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• Travel and Tourism /

Career in Cultural Tourism

• Updated on  
• Feb 7, 2023

Travelling to a new city or a country, you are not only interested in visiting its popular attractions but also in exploring its unique culture through food, historical marvels and traditional attires. Cultural Tourism essentially focuses on this aspect of tourism where sightseers get to experience the culture and heritage of a specific place. Nowadays travellers are thinking far beyond the picturesque landscape as they are more interested in exploring the cultural history of the city or town they are visiting. Embracing the cultural aura of any tourist destination is certainly a vividly exciting experience that has led to the study of this specialised field. So, if you are planning to establish your career in Travel and Tourism , this blog attempts to explore the essential facets of Cultural Tourism, major courses, top universities as well as the career prospects available. 

This Blog Includes:

What is cultural tourism, why should countries focus on cultural tourism, popular countries for cultural tourism, courses & universities, eligibility criteria, career profiles.

Breaking away from the same-old ways of touring a place, it is a specialised form of Tourism that allows travellers to embrace the local cultural aspects of the place they are visiting. These aspects can range from cuisines and festivities to historical sites and museums. It aims to facilitate an authentic cultural exchange between the locals as well as the tourists. Further, it helps local communities promote their history as well as boost economic growth. Studying this field, you will get to know about how varied cultural attributes of a place can be emphasised to curate an enjoyable experience for tourists. You will also be imparted with the knowledge of ensuring interactions between local communities and tourists to ensure that the explorers get a vibrant experience of the culture they want to discover.

Cultural tourism is a great option to benefit the local community:

• It has a positive impact on the economy of any destination
• It can help underserved communities to flourish
• The amount can be used for the social good
• It helps preserve local culture
• Cultural tourism improves the marketing of the destinations
• It emphasizes the uniqueness of the culture

Countries around the world focus on cultural tourism and help drive local economies. Let’s check out some of the most popular countries that drive economic growth through cultural tourism:

• France is known for its best cultural tourism with Paris as the hub
• China highly focuses on its culture
• Istanbul at Turkey is at the forefront
• India is extremely famous for its culture

Similar to Sustainable Tourism , it is a specialised field of study and those wanting to study this branch can either opt for a certificate program or pursue a master’s degree in this subfield. Further, you can begin with an undergraduate degree in International Tourism and then opt for an MA or MSc. Here is a table that enlists the major certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered and their related fields of study.

The following are the eligibility criteria of pursuing cultural tourism:

• To pursue bachelor’s in cultural tourism, you should complete your 10+2 level of education from a recognised board with minimum aggregate of 50% – 60%
• To pursue master’s in cultural tourism, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• You may be asked to submit your English language proficiency test score like IELTS, TOEFL

Scope of Cultural Tourism

With a colossal number of jobs in Travel and Tourism , there is an array of opportunities available for those wanting to pursue the field. The travel and tourism industry is booming with prospects with the pivotal impact of technology which has made it accessible for tourists to plan their own itineraries through online apps. Countries are also understanding the role of tourism in nurturing economic and cultural development. Thus, a great emphasis is put on promoting diverse cultures and communities. As cultural tourism essentially aims to highlight the heritage of a tourism destination, to establish your career in this field, you need to acquire the specific skills of facilitating high-level engagement between tourists and local communities of a place.

Completing a degree or diploma in Cultural Tourism, one can choose from an array of career prospects accessible in the public as well as the private sectors. Below we have enlisted the career profiles and job areas that you can explore in this field.

Other than the above-mentioned career profiles, here is a list of key job areas where you can discover a plethora of opportunities.

• Government Ministries (Tourism & Culture)
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Travel Agencies
• Heritage Museums
• Community Outreach Management
• Museum Administration
• Hotels & Resorts

Here is a list of major job profiles that you can apply for in order to pursue a career in this field:

It is a specialised form of Tourism that allows travellers to embrace the local cultural aspects of the place they are visiting. These aspects can range from cuisines and festivities to historical sites and museums. It aims to facilitate an authentic cultural exchange between the locals as well as the tourists.

