Cultural tourism promotes rapprochement between cultures, productive/economic development and exposure to attractions and heritage linked to history and art.
Cultural tourism is the name given to a thematic modality that many travelers choose when planning and enjoying a trip. It is a tourist alternative that focuses on the cultural heritage and artistic attractions of a specific city or region.
Just as there are people who prioritize sea and beach destinations when organizing a vacation and other people prefer either meeting tourism or so-called health tourism , there are many individuals of various ages who delight in touring museums , visiting art galleries . art or when appreciating historical monuments .
It should be noted that, like the rest of the travel specialties, cultural tourism is an outstanding source of job creation, it drives ventures or events that add added value to a specific area or a historic center and, in this framework, it is a key and necessary factor for the economic growth of towns and cities .
Characteristics of cultural tourism
Cultural tourism is characterized by providing leisure, recreation and learning plans linked to the rescue of traditions , the dissemination of the identity of a site and the appreciation of customs , traditional cuisine , historical architecture , rituals and ceremonies , among other issues.
Thanks to this type of tourist experiences, the discovery of different cultures is facilitated and a genuine desire arises to understand, respect and even admire countless cultural manifestations in which the essence of a people emerges. Of tourist interest are the carnivals , thematic routes , traditional villages and establishments or environments used as the setting for stories , songs or feature films , without losing sight of the fascination that castles and ancient ruins arouse in subjects of various ages and nationalities. , historic houses and UNESCO world heritage sites .
It is usual, on the other hand, that, whenever possible, accommodation is chosen in family homes to reduce costs and deepen the experience by having daily contact with local inhabitants, sharing their daily lives with them, beyond allocating time to walks through relevant areas.
Many cultural festivals bring together a large number of attendees due to the prestige they have garnered internationally, their picturesque spirit or the first-class programming they offer.
Importance
Cultural tourism is as important as each of the categories of the tourism industry .
Through it, it is possible to visualize and revitalize territories , generate work and an extremely beneficial economic impact is observed for the subsistence and evolution of each town, municipality, province and country.
It is ideal that, whatever the type of trip undertaken, both companies, visitors and locals guarantee the development of positive habits and good practices in terms of conservation and care of the environment . It is essential to insist, in this case, on environmental education and awareness campaigns in order to raise awareness in society so that there is an individual and collective commitment to the preservation of heritage or attractions and they can be consolidated, in the same way. , the principles of sustainability in cultural tourism .
Just as there is no doubt about the advantages that cultural tourism offers, there are certain disadvantages or not so favorable aspects linked to it. Specifically, they can range from phenomena of acculturation or deculturation to commercial use or inappropriate/exaggerated exploitation of native practices or wealth that end up overshadowing their true value or meaning.
Monuments, sculptures, museums, old bookstores and theaters, among others, are considered cultural tourist attractions.
Types of cultural tourism
Within the group of cultural tourism it is possible to differentiate several subgroups depending on the activities, excursions or proposals they encompass. It cannot be overlooked, however, that a wide variety of types of tourism are linked, thus having several coincidences.
A religious tourism program is selected, to indicate an option, when the intention is to come into contact with the local culture and the community of a certain territory with a creed as a starting point. In this context, there are spiritual routes available, access to sacred places , participation in pilgrimages and visits to, depending on the case, mosques , synagogues , churches or temples .
Literary tourism , meanwhile, aims to satisfy the cultural curiosity of those who find literary and poetic events pleasant. For your satisfaction, there are multiple literary tours in the world, book fairs , poetry recitals , story-telling days and itineraries that include visits to bookstores or old libraries .
Continuing along the path of art , it is worth highlighting that there are charming programs on a global scale designed to seduce travelers who prioritize attending classical music concerts , cultural festivals , theaters , jazz and blues clubs , etc. Traditional dance shows and exhibitions of painting and sculpture , as well as popular festivals enlivened with typical dances and folk music , are also highly recommended for this tourist profile.
Nor can we fail to mention that there are tourist packages that include themed accommodation , gastronomic tours and transfers to artisan markets , to list three possibilities.