money spent by a cultural tourist is estimated to be as one third more on
average than other tourists (Richards, 2009).
In this ever changing system of the tourism industry the role of cultural tourism is rapidly
and constantly growing in the latter decades but we also have to highlight that the positions
of the classic mass tourism often characterised by the 4S (sun, send, sea and sex) will be the
most dominant form of tourism for a very long period of time (Figure 9).
The cultural tourism products will only be able to survive and attract more and more
tourists of course taking into consideration the basic principles of sustainable tourism
by applying an up-to-date and competitive cultural tourism product development
approach which, according to a recent cultural and heritage tourism product research
paper created in Ontario in 2009, is mainly based on quality, distinctiveness, economic
benefit and creativity (Figure 10.).
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226 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
Source: Ontario Cultural and Heritage Tourism Product Research Paper, 2009.
Fig. 10. A 21st Century Framework for Evaluating Cultural Tourism Products
In accordance with the Ontario Cultural and Heritage Tourism Product Research Paper
(2009) we believe that there are 5 key trends that will effectively and remarkably
characterise the trends of cultural tourism in the near future. These five elements are the
new and emerging markets of the ever changing global tourism industry, the appearance
and strengthening of the so called creative economy, agency and participation which is very
much connected to the characteristics of the Y generation and finally competition of
excellence which will be a determining driving tool for cultural tourism product
development. (Ontario Cultural and Heritage Tourism Product Research Paper, 2009)
When analysing cultural tourism product development we also have to be aware of the
potential stakeholders which are forming the cultural tourism product. Understanding
this process we should analyze Figure 11 which is demonstrating the major stakeholders
in the formation of the cultural tourism product. This very complex system clearly shows
that cultural tourism and its tourism product is dependent on many aspects from the
individuals (either travellers or entrepreneurs), to local governments, NGOs and state
organisations etc.
Finally when we try to analyse the cultural tourism product we have to analyse this issue
from the statistical perspective as well. First of all we would like to stress that statistical data
collection is very often country or location specific or even researcher specific. In this
chapter we would like to introduce and present the statistical data collection method of the
United Nations World Tourism Organisation which of course we consider to be the basic
approach to this question.
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 227
Source: http://www.culturalrealms.com/2009/07/stakeholders-role-in-tourism-and-the-
effect-of-travel-industry-on-them.html
Fig. 11. Major stakeholders in the formation of cultural tourism product
Products Activities
1. Accommodation services for visitors 1. Accommodation for visitors
2. Food and beverage serving services 2. Food and beverage serving activities
3. Railway passenger transport services 3. Railway passenger transport
4. Road passenger transport services 4. Road passenger transport
5. Water passenger transport services 5. Water passenger transport
6. Air passenger transport services 6. Air passenger transport
7. Transport equipment rental services 7. Transport equipment rental
8. Travel agencies and other reservation 8. Travel agencies and other reservation
services services activities
9. Cultural services 9. Cultural activities
10. Sports and recreational services 10. Sports and recreational activities
11. Country-specific tourism characteristic 11. Retail trade of country-specific tourism
goods characteristic goods
12. Country-specific tourism characteristic 12. Other country-specific tourism
services characteristic activities
Source: International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 p. 42.
Table 9. List of categories of tourism characteristic consumption products and tourism
characteristic activities (tourism industries)
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228 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
The publication of the International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 from the
point of view of tourism statistical data collection provides a list of categories of tourism
characteristic consumption products and tourism characteristic activities (tourism
industries).
As we can see the 9th point of this elementary categorisation of tourism products and
services deals with cultural tourism product and its services. In order to better understand
this section of the tourism industry the mentioned research paper provides the more
accurate and characteristic tourism statistical data background for cultural tourism in Annex
4 in the following:
9. Cultural services
96220 Performing arts event production and presentation services
96310 Services of performing artists
96411 Museum services except for historical sites and buildings
96412 Preservation services of historical sites and buildings
96421 Botanical and zoological garden services
96422 Nature reserve services including wildlife preservation services
Source: International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 p. 122.
Table 10. List of tourism characteristic products and grouping by main categories according
to CPC (Central Product Classification) Version 2
4. Conclusion
Summarizing this chapter we have to state that the cultural tourism product and cultural
tourism itself is a very complex segment of the tourism industry, both its demand and
supply is diverse and versatile. Its future positions will most probably be strengthened
directly and indirectly as well since with the change of the recreational needs of tourists
and visitors the demand for cultural travels will rapidly grow as well (additionally when
we consider the new appearing sending markets). Of course classic mass tourism will
never considerably loose its market positions but the new tourists will have a more and
more diversified need to get to know the different cultures and customs of the remote
places.
On the other hand we also have to take into consideration that the rapid growth and
development of cultural tourism caused various aspects of new problems in the industry.
When analysing these recent trends we also have to stress that not only the needs of local
communities has changed but also the motivations of the cultural tourists. According to this
perception one of the most important international researches on this area the ATLAS
research has indicated that the experiences enjoyed most by cultural tourists tend to be those small-
scale, less visited places that offer a taste of 'local' or 'authentic' culture. Tourists increasingly say
that they want to experience local culture, to live like locals and to find out about the real identity of
the places they visit. (Richards, 2009)
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The Role and Importance of Cultural Tourism in Modern Tourism Industry 229
In the analysis of a tourism product we have to be aware not only the positive effects but the
negative aspects of tourism development as well. The ever growing and rapidly increasing
cultural tourism in the recent years has raised the question whether it really serves the needs
of sustainable tourism especially in small communities. Cultural tourism started as a form of
alternative tourism and nowadays it can be considered in certain tourism destinations as
a dominant part of mass tourism.
Local communities have to face with the degradation of their original culture so there are
a growing number of places in search of new forms of articulation between culture and
tourism which can help to strengthen rather than water down local culture, which can raise
the value accruing to local communities and improve the links between local creativity and
tourism. (Richards, 2009) According to this new trend, it seems that one of the most
important trend and development of cultural tourism in the recent years lead us to the
establishment of creative tourism which serves the needs of a more sustainable cultural
tourism in todays tourism industry. So based on the vulnerability of the destinations we
strongly have to stress that only conscious tourism planning methods and practice will be
able to take into consideration the principles of sustainability and carrying capacity in the
given (cultural) tourism region.
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232 Strategies for Tourism Industry Micro and Macro Perspectives
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Strategies for Tourism Industry - Micro and Macro Perspectives
Edited by Dr. Murat Kasimoglu
ISBN 978-953-51-0566-4
Hard cover, 392 pages
Publisher InTech
Published online 20, April, 2012
Published in print edition April, 2012
Today, it is considered good business practice for tourism industries to support their micro and macro
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companies existing without their environment. If companies do not involve themselves in such undertakings,
they are in danger of isolating themselves from the shareholder. That, in turn, creates a problem for mobilizing
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