The following are the top countries for cultural tourism: France is known for its best cultural tourism with Paris as the hub China highly focuses on its culture Istanbul at Turkey is at the forefront India is extremely famous for its culture

The following are the popular areas of employment in cultural tourism: Government Ministries (Tourism & Culture) UNESCO World Heritage Travel Agencies Heritage Museums Community Outreach Management Museum Administration Hotels & Resorts Airlines

Thus, culture has always been an incremental driver of tourism. It aims to encourage a healthier exchange between local cultures and tourists. Needless to say, gaining an academic degree in this field can help you immerse in the varied opportunities available. Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu and let us help you find a suitable program and university that equip you with the necessary knowledge and exposure to establish a rewarding career in Travel and Tourism.

Team Leverage Edu

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Cultural Heritage Careers: Entry and Development

The Cultural Heritage sector faces significant challenges regarding the training of its workforce.

Research conducted by Creative & Cultural Skills has highlighted limited entry routes, skills gaps, and a lack of opportunities for skills development as key issues to address.

Volunteering

The majority of people pursuing a career in Cultural Heritage are highly qualified; competition for jobs is fierce, and employers look for practical experience as well as academic attributes in their potential employees.

For the vast majority of aspiring employees, meeting these demands requires volunteering.

Volunteers play a vital part in the sector; many Cultural Heritage organisations simply could not function without the resource of individuals willing to work for little or no pay.

For both aspiring employees and employers, it’s important to know what makes a good voluntary placement – what it can and cannot provide. Placements are most valuable when they offer the chance to learn something new, be it skills, experiences, or networking opportunities.

Be aware that a ‘voluntary’ position is exactly that. Giving up time to gain experience and work in an area that you love can be rewarding. But if an organisation is requiring enough to satisfy the legal definition of a ‘worker’, then volunteers are entitled to be paid.

Apprenticeships

Employers look for volunteering experience as evidence of a candidate’s commitment to a career in Heritage Craft. But the problem with this is clear: many people simply cannot afford to work for free.

The dependency upon volunteers, and the limited access routes that this entails, effectively shuts out many individuals, and the sector suffers from a lack of diversity as a result.

Creative & Cultural Skills believes that apprenticeships are the way forward. Recognised training schemes such as their Creative Apprenticeships go some way to opening up access and increasing diversity.

In addition, apprenticeships allow the industry to have a leading voice in the education of its workforce. For the cultural industries, it is not a case of needing to re-skill or up-skill, but rather about ensuring that individuals emerge from the education system with appropriate skills, ensuring that supply meets the demands of the sector.

Pauline Tambling, Joint CEO, Creative & Cultural Skills, says:

“Apprenticeships allow the employers to have a direct impact on the training and knowledge of future employees, addressing skills gaps and needs highlighted to us by those working in the industry. We’ve had an incredibly positive response from our industry partners, who constantly tell us how much they value their apprentices.”

Professional Development

For the cultural sector to thrive, more must be done to bridge the gap between the education system and industry. Alongside that, more must be done to ensure easily accessible training for those already in the workplace.

Creative & Cultural Skills have outlined how a lack of investment in development opportunities is holding the industry back from reaching its economic potential, as well as restricting its workforce’s ability to nurture and develop skills.

The long term problem with this is that, whilst there is little difficulty recruiting entry-level posts, there are problems recruiting to jobs at middle-management level.

The key to resolving these skills issues is ensuring that the right set of vocational qualifications, apprenticeships and CPD opportunities are in place.

Professional development schemes like the Associateship and Fellowship of the Museums Association and the Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers (PACR) scheme for the Institute of Conservation provide a good framework for people to plan for their own development.

The Museums Association, in partnership with Creative & Cultural Skills, has recently developed a new searchable database of all CPD courses and events in the UK.

This work is part of Creative & Cultural Skills’ wider response to the issues surrounding employment and training culture, as highlighted by their research. This also includes the formation of a new Skills Academy network for Cultural Heritage.

