WHAT IS CULTURAL TOURISM ?
Both ‘culture’ and ‘tourism’ alone can be tricky to define. Put them together and there’s a whole other set of interpretations. The World Tourism Organisation defines cultural tourism as: ‘all aspects of tourism that can teach visitors about their past and inheritance, as well as their contemporary lifestyles.’ To compare, New York City defines cultural visitors as ‘tourists who participated in at least one cultural activity during their visit’ and this includes overseas visitors and day trippers travelling from 50 miles or more.
In this report, we define ‘cultural tourism’ as a broad engagement with London’s arts and entertainment offer, both free and paid. It includes: museums; galleries; theatres; music; dance; comedy; exhibitions; fashion; festivals; literature; film; history, heritage and London’s architecture and built environment. It also means visitors are actively taking part in culture and combining this with tourism (food and drink, hotels, shops... and the people they meet) in a way that’s authentic and means something to them.
What is cultural tourism? We also recognise the influence of heritage and culture on how ‘attractive’ a city is. For example, while visitors may only have time to do a few of these things during their stay, the knowledge that they could do so much more makes the collective cultural offer more attractive. And it encourages visitors to return again and again.
Cultural tourism is growing, quickly
Cultural tourism now accounts for 37 per cent of world travel and is growing fast – at a rate of 15 per cent year on year. 5 London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional agency, already actively promotes London’s cultural offer internationally. If harnessed in the right way, cultural tourism could offer huge long-term value to London and inspire and motivate more repeat travel across London. “Cultural tourism is not a quick fix, or business decision or really even a strategy. It’s about passionate interest and connection to culture. This is what drives our business and it’s why we do what we do. Most of our clientele are cultural tourists. Our whole brand is based upon this cultural exchange”.
In this report, we define ‘cultural tourism’ as a broad engagement with London’s arts and entertainment offer, both free and paid. It includes: museums; galleries; theatres; music; dance; comedy; exhibitions; fashion; festivals; literature; film; history, heritage and London’s architecture and built environment. It also means visitors are actively taking part in culture and combining this with tourism (food and drink, hotels, shops... and the people they meet) in a way that’s authentic and means something to them.
What is cultural tourism? We also recognise the influence of heritage and culture on how ‘attractive’ a city is. For example, while visitors may only have time to do a few of these things during their stay, the knowledge that they could do so much more makes the collective cultural offer more attractive. And it encourages visitors to return again and again.
Cultural tourism is growing, quickly
Cultural tourism now accounts for 37 per cent of world travel and is growing fast – at a rate of 15 per cent year on year. 5 London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional agency, already actively promotes London’s cultural offer internationally. If harnessed in the right way, cultural tourism could offer huge long-term value to London and inspire and motivate more repeat travel across London. “Cultural tourism is not a quick fix, or business decision or really even a strategy. It’s about passionate interest and connection to culture. This is what drives our business and it’s why we do what we do. Most of our clientele are cultural tourists. Our whole brand is based upon this cultural exchange”.
WHAT IS CULTURAL TOURISM ?
Reviewed by TechRepublique
on
February 25, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by TechRepublique
on
February 25, 2017
Rating:
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