What is tourism?

Tourism  is what people do when they visit a place outside their usual environment. By some accounts, tourism is the world’s biggest industry. According to The World Tourism Organization, it employs up to 10% of the world's workforce. But what e xactly is this phenomenon we call tourism? Simply put :   «T ourism is what people do when they visit a place outside their usual environment. »   I t is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon that is steadily getting more attention in international research communities. As a field of study, it is concerned with the following key questions: Who? (t ravels) W here? Why? When? H ow?   As with most topics of interest, there are many ways of defining tourism, however, and various definitions have been put forward to serve various purposes. But one thing everyone agrees to is that tourism has to do with travel - i.e. movement between relatively distant locations. But not all forms of travel are considered touris...
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6 types of cultural tourist attractions

If you are involved in tourism at or to a destination, you need to know what kind of tourist attractions your destination has to offer visitors. Tourist attractions are usually classified as either natural or cultural where cultural attractions may be defined as attractions whose basic resources are man-made. In this article, we will look at six categories of cultural attractions that will help you get a better understanding of the potential assets your destination has to draw visitors.




Cultural tourist attractions usually fall within one of these six categories:

 

1. Prehistorical

Prehistorical attractions refer to sites or museums that showcase the remains of human civilization before the development of writing systems. These attractions can include archaeological sites, cave paintings, and prehistoric monuments such as Stonehenge in the UK or the Altamira Cave in Spain. These attractions are of interest to tourists who want to learn about early human origins and experience the awe-inspiring presence of ancient artifacts.

 

2. Historical

Historical attractions are sites or museums that showcase significant events or periods in human history. Examples include historical buildings, battlefields, and monuments. Some popular historical attractions include the Acropolis in Athens, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Alhambra in Granada. Historical attractions can be of interest to tourists who want to learn about the past and how it has shaped modern society.

 

3. Contemporary Culture

Contemporary culture refers to the current cultural practices and expressions of a region. This can include music, art, theater, and dance. Examples of contemporary cultural attractions include Broadway shows in New York City, modern art museums such as the Tate Modern in London, or the Tokyo National Museum in Japan. Contemporary cultural attractions are of interest to tourists who want to experience the modern and dynamic culture of a region.

 

4. Economic

Economic attractions refer to sites or museums that showcase the economic activities of a region, such as factories or farms. Examples of economic attractions include wineries in Napa Valley, California, coffee plantations in Colombia, or chocolate factories in Belgium. These attractions are of interest to tourists who want to learn about the economic practices and products of a region and maybe sample some local produce.

 

5. Recreational

Recreational tourist attractions are purpose-built facilities that offer leisure activities for tourists. Examples include amusement parks like Disneyland in California, water parks like Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, or ski resorts such as Whistler Blackcomb in Canada. These attractions are of interest to tourists who want to have fun and experience excitement and adventure.

 

6. Retail

Retail attractions refer to shopping facilities such as malls, markets, or specialty stores. Examples include the Dubai Mall in Dubai, the GUM Department Store in Moscow, or the Harrods in London. These attractions are of interest to tourists who want to browse and shop for local products, souvenirs, or goods that are cheaper at the destination than at home. They may also be attractive because of their reputation for high quality or because of their size.



6 types of cultural tourist attractions

For many of these categories, the attractions may be either permanent or temporary. Some examples of temporary cultural tourist attractions are:

 

·        Historic reenactments

·        Festivals and parades

·        Concerts and shows

·        Plays and dance performances

·        Trade shows and exhibitions

·        Markets and fairs

 

A comprehensive understanding of the tourist attractions at a destination is essential for the tourism industry to create engaging experiences, remain competitive, adopt sustainable practices, ensure visitor safety, support the local economy, and deliver exceptional service to visitors. Knowing the six types of cultural attractions described here will put you in a better position to improve on the tourism products and the tourist information provided by you or your organization.

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