National Skills Academy

The Skills Academy is a network of committed partners from across the sector and education who work together to improve the provision of skills and training. Skills Academy members to-date have created new apprenticeship opportunities for young people, hosted careers events and created sector-specific resources, and are initiating new approaches to CPD and training to get employers the skills they need.

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Cultural Heritage Tourism and Identity

Introduction:

Cultural Heritages are the bridges that connect the past, present, and future of the community’s identity. The driving force of the tourism industry is the tangible and intangible aspects of the region’s cultural history. Added strength of Architecture, tradition, and folk, the authenticity of the location attracts tourists around. Let us dive into each segment and examples for preservation and local identities. 

Distinct Recognition:

People visit a place to have a unique experience that cannot be found elsewhere apart from that place, which gives no competition with other destinations or cultural occurrences. The distinctive episode of traveling to the heritage provides a history of the local region and spreads a positive vibe for repeating tourism to experience the same. 

The beauty of the place is for the people and community to celebrate their culture and tradition of tourism market or not. 

Preservations and Economical Value:

Preservation of Heritages, artifacts, and tradition shows the deep root of history in the region, drawing financial reprisal and preserving it for future generations. The economic tools gained from food, accommodations, commuting, and souvenirs through tourists create local jobs. All of these elements play a role in the regional experience, for the tourists add to the economy of the place. Preserving heritage has become an important reason for tourism as the growing uniformity of hotels, restaurants, street types of furniture, etc. To safeguard the identity through heritage and culture. Tourism is recognized for its outcomes on jobs, tax revenues, and even the quality of life. 

Community Vitality:

The boarding agreement has proven cultural and human capital generate economic vitality through art, craft, and cultural attractions. The events based on these aspects can renew the culture and redevelop the community. They create vibrant public spaces improving the quality of life and implementing natural amenities with the heritage centerpiece to provide an improved experience of the local region for the tourists and the people living there. Cultural and heritage tourists stay longer than other travelers leading to spending more money during their journey and adding economic growth. 

The Psychological Experience:

Each individual has a connection differently with the heritage, be it a person visiting first time or nth time during the time period. The level of participatory behaviors in tourism activities depends on the mental connectivity to the structure and surrounding. Architecture and culture have always had an intangible link in humans to create a world of mindful experiences. The positive impact on an individual will surely leave a mark of oneself with the place and would wish to revisit sometime later.

Cultural & Heritage Development:

• Enable renovation and development of historical buildings, museums, monuments, and archeological elements for knowledge, education, and preservation of proud history.
• Organize special events for the cultural aspect of ethnic dance, music, and art festivals at a particular period to increase in tourism crowd. 
• To determine the significance and uniqueness by involving physical clustering activities. 
• To emphasize a better quality of the experience through architectural heritage. 
• Providing a congenial level of public transport within and around the region will support the tourists for smooth travel. 

Heritage and its Tourism:

There are 1157 UNESCO preserved heritage sites, this explains the prime reason to carry our culture in the form of architecture and art into the future and evolve to the best. 

Few such inspired monuments under UNESCO:

Taj Mahal, India

The first monument that strikes our minds when we hear heritage it would be the Taj Mahal, known for spellbound architecture attracting tourists from all over the world to date. It speaks of the gravity between tourism and heritage, expressing the identity of the Nation and making it universal admiration. 

Abu Simbel, Egypt

Not choosing between the dead and the life. The monument was carved out of the rocky hill, the temple known for its sunlight penetrating 70 meters inside through a narrow entrance illuminating the inner sanctuary.  

Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor is the world’s largest religious monument. The entry to the temple with five lotus-shaped towers in a symmetrical approach leaves the tourists with an awe-struck expression. The heritage went under UNESCO for nation-building and nation-reconciliation after the country’s conflict.

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, China

The monument is the tomb of emperor Qinshihuang, surrounded by thousands of life-size soldiers, horses of terracotta, bronze chariots, and weapons. The tomb of the first emperor unified the entire country and it is the largest in Chinese history itself. 

