cultural tourism activities

50 Cultural Activities (with Real-Life Examples)

Cultural activities are any activities that have unique significance to a culture and constitute engaging in the culture.

These activities are consider to be highly important because they help to pass-on, continue, and strengthen cultural values, beliefs, and practices.

Examples of cultural activities include participating in cultural dances, cooking traditional foods, learning about cultural attitudes, attending museum, and many, many more. We’ll explore these below.

Cultural Activities (With Examples)

1. traditional dancing.

Culture: Global

Traditional dancing refers to a form of dance that is specific to a particular culture, society, or region. These dances have been passed down through generations, embodying history, stories and traditions of the people who originated them. From the elegance of Ballet in France to the energetic beats of African dances, each dance is unique and reflective of its culture.

2. Storytelling Sessions

Storytelling sessions are an age-old practice where stories are narrated orally to an audience. Historically used as a method for educating, entertaining, and passing on moral lessons or cultural beliefs, these sessions can range from fables and folktales (e.g. The Hare and the Tortoise) to historical accounts or personal experiences and are significant to many cultures worldwide.

3. Pottery Making

Culture: Global, notably in Asian and Native American communities

Pottery making involves forming clay into objects of a desired shape and then heating them to high temperatures in a kiln to induce reactions that solidify the clay. This art form has been practiced by various civilizations for thousands of years, often used for utilitarian purposes but also as an artistic medium, with distinctive styles reflecting different cultural traditions and histories.

4. Calligraphy

Culture: East Asia, notably Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures, and Arabic cultures

Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing that involves designing and executing lettering with a broad-tipped instrument, brush, or other writing instrument. Revered in East Asian and Arabic cultures, this art form embodies aesthetic beauty, personal expression, and frequently serves as a medium for poetry.

5. Theatre Performances

Culture: Global, notably Western cultures and Asian cultures (Indian, Chinese, Japanese)

Theatre performances are staged productions where actors perform a story in front of an audience, often on a stage. From Greek tragedies to Elizabethan dramas to Japanese Noh Theatre, these performances are not merely forms of entertainment, but they also provide a reflection of society, culture, and human experience.

6. Folk Music Concerts

Folk music concerts represent events where traditional, indigenous music is performed live. Such music, passed down through generations, often tells stories of a people, depicts their daily life or beliefs, and is a significant part of various cultures around the world, from Appalachian Mountain music to the musical traditions of African tribes.

Culture: Japan

Origami, a traditional Japanese art form, involves folding paper into decorative shapes and figures. Starting from simple figures like cranes and flowers, it can extend to complex representations, reflecting a sense of harmony, balance, and patience that is inherent in Japanese culture.

8. Henna Tattooing

Culture: Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia

Henna tattooing, or Mehndi, is a form of body art using a paste made from the powdered dry leaves of the henna plant. Mostly used in ceremonial events such as weddings, the intricate, lace-like designs symbolize joy, beauty, and spiritual awakening.

9. Mask-making

Culture: Global, notably in African, Native American, and East Asian cultures

Mask-making represents a tradition where masks, often symbolizing deities, spirits, or ancestors, are crafted from various materials. These masks are frequently used in rituals, ceremonies, or theatre, embodying the cultural beliefs and mythologies of the peoples creating them.

10. Culinary Classes (e.g., Sushi-making)

Culture: Specific to each culinary tradition, Sushi-making refers to Japan

Culinary classes are educational sessions where you learn to prepare specific recipes or dishes under professional guidance. For instance, sushi-making classes delve into the traditional Japanese art of preparing sushi, where you are taught how to select the right fish, cook the perfect rice, and roll sushi.

11. Tea Ceremonies

Culture: East Asia, notably in Chinese and Japanese cultures

Tea ceremonies are traditional rituals involving the preparation and presentation of tea. In China and Japan, these ceremonies are art forms encompassing philosophy and aesthetics, embodying values of peace, harmony, and tranquility.

12. Poetry Readings

Poetry readings involve the vocal presentations of poems, often conducted in a group setting. Intended to bring the authored text to life through vocal expression, these sessions showcase diverse poetic styles across the globe, making it a rich cultural experience. A key example of this is the beat poetry of the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, representing a unique American cultural form.

13. Film Festivals

Film festivals are organized events that showcase a selection of films, often in a specific genre, or from a certain country. Providing a platform for new talent, promoting cultural diversity, and encouraging critical dialogue about films and filmmaking, these events are globally significant cultural activities. Of course, France’s Cannes Film Festival comes foremost to mind.

14. Cultural Parades

Cultural parades are public processions celebrating a specific culture or a range of cultures, usually accompanied by music, dancing, and elaborate costumes or floats. For instance, the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans or the Notting Hill Carnival in London are famous for their vibrant colors, joyous dancing, and the multitude of people who come together to celebrate culture and community.

