Urban Planning Case Study

1.0 Introduction

As cities and regions engage into a global competition for investments, jobs, well-paid and educated residents, tourists, and high-profile amenities, recent urban development policies put much emphasis using events (Brenner and Keil, 2006). Those events are seen to be orchestrated by the city authorities and politicians to promote specific agendas of economic growth, infrastructure projects and place branding. The competition between cities to become the host of events are on the increasing trend especially among the emerging nations. This paper aims to have an more in-depth understanding the role of events in urban governance and interurban competitions and the effects on policies and strategies that local and central government

With the vast media coverage and strong branding power, world-class events, perceived as an unparalleled source of recognition and prestige for host cities, allowing them to make their mark on the world stage and to advertise their best assets. Once selected, future host cities go to great lengths to manipulate urban reality. Cities invest in spectacular urban projects that will attest to their economic performance, organizational efficiency, and cultural sophistication, while aspects of urban reality that suggest backwardness or decline are left out or often hidden, because they may tarnish the city’s carefully constructed image. Berlin and New York City are both well known for their local arts and culture and the attractions they provide. Both cities are hosts to a variety of internationally renowned cultural festivals such as the Tribeca Film Festival or the Berlinale, the Armory Show or the Berlin Biennale. In both cities, spectacular urban events were driven by an image imperative, pursued as a way to improve their country’s position on the global geographical stage, to further their integration into the league of ‘Advanced” nations, and to strengthen their stature as rising economic powers (Jakob D

This function has intensified in the last twenty years as cities compete to be recognised globally for inward investment, tourism and people. Cities have to find ways to position themselves in global markets by formulating strategies and policies that aim at enhancing their economic competitiveness as well as conveying positive messages about the liveability of a place. Such strategies, also known as location policies are identifying, developing and exploiting its place-specific assets that are considered most competitive. For the case of Cardiff Festival, Cardiff Council can be seen to be seeking to engage its destination image by leverage on cultural events to position itself over other cities in order to compete for tourists, investment and