Conclusion:

Preserving our cultural heritage is very important in our date-to-date life, directly and indirectly. Artists, creators, and innovators take inspiration from the past to build the future in a different version; this reaches people in all aspects. 

UNESCO plays a significant role in securing most of the heritage around the globe. In the past decade, humanity has got a better understanding of how culture strengthens the lifestyle and future of the locality. By enriching and celebrating the cultural heritages, we can enhance the deep roots of identity and learn from one another through the way of traveling and experiencing new lifestyles. 

Cultural Heritage: 7 successes of UNESCO’s Preservation Work . UNESCO.org, Available at: https://www.unesco.org/en/cultural-heritage-7-successes-unescos-preservation-work  

[Accessed: 11th August 2023].

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Available at: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/441   

[Accessed: 12th August  2023].

(2022). How do aesthetics and tourist involvement influence cultural identity in heritage tourism? The mediating role of mental experience . Frontiers , Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.990030/full   

She is a person with an exponential interest in creating human thoughts into words and design. She also believes in a journey of new experiences and learning by traveling with time. Her way of balancing life explains the way she lives.

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Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Each year, millions of travelers visit America’s historic places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”  A high percentage of domestic and international travelers participate in cultural and/or heritage activities while traveling, and those that do stay longer, spend more, and travel more often. Heritage tourism creates jobs and business opportunities, helps protect resources, and often improves the quality of life for local residents.

The ACHP has encouraged national travel and tourism policies that promote the international marketing of America’s historic sites as tourism destinations. The ACHP also engages in ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive preservation program, reaching out to diverse communities and groups and engaging them in dialogue about what parts of our national legacy should be more fully recognized, preserved, and shared. 

The ACHP developed Preserve America , a national initiative to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of America’s cultural and natural heritage. In partnership with other federal agencies, the initiative has encouraged the use of historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, as well as enabling people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through heritage tourism and education programs. These goals have been advanced by an Executive Order directing federal agencies to support such efforts, a community designation program, and a recognition program for outstanding stewardship of historic resources by volunteers.

From 2004-2016, over 900 Preserve America Communities   were designated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories, as well as nearly 60 Preserve America Stewards . Many Preserve America Communities are featured in “Discover Our Shared Heritage” National Register on-line travel itineraries . From 2006 through 2010, the National Park Service (in partnership with the ACHP) awarded more than $21 million in Preserve America Grants   to support sustainable historic resource management strategies, with a focus on heritage tourism. 

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; if they are not ACHP links, they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the ACHP of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The ACHP bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Please contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content, including its privacy policies.

Related resources.

UN Tourism | Bringing the world closer

Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility

• Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
• Accessible Tourism

Tourism and Culture

• Women’s Empowerment and Tourism

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The convergence between tourism and culture, and the increasing interest of visitors in cultural experiences, bring unique opportunities but also complex challenges for the tourism sector.

“Tourism policies and activities should be conducted with respect for the artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage, which they should protect and pass on to future generations; particular care should be devoted to preserving monuments, worship sites, archaeological and historic sites as well as upgrading museums which must be widely open and accessible to tourism visits”

UN Tourism Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics

Article 7, paragraph 2

This webpage provides UN Tourism resources aimed at strengthening the dialogue between tourism and culture and an informed decision-making in the sphere of cultural tourism. It also promotes the exchange of good practices showcasing inclusive management systems and innovative cultural tourism experiences .  

About Cultural Tourism

According to the definition adopted by the UN Tourism General Assembly, at its 22nd session (2017), Cultural Tourism implies “A type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination. These attractions/products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions”. UN Tourism provides support to its members in strengthening cultural tourism policy frameworks, strategies and product development . It also provides guidelines for the tourism sector in adopting policies and governance models that benefit all stakeholders, while promoting and preserving cultural elements.

Recommendations for Cultural Tourism Key Players on Accessibility 

UN Tourism , Fundación ONCE and UNE issued in September 2023, a set of guidelines targeting key players of the cultural tourism ecosystem, who wish to make their offerings more accessible.

