Disadvantages Of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism is deemed as one of the most important forms in the tourism industry and UNWTO predicts that it will become one of its main forms of focus by 2020 (Niemczyk, 2013). The council of Europe has actively developed cultural tourism to support culture. The record of protected monuments in the European Union (EU) and that of buildings of historical interest in European Commission indicated that the development of cultural tourisms underscore the increasing critical position of culture and cultural attractions in modern society (Greg Richards, 2007). Urry (1990) pointed out that culture has discontinued to be the purpose of tourism in the 20th century; however, tourism is culture. Some attractions such as the Pyramids, Taj Mahal and

Culture can create uniqueness for tourism, establishing a niche in a crowded global marketplace; tourism brings crowds to create their profitable revenue needed for development of culture (Council for Cultural Affairs, 2011). The advantages of cultural tourism are various. It can bring local economic prosperity and generate job opportunities (Shin, 2010; Smith, 2004). Traditional jobs can be maintained or restored (MacDonald & Jolliffe, 2003). Cultural tourism can also help develop nature- and culture-friendly environments and promote high-quality services, such as medical services and police vigilance (Grunewald, 2002). On the other hand, it can improve the residents’ quality of life. In the case of Gwangju, Korea, cultural tourism contributed to urban development and brought benefits to the host communities and provided an incentive to care for and maintain their heritage and culture practices (Shin,

In early 1980s, cultural tourism was distinguished from recreational tourism (Lord, 1999). Silberberg (1995) provides a broad definition of cultural tourism as “visits by persons from outside the host community motivated wholly or in part by interest in the historical, artistic, scientific or lifestyle/heritage offerings of a community, region or institution”(p.361). Wisconsin Heritage Tourism Program provides the following definition “The practice of traveling to experience historic and cultural attractions to learn about a community’s heritage in an enjoyable and educational way”
Cultural tourism may be defined as tourism constructed, proffered and consumed explicitly or implicitly as cultural appreciation as experiences or schematic knowledge gaining (Prentice, 2001). Hence, cultural tourism can include cultural attractions, sport, living heritage, recent nostalgia and the everyday life of local communities (Howie, 2000). Asplet and Cooper (2000) mentioned that it can include local language, gastronomy, the technology of the past, clothing, leisure activities and educational