Special Interest Tourism » Cultural Tourism

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The definition and key components of cultural tourism
Different types of cultural attractions and experiences
Benefits and challenges of cultural tourism
Case studies of successful cultural tourism destinations
Sustainability issues in cultural tourism
How cultural tourism impacts local communities

Introduction to Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors within the global tourism industry. It involves travellers exploring the culture, heritage, arts and identity of a destination and its people. Unlike mass tourism that might focus on beaches or theme parks, cultural tourism offers deeper, more meaningful experiences that connect visitors with local traditions and ways of life.

Key Definitions:

Cultural Tourism: Travel directed toward experiencing the arts, heritage and special character of a place, including its festivals, historic sites, monuments and cultural performances.
Tangible Heritage: Physical artefacts produced, maintained and passed down through generations (buildings, monuments, artwork).
Intangible Heritage: Traditions, performing arts, social practices, knowledge and skills that communities pass down from generation to generation.
Cultural Landscape: Geographic areas that represent the combined works of nature and humankind.

♥ Why People Choose Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourists are often motivated by a desire to learn, experience authenticity and gain personal enrichment. They typically spend more money and stay longer at destinations than other types of tourists. Many seek to 'collect' cultural experiences and develop a deeper understanding of the world.

☆ Profile of a Cultural Tourist

Cultural tourists tend to be well-educated, affluent and older than the average tourist. They often research destinations thoroughly before visiting, seek authentic experiences rather than staged ones and are interested in engaging with local communities rather than simply observing them.

Types of Cultural Attractions

Cultural tourism encompasses a wide variety of attractions and experiences that showcase a destination's unique cultural identity.

⊕ Heritage Sites

Historic buildings, archaeological sites, monuments and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Examples include Stonehenge, the Tower of London and Edinburgh Castle.

⊕ Museums & Galleries

Art galleries, historical museums, science centres and specialist collections. The British Museum, Tate Modern and National Gallery are prime examples in the UK.

⊕ Living Culture

Festivals, performances, crafts demonstrations, food experiences and traditional ceremonies that showcase contemporary cultural practices.

Cultural Tourism Experiences

Beyond visiting specific sites, cultural tourism involves participating in a range of experiences that connect visitors with local culture:

Culinary Tourism: Food tours, cooking classes, vineyard visits and dining experiences that showcase local cuisine and food traditions.
Creative Tourism: Hands-on workshops where tourists learn traditional crafts, arts, or skills from local artisans.
Religious Tourism: Visits to sacred sites, pilgrimages and participation in religious festivals or ceremonies.
Indigenous Tourism: Experiences designed and delivered by indigenous communities that share their traditions, knowledge and way of life.
Film Tourism: Visiting locations featured in popular films or TV shows (e.g., Harry Potter filming locations across the UK).

Case Study Focus: Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world's largest arts festival, held every August in Scotland's capital. Founded in 1947, it attracts over 3 million visitors annually and features thousands of performances across hundreds of venues. The festival generates over £200 million for the local economy and supports thousands of jobs.

The Fringe exemplifies cultural tourism by:

Showcasing both traditional Scottish culture and international performances
Transforming the entire city into a cultural venue
Creating economic benefits through extended tourist stays
Balancing growth with sustainability concerns
Managing challenges like overcrowding and rising accommodation costs

Benefits of Cultural Tourism

When managed well, cultural tourism can provide significant advantages to destinations:

+ Economic Benefits

Cultural tourists typically spend 60% more than other tourists. They create jobs, support local businesses and provide income for cultural institutions. Cultural tourism can revitalise areas suffering from industrial decline by repurposing historic buildings and creating new attractions.

+ Cultural Benefits

Tourism can help preserve traditions, crafts and heritage that might otherwise be lost. It creates incentives to maintain historic buildings and supports museums and cultural institutions. Cultural tourism can also foster pride in local identity and traditions.

Challenges and Issues in Cultural Tourism

Despite its benefits, cultural tourism presents several challenges that must be managed carefully:

Overtourism: Popular sites like Stonehenge or Bath can become overcrowded, diminishing both the visitor experience and quality of life for residents.
Authenticity concerns: The commercialisation of culture can lead to 'staged authenticity' where traditions are modified to meet tourist expectations.
Cultural appropriation: When elements of a culture are adopted by visitors without proper understanding or respect.
Uneven distribution of benefits: Tourism income doesn't always reach local communities or support cultural preservation.
Physical impacts: Damage to heritage sites from visitor footfall, touching of artefacts, or pollution.

Case Study Focus: Bath, UK

The city of Bath in Somerset is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its Roman baths, Georgian architecture and connections to Jane Austen. It attracts over 6 million visitors annually.

Bath demonstrates both the opportunities and challenges of cultural tourism:

The Roman Baths receive over 1.3 million visitors per year, generating significant revenue
Tourism supports approximately 9,000 jobs and contributes £470 million to the local economy
The city faces challenges with traffic congestion and overcrowding in the historic centre
Rising property prices due to tourism have made housing unaffordable for many locals
Bath has implemented visitor management strategies including timed entry tickets, promoting off-season visits and developing attractions in less-visited areas of the city

Sustainable Cultural Tourism

Sustainable cultural tourism aims to balance the needs of visitors, the environment, local communities and cultural preservation. Key principles include:

Community involvement: Local people should participate in planning and benefit from tourism
Authentic experiences: Offering genuine cultural exchanges rather than staged performances
Visitor management: Controlling numbers at sensitive sites through timed tickets, capacity limits, or alternative viewing options
Education: Helping visitors understand the significance of cultural sites and appropriate behaviour
Economic distribution: Ensuring tourism income supports cultural preservation and benefits local communities

✓ Good Practice Example

The Jurassic Coast in Dorset and Devon uses visitor centres, guided walks and educational materials to help tourists understand the geological and cultural significance of the area. Tourism is managed to protect fossil sites while still allowing visitors to learn about and experience this unique heritage.

✗ Poor Practice Example

Some traditional villages in popular tourist regions have become "living museums" where residents feel pressured to maintain outdated practices for tourist entertainment rather than for genuine cultural reasons. This can lead to resentment and cultural distortion.

Future Trends in Cultural Tourism

The cultural tourism sector continues to evolve in response to changing traveller preferences and technological developments:

Digital interpretation: Augmented reality and virtual reality allowing visitors to "see" historic sites as they once appeared
Experiential focus: Growing demand for participatory experiences rather than passive observation
Niche cultural interests: More specialised cultural tourism focusing on specific interests like industrial heritage, literary connections, or music history
Ethical considerations: Greater awareness of issues like cultural appropriation and the carbon footprint of tourism
Community-led initiatives: Local communities taking control of how their culture is presented to visitors

As cultural tourism continues to grow, finding the balance between providing meaningful visitor experiences and protecting cultural heritage will remain a key challenge for destinations worldwide.