The key partners in the drafting and expert review process were the ICOMOS International Cultural Tourism Committee and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) . The ICOMOS experts’ input was key in covering crucial action areas where accessibility needs to be put in the spotlight, in order to make cultural experiences more inclusive for all people.

This guidance tool is also framed within the promotion of the ISO Standard ISO 21902 , in whose development UN Tourism had one of the leading roles.

Download here the English and Spanish version of the Recommendations.

Compendium of Good Practices in Indigenous Tourism

The report is primarily meant to showcase good practices championed by indigenous leaders and associations from the Region. However, it also includes a conceptual introduction to different aspects of planning, management and promotion of a responsible and sustainable indigenous tourism development.

The compendium also sets forward a series of recommendations targeting public administrations, as well as a list of tips promoting a responsible conduct of tourists who decide to visit indigenous communities.

For downloads, please visit the UN Tourism E-library page: Download in English - Download in Spanish .

Weaving the Recovery - Indigenous Women in Tourism

This initiative, which gathers UN Tourism , t he World Indigenous Tourism Alliance (WINTA) , Centro de las Artes Indígenas (CAI) and the NGO IMPACTO , was selected as one of the ten most promising projects amoung 850+ initiatives to address the most pressing global challenges. The project will test different methodologies in pilot communities, starting with Mexico , to enable indigenous women access markets and demonstrate their leadership in the post-COVID recovery.

This empowerment model , based on promoting a responsible tourism development, cultural transmission and fair-trade principles, will represent a novel community approach with a high global replication potential.

Visit the Weaving the Recovery - Indigenous Women in Tourism project webpage.

Inclusive Recovery of Cultural Tourism

The release of the guidelines comes within the context of the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021 , a UN initiative designed to recognize how culture and creativity, including cultural tourism, can contribute to advancing the SDGs.  

UN Tourism Inclusive Recovery Guide, Issue 4: Indigenous Communities

Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism

The Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism provide guidance to tourism stakeholders to develop their operations in a responsible and sustainable manner within those indigenous communities that wish to:

• Open up to tourism development, or
• Improve the management of the existing tourism experiences within their communities.

They were prepared by the UN Tourism Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department in close consultation with indigenous tourism associations, indigenous entrepreneurs and advocates. The Recommendations were endorsed by the World Committee on Tourism Ethics and finally adopted by the UN Tourism General Assembly in 2019, as a landmark document of the Organization in this sphere.

Who are these Recommendations targeting?

• Tour operators and travel agencies
• Tour guides
• Indigenous communities
• Other stakeholders such as governments, policy makers and destinations

The Recommendations address some of the key questions regarding indigenous tourism:

Download PDF:

• Recommendations on Sustainable Development of Indigenous Tourism
• Recomendaciones sobre el desarrollo sostenible del turismo indígena, ESP

UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conferences on Tourism and Culture

The UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conferences on Tourism and Culture bring together Ministers of Tourism and Ministers of Culture with the objective to identify key opportunities and challenges for a stronger cooperation between these highly interlinked fields. Gathering tourism and culture stakeholders from all world regions the conferences which have been hosted by Cambodia, Oman, Türkiye and Japan have addressed a wide range of topics, including governance models, the promotion, protection and safeguarding of culture, innovation, the role of creative industries and urban regeneration as a vehicle for sustainable development in destinations worldwide.

Fourth UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Investing in future generations. Kyoto, Japan. 12-13 December 2019 Kyoto Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Investing in future generations ( English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian and Japanese )

Third UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture : For the Benefit of All. Istanbul, Türkiye. 3 -5 December 2018 Istanbul Declaration on Tourism and Culture: For the Benefit of All ( English , French , Spanish , Arabic , Russian )

Second UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference’s on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development. Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. 11-12 December 2017 Muscat Declaration on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development ( English , French , Spanish , Arabic , Russian )

First UN Tourism/UNESCO World Conference’s on Tourism and Culture: Building a new partnership. Siem Reap, Cambodia. 4-6 February 2015 Siem Reap Declaration on Tourism and Culture – Building a New Partnership Model ( English )

UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage  

The first UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage provides comprehensive baseline research on the interlinkages between tourism and the expressions and skills that make up humanity’s intangible cultural heritage (ICH). 