15. Puppetry Shows

Culture: Global, notably in Asian and European cultures

Puppetry shows are performances where puppets are used to tell a story. Bunraku from Japan, Wayang from Indonesia, and Punch-and-Judy shows from England are some examples of distinct puppetry traditions which have entertained audiences and presented cultural narratives for centuries.

16. Batik Painting

Culture: Indonesia, Malaysia

Batik painting is an Indonesian traditional art form where patterns are drawn onto fabric using wax before it is dyed. This technique creates a distinctive image with cracked or veined textures. Batik is not just an art; it’s a symbol of national identity, most notably exemplified by Indonesia’s “Batik Day,” when everyone wears Batik to celebrate their cultural heritage.

17. Ikebana (Japanese Flower Arranging)

Ikebana, traditional Japanese flower arranging, is more than mere decoration. It’s a disciplined art form where nature and humanity are brought together. Arrangements are highly considered and each object’s shape, line, and form are carefully chosen, leading to a balanced, harmonious composition. An example of its cultural influence could be the Ikebana International organization, with more than 250 chapters and thousands of members globally, dedicated to promoting and appreciating this intricate Japanese art.

18. Drum Circles

Culture: Global, notably in African, Native American, and Latin cultures

Drum circles are gatherings of individuals who come together to create improvised rhythm music using drums and other percussion instruments. A reflection of community unity, these circles are often spiritual or healing in nature. They are prevalent in many cultures, with the Djembe drum circles of West Africa and the Taiko drumming groups in Japan being notable examples.

19. Traditional Weaving

Culture: Global, notably in Asian, African, and Indigenous cultures

Traditional weaving is the practice of interlacing two sets of threads at right angles to create cloth. It varies across cultures, with distinct patterns, techniques, and materials. Examples include the Navajo rugs in Native American culture, the Kente cloth of the Ashanti people in Ghana, and the Thai silk weaving in Thailand’s northeastern villages.

20. Sand Art

Culture: Global, notably in Indian, Tibetan, and Native American cultures

Sand art involves creating images, shapes, or designs using sand, on a flat surface or in a bottle. From sand mandalas by Tibetan monks as a form of meditation and spiritual offering to the Indian tradition of rangoli – geometric designs created during festivals – sand art speaks of cultural diversity in its many forms.

21. Indigenous Yarning Circles

Culture: Australian Indigenous communities

Indigenous yarning circles are a traditional part of Aboriginal culture in Australia. They provide a harmonious context for communication where everyone has an equal right to voice their opinion, fostering respect, empathy, and social bonding . This tradition is strongly upheld today in many Indigenous communities and has been utilized in educational and professional settings as a tool for inclusive discussion and learning.

22. Kite Flying Festivals

Culture: China, Japan, India, Pakistan

Kite flying festivals entail the tradition of flying kites, generally to celebrate seasonal changes, religious occasions, or local customs. Some notable examples include the Weifang International Kite Festival in China, renowned as the world’s kite capital, the Makar Sankranti festival in India, and the Basant festival in Pakistan, both marking the arrival of spring with kite flying competitions.

23. Cultural Fairs and Exhibitions

Cultural fairs and exhibitions are events showcasing and celebrating the history, traditions, and artistic achievements of a particular culture. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival in the U.S., Rio Carnaval in Brazil, and the World Expo, hosted by various nations, offer unique, immersive experiences where you can witness a spectrum of cultures in their full richness.

24. Traditional Games and Sports

Traditional games and sports refer to recreational activities rooted in cultural traditions and history. They range from the Scottish Highland Games, specifically caber tossing, the Inuit event of Knuckle Hop in the Arctic Winter Games, to the Japanese Sumo Wrestling and Sepak Takraw, a highly acrobatic ‘kick volleyball’ sport prevalent in Southeast Asia.

25. Religious Ceremonies

Culture: Global, Specific to each religion

Religious ceremonies comprise rituals, rites, or services held in accordance with the practices of a particular faith. These are fundamental in expressing and propagating religious beliefs and traditions. The Christian rite of Baptism, the Muslim prayer Salat, the Hindu wedding ceremony, and the Jewish Bar Mitzvah are examples, each representing profound spiritual meaning and cultural significance in its respective religion.

26. Historical Reenactments

Culture: Global, notably in European and North American cultures

Historical reenactments are live portrayals of historical periods or events, often performed with period costume and props. Examples are the reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg in the United States, which commemorates the American Civil War, and the Jorvik Viking Festival in the United Kingdom, which brings to life the Viking Age.

