Cultural tourism fosters the rapprochement between cultures, productive/economic development and access 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 certain 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 different ages who delight in touring museums , visiting art galleries or appreciating historical monuments .
It should be noted that, like the rest of the travel specialties, cultural tourism is an important source of job creation, it drives ventures or events that add 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 plans for leisure, recreation and learning linked to the rescue of traditions , the dissemination of identity signs of a site and the appreciation of customs , traditional cuisine , historical architecture , rituals and ceremonies , among other issues.
Thanks to this kind of tourist experience, the discovery of different cultures is facilitated and a genuine desire to understand, respect and even admire countless cultural manifestations in which the essence of a people emerges arises. Of tourist interest are carnivals , theme routes , traditional villages and establishments or environments used as settings for stories , songs or feature films , without losing sight of the fascination that castles , ancient ruins , historic houses and UNESCO World Heritage sites arouse in people of different ages and nationalities.
It is also common, whenever possible, to choose accommodation in family homes to reduce costs and deepen the experience by having daily contact with local inhabitants, sharing their daily life with them, beyond spending time on walks through relevant areas.
Many cultural festivals attract a large number of visitors due to their international prestige, their picturesque spirit or the top-level 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 observe an extremely beneficial economic impact 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 ensure the development of positive habits and good practices regarding conservation and care of the environment . To do so, 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, in the same way, the principles of sustainability in cultural tourism can be consolidated.
While there is no doubt about the advantages of cultural tourism , there are certain disadvantages or less favourable aspects associated with it. Specifically, these can range from phenomena of acculturation or deculturation to inappropriate/exaggerated commercial use or exploitation of indigenous practices or riches that end up obscuring 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 scope of cultural tourism, it is possible to distinguish several subgroups based 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 programme is selected, to indicate an option, when the intention is to come into contact with the local culture and community of a certain territory, taking a creed as a starting point. In this context, tours along spiritual routes , access to sacred sites , participation in pilgrimages and visits to, depending on the case, mosques , synagogues , churches or temples are available.
Literary tourism , on the other hand, aims to satisfy the cultural curiosity of those who find literary and poetic events pleasurable. To satisfy their needs, there are many literary tours , book fairs , poetry recitals , storytelling sessions and itineraries around the world that include visits to old bookstores or libraries .
Continuing along the path of art , it is worth highlighting that there are charming programmes on a global scale designed to attract travellers who prioritise attending classical music concerts , cultural festivals , theatres , jazz and blues clubs , etc. Also highly recommended for this type of tourist are traditional dance shows and painting and sculpture exhibitions, as well as popular festivals enlivened by typical dances and folk music .
It is also worth mentioning that there are tourist packages that include themed accommodation , gastronomic tours and transfers to craft markets , to name three possibilities.