Through a compendium of case studies drawn from across five continents, the report offers in-depth information on, and analysis of, government-led actions, public-private partnerships and community initiatives.

These practical examples feature tourism development projects related to six pivotal areas of ICH: handicrafts and the visual arts; gastronomy; social practices, rituals and festive events; music and the performing arts; oral traditions and expressions; and, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe.

Highlighting innovative forms of policy-making, the UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage recommends specific actions for stakeholders to foster the sustainable and responsible development of tourism by incorporating and safeguarding intangible cultural assets.

UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage

• UN Tourism Study
• Summary of the Study

Studies and research on tourism and culture commissioned by UN Tourism

• Tourism and Culture Synergies, 2018
• UN Tourism Study on Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2012
• Big Data in Cultural Tourism – Building Sustainability and Enhancing Competitiveness (e-unwto.org)

Outcomes from the UN Tourism Affiliate Members World Expert Meeting on Cultural Tourism, Madrid, Spain, 1–2 December 2022

UN Tourism and the Region of Madrid – through the Regional Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports – held the World Expert Meeting on Cultural Tourism in Madrid on 1 and 2 December 2022. The initiative reflects the alliance and common commitment of the two partners to further explore the bond between tourism and culture. This publication is the result of the collaboration and discussion between the experts at the meeting, and subsequent contributions.

Relevant Links

• 3RD UN Tourism/UNESCO WORLD CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND CULTURE ‘FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL’

Photo credit of the Summary's cover page:  www.banglanatak.com

Gansu Mayors Commit to Sustainable Tourism that Prioritizes Heritage Preservation, Environmental Conservation and Community Empowerment

The symposium was attended by 73 participants onsite, including 14 leaders from five municipalities, professors and students from universities in Lanzhou, representatives from tourism-related organizations and companies, as well as UNESCO experts, Category 2 Centers and UNESCO Chairs. Additionally, 210 representatives from seven other municipal bureaus of culture and tourism from Gansu participated online. The Gansu Dialogue initiative is carried out within the framework of the Gansu Revitalization and Innovation Project, a collaboration between UNESCO, the World Bank, and Gansu's Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

The symposium aimed to use sustainable tourism as a transformative force along the Silk Road, positioning Gansu Province as a model for integrating culture and creativity into sustainable tourism development strategies.

The opening ceremony, hosted by Mr. Yan Yongqiang (Deputy Director of Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism), was kicked off by Mr. He Xiaozu (Director of Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism)’s speech introducing Gansu’s remarkable achievements in sustainable tourism and cultural preservation. Director of UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, Prof. Shahbaz Khan’s opening remarks highlighted the significance of the Gansu Dialogue gathering provincial leaders, mayors, and experts for a constructive dialogue. World Bank Global Coordinator for Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism, Dr. Ahmed Eiweida shared his thoughts on balancing tourism, heritage preservation, environmental conservation and community engagement. 

Two keynote presentations were delivered to set the stage for the discussions to take place throughout the day. Mr. Peter Debrine (Senior Project Officer, Leader of Sustainable Tourism Programme, UNESCO World Heritage Centre) invoked rethinking on destination and visitor management and the need for innovative models to tackle existing challenges and foster community-based tourism. Prof. Zhang Chaozhi (UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Tourism in UNESCO Designated Sites) shared case analysis on how to retain visitors for long heritage-based route, which is applicable to the routes along the Silk Road in Gansu.

Panel 1: Cultural Heritage Preservation and Tourism Development

Dr Li Kuanghan, Director Assistant for the UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research in the Asia and Pacific Region (WHITRAP Beijing), raised placemaking as an approach to foster sustainable tourism in heritage sites and analyzed cases including Maijishan Grottoes visitor management and Dali Dong Village community empowerment. Prof. Yang Yi (Associate professor of Lanzhou University) shared Gansu’s innovative digital solutions for culture and tourism that create new experiences for visitors.