27. Tribal Chants and Songs

Culture: Indigenous cultures globally, notably in Pacific Islands, Native America, and Africa

Tribal Chants and Songs are oral transmissions of history, traditions, and sacred rituals within indigenous cultures. Hawaiian Mele chants, Native American powwow songs, and Maori Haka war dances, encompassing both songs and chants, are potent tools in preserving cultural identity and ancestral knowledge.

28. Cultural Workshops

Cultural workshops refer to gatherings where participants learn about a specific aspect of a culture. An example could be a workshop on Flamenco dancing in Spain, where participants learn the dance steps, rhythms, and history of this traditional Spanish art form.

29. Traditional Medicine Workshops

Culture: Various, notably in China, India, and Indigenous cultures

Traditional medicine workshops are courses where participants learn about healing practices native to various cultures. One could attend a workshop on Ayurveda in India, learning about its holistic approach to health, or learn about TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) practices such as acupuncture and herbal medicine in China.

30. Ethnic Fashion Shows

Ethnic fashion shows are events where traditional clothing and fashion styles from various cultures are showcased. Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria features African designers promoting Africa’s rich fashion tradition, while Japan’s Kimono Fashion Show exhibits the elegance and diversity of kimono styles, going beyond the mainstream, to highlight its cultural depth.

31. Call and Response Singing

Culture: African cultures, African-American communities

Call and response singing involves a lead singer offering a distinct phrase, and a group replying with a specific answer, creating a pattern of musical dialogue. A testament to African oral traditions, this method has significantly influenced music genres like gospel, blues, and jazz in African-American communities, such as the classic gospel song “Oh Happy Day.”

32. Mural Painting

Culture: Global, notably Mexican and North American communities

Mural painting is the art of painting directly on walls, ceilings, or other large permanent surfaces, often telling a story or making a point. Diego Rivera, a renowned Mexican muralist, used his art to address the social and political lives of the Mexican people. The Belfast murals in Northern Ireland depict their community’s political and religious divisions.

33. Traditional Jewelry Making

Culture: Global, notably in India, Africa, Native American communities

Traditional jewelry making involves crafting jewelry pieces that reflect the cultural aesthetics and symbolism of a community. Be it the intricate gold jewelry of India, the colorful, beadwork of Kenyan tribes, or the turquoise-infused pieces of the Navajo tribe – each tells their unique cultural story.

34. Cultural Photography Exhibitions

Cultural photography exhibitions showcase photographs capturing the essence of different cultures. The World Press Photo Exhibition, globally touring over 100 cities each year, displays powerful cultural narratives and perspectives. Similarly, I recall traveling to Hoi An in Vietnam and seeing beautiful photo galleries of villagers wearing their traditional outfits, passing-on their culture through photos.

35. Sacred Rituals and Dances

Culture: Global, notably in Indigenous, Asian, African cultures

Sacred rituals and dances are ceremonies rooted in religious or spiritual beliefs, and are often integral to cultural identity. Examples range from the Balinese Kecak dance, the Hopi Snake Dance in Native American tradition, to the African Zulu Reed Dance. Each rituals or dance, with its unique rhythms, movements, and symbolism, constitutes a signature of its respective culture.

36. Ancestral Worship Ceremonies

Culture: African, Asian cultures, notably China, Japan, Vietnam

Ancestral worship ceremonies involve rites to honor ancestors’ spirits, frequently held in high regard within the society’s cultural and religious framework. For instance, in China, Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, witnesses families tending ancestral graves, while in Japan, the Obon Festival welcomes ancestral spirits back to the world of the living.

37. Traditional Martial Arts Demonstrations

Culture: East Asia, particularly China, Japan, and Korea

Traditional martial arts demonstrations are displays of specific combat practices native to different cultures, often embodying a blend of physical prowess and spiritual development. From the Chinese Kung Fu, the Japanese Karate, to the Korean Taekwondo, such demonstrations are a testimony to these cultures’ ancient wisdom and discipline.

38. Cultural Storytelling through Shadow Puppetry

Culture: East Asia, notably in Indonesia, China, Thailand

Cultural storytelling through shadow puppetry involves the use of cut-out figures that are held between a source of light and a translucent screen. Narratives shared through this medium are unique cultural gems. Noteworthy examples include the Wayang Kulit of Indonesia and the Nang Yai of Thailand, both UNESCO cultural heritage traditions.

39. Ethnic Instrument-Making Workshops

Culture: Global, notably in Africa, Asia, Native American communities

Ethnic instrument-making workshops offer a hands-on experience to learn the craft behind traditional musical instruments. From African Djembe drum-making workshops to Japanese Shakuhachi flute-making classes, or Native American flute crafting sessions, each bears the distinctive resonance of cultural heritage.