In the panel discussion, Mr. Sun Xiaoqiang (Chairman of the Board of Gansu Culture and Tourism Group) shared his perspectives as a private sector representative on how to balance economic growth and cultural heritage preservation. Lintao representative Mr. Yin Wentao emphasized the importance of funding opportunities, public outreach and community involvement in his work preserving Majiayao culture, while Jiuquan representative Ms. Zhang Weiting highlighted the government’s role in legislation and regulation to ensure the sustainable diretion.

Panel 2: Balancing Tourism Growth, Environmental Conservation and Climate Action

Dr. Cecilie Smith-Christensen, the Founder of World Heritage Catalysis and lead developer of the UNESCO Visitor Management Assessment & Strategy Tool (VMAST) emphasized the importance of transformative practices in transitioning from sustainable tourism within growth-dependent economies to energy-positive tourism within regenerative economies. Drawing from her experiences collaborating on World Bank projects, Prof. Li Xiaomei, Associate Professor at Lanzhou City University, stressed the importance of integrating environmental and social impact assessments into tourism development evaluations. 

Mr. Wang Rui from Ganzhou showcased the good practices of Lushuiwan Resort and procurement of electric buses under the World Bank GRIP project. Mr. Yuan Deping, the site manager at Zhangye Danxia, discussed initiatives such as the Zhangye carbon offset project and promotion of low-carbon travel practices. Ms. Bao Cuixia, representative from Dingxi, stressed the role of schools in educating future generations about environmental protection, advocating for a holistic approach to sustainable tourism development.

Panel 3: Community Involvement and Empowerment Through Tourism

Dr. Shao Yong, the Executive Director of UNESCO World Heritage Training and Research Centre for the Asia-Pacific Region (WHITRAP Shanghai), highlighted the importance of inclusive community participation in fostering sustainable development, drawing from WHITRAP Shanghai’s pilot project in China and the inclusive development initiatives in Pingyao. Mr. Duan Qibin, leveraging his experience in advising international projects, emphasized the necessity of empowering communities for sustainable tourism through the cultivation of new productive forces.

During the discussion, Mr. Mu Xinfeng from Longnan discussed the process of community participation in transforming traditional villages into 4A-level scenic spots, leading to a significant increase in local residents' income. Mr. Ma Chao from Tianshui emphasized the role of community engagement behind the success of the popular local dish, "ma la tang". Mr. Xu Yuan from Zhangye shared the lesson-learnt from the colorful Danxia, where efforts were made to preserve the ethnic Mongolian characteristics of the indigenous population in Pingshanhu Grand Canyon project.

The Second Gansu Dialogue was closed with remarks from Prof. Khan, Dr. Eiweida and Mr. He Xiaozu. They all expressed the appreciation for experts’ and local leaders’ sharing of innovative experiences and highlighted their commitment to continue the partnership among the three organizations to position Gansu province as a model for integrating culture and creativity into sustainable tourism development strategies.

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UAS Students Contemplate issues of Culture, Heritage, and Tourism

The University of Alaska Southeast Tourism Studies class recently returned from a 15-day tourism immersion trip in Japan.

Juneau, Alaska

Date of Press Release: March 9, 2024

The University of Alaska Southeast Tourism Studies class recently returned from a 15-day tourism immersion trip in Japan. The semester long class, which is part of the UAS Outdoor Studies program , focused on discussing theories regarding the role of sport, culture, and tourism in Alaska and internationally.

To help stimulate thoughtful conversation on the role of heritage in national and international tourism, Professors Forest Wagner and Kevin Krein brough the ten students to shrines and temples in Kyoto, including the Fushimi Inari Shrine which is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails in the shadow of Mount Inari.

The group the spent a week in the Japanese Alps skiing and thinking about how sport and leisure relate and complicate eco and adventure tourism. The course concluded with a visit to the Snow Monkey Park and instruction in Kendo at Hosei University in Tokyo.

The trip took place from January 1 through the 15th, and was supported by the University of Alaska Southeast School of Arts and Sciences, and Hosei University Professor Yoshiko Oda.

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Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 officially launched

The festival from 11-15 april in bangkok is in celebration of unesco's inscription of ‘songkran in thailand, traditional thai new year festival’ on the prestigious intangible cultural heritage of humanity list..

Bangkok, 2 April 2024 – The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 was officially launched at the 42nd Thailand Tourism Festival in Bangkok, promising a grand celebration of the traditional Thai New Year, a UNESCO-listed Intangible Cultural Heritage. The festival is scheduled from 11-15 April in Bangkok.

Tourism and Sports Minister, Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, said “The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 marks the global recognition of the vibrant celebration of Thai New Year. The five-day spectacle is a part of the government’s soft power promotion policy to boost the country’s cultural significance on the global stage.”

The opening ceremony offered a prelude into the epic spectacle as preparations begin for the five-day event, which has been planned by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports in celebration of UNESCO’s inscription of ‘Songkran in Thailand, Traditional Thai New Year Festival’ on the prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List.

The vibrant parade of distinctive Songkran processions from five regions, including a stunning procession of the Nang Songkran goddess of 2024, exhibited only a part of the epic parade of 20 processions planned for 11 April.

The 11 April parade will march along the Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, starting from the Phan Fa Lilat Bridge and concluding at Sanam Luang, and will remain there until 15 April.

Heading the stretch of 20 exquisite processions will be the procession of Buddha image, followed by the procession of Mahodhara Devi – the Nang Songkran goddess of 2024, the processions of distinctive Songkran traditions of 16 provinces along with cultural performances from over 1,000 performers, the processions of unique Songkran traditions of five other provinces, and the processions of Thai soft power.

Songkran in Thailand is celebrated nationwide as a three-day Thai New Year holiday from 13-15 April. Songkran is on 13 April, which is also National Elderly Day. April 14 and April 15 were declared later as National Family Day and Thai New Year Day, respectively.

The five-day festival features a packed schedule of events to offer tourists a delightful glimpse into the nationwide celebrations of Songkran and for Thais to be proud of the nation’s cultural heritage.

Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mrs. Puangpet Chunlaiad, said “Songkran for Thais is a time for people who have moved to other cities or towns to travel back home for family reunions, pay respects to the elders and ask for blessings, as well as visiting temples for merit-making activities. People are advised always to be careful when travelling during this celebratory time.”

The Ministry of Culture is inviting everyone to participate in Songkran festivities in Bangkok and five other unique locations, namely Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, and Phuket, to celebrate the UNESCO ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ status of Songkran in Thailand.

“Thais are also encouraged to visit temples to make offerings and to pray for good luck in provinces with the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Ayutthaya, Udon Thani, and Phetchabun, as well as exploring local experiences at the 10 model tourism communities of 2023,” Culture Minister, Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, said.

The 10 model tourism communities announced by the Ministry of Culture are located in Kanchanaburi, Chumphon, Chiang Saen, Phrae, Yasothon, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Lamphun, Samut Sakhon, and Udon Thani.

TAT is also using the opening ceremony as a centre stage to launch 72 faith-based tourism routes in different locations across five regions.

Some of the routes include the journey to pay homage to Buddha relics, the trip in the footprints of high-revered monks, and the travel itinerary to visit famous temples. Each route comprises tourism communities, local attractions, temples and monasteries, and distinctive culinary experiences.

The “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024” as well as Songkran festivities across the country during 12-16 April are expected to inspire more travel and tourism activities, resulting in 24.42 billion Bath in overall tourism revenue.

This constitutes 8.76 billion Baht from international tourism and 15.66 billion Baht from domestic tourism with, 510,000 visitor arrivals and 4.29 million domestic trips.

Songkran celebrations in Bangkok are expected to generate 3.69 billion Baht in revenue and attract 653,590 domestic trips.

TAT Newsroom

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