40. Traditional Embroidery and Textile Arts

Culture: Global, notably in South Asia, Middle East, and Latin American cultures

Traditional embroidery and textile arts cover the techniques to embellish fabrics with needle and thread, often creating intricate designs that reflect regional aesthetics. The Phulkari of Punjab in India, the Palestinian Tatreez embroidery, and the colorful textile arts of Peru are just a few examples that showcase this craft’s cultural diversity.

41. Local Craft Fairs

Local craft fairs are festive events where artisans display and sell their handicrafts. They are often full of cultural character such as the Christmas Markets held across various European cities, the Santa Fe Indian Market that showcases Native American art in the United States, or the Marrakesh souks in Morocco, each reflecting local creativity and tradition.

42. Cultural Heritage Walks and Tours

Cultural heritage walks and tours offer guided exploration of a location’s historical, architectural, or cultural sites. For instance, the Freedom Trail in Boston provides insights into U.S. history, while the numerous heritage walks across Kyoto reveal a profound essence of Japanese culture.

43. Traditional Beadwork Sessions

Culture: Global, notably in African, Native American, and Indigenous cultures worldwide

Traditional beadwork sessions involve crafting items using beads, often following cultural designs and techniques. The Zulu beadwork in South Africa, expressing social codes and relationships, or the intricate beadwork in Native American tribes like the Apache and Sioux, both attest to the cultural nuances this artform can communicate.

44. Ceremonial Feasts and Dinners

Ceremonial feasts and dinners are an integral part of many cultural traditions, typically celebrating a special occasion or ritual. The Passover Seder feast within Jewish tradition, the Thanksgiving dinner in the United States, or the communal Iftar meal breaking the day-long fast during Ramadan in Muslim cultures are instances of shared meals fostering cultural bonding.

45. Indigenous Art Exhibitions

Culture: Indigenous cultures globally

Indigenous art exhibitions display artwork created by native or indigenous peoples, reflecting their heritage and traditions. The Biennial of Indigenous Art in Canada showcases indigenous talent from the Americas, while the National Gallery of Australia hosts exhibits of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, presenting rich cultural narratives.

46. Cultural Tattooing Sessions

Culture: Global, notably Polynesian, Japanese, and Native American cultures

Cultural tattooing sessions involve the application of traditional tattoos, often bearing profound cultural significance. The tribal tattoos of Polynesia, known as ‘Tatau,’ Japanese Irezumi tattoos, and the Native American Haida tribe’s tattoos, each carry distinct historical symbolism and links to cultural identity.

47. Traditional Wood Carving

Culture: Global, notably in African, Asian, and Native American cultures

Traditional wood carving involves shaping wood into artistic forms using various tools. African tribal masks, the ornate carvings of Indonesian furniture, the totems of Native American tribes, and the intricate designs of the Chinese Dongyang wood carving are stunning illustrations of this craft’s cultural interpretation.

48. Local Folklore Sessions

Local folklore sessions involve storytelling or performances that preserve and convey a community’s traditional beliefs, myths, and legends. This can range from the Norse Mythology storytelling evenings held in Scandinavia, to the Native American oral tradition of recounting tribal histories and legends, to the folklore storytelling in the Irish seanachai tradition.

See More: Folklore Examples

49. Cultural Astronomy Nights

Culture: Global, notably in Indigenous and ancient cultures

Cultural astronomy nights provide an understanding of how various cultures viewed the night sky and incorporated celestial observations into their mythologies, calendars, and rituals. The Mauna Kea stargazing program, Hawaii, illustrates Polynesian wayfinding, while Stonehenge in the UK hosts gatherings during the summer solstice to mirror the rituals of ancient Celts.

50. Traditional Riddle and Proverb Sessions

Traditional riddle and proverb sessions involve posing and solving riddles, or discussing the meaning and application of proverbs, often tied to cultural values or lessons. The Swahili culture in East Africa, for example, values riddles and proverbs as an educational tool, fostering critical thinking skills , while in Scotland, traditional ceilidhs often include riddles and stories as part of the celebration.

There are, of course, many more cultural activities that you’ll likely find in your town or city, demonstrating the very wide diversity of possible cultural activities you could engage in. However, the above list, I think, captures some of that diversity, and hopefully presents you with some ideas of how to participate in culture – be it your own, or one you’re invited to admire and celebrate.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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What is cultural tourism and why is it growing?

Disclaimer: Some posts on Tourism Teacher may contain affiliate links. If you appreciate this content, you can show your support by making a purchase through these links or by buying me a coffee . Thank you for your support!

Cultural tourism is big business. Some people seek to embark on their travels with the sole intention of having a ‘cultural’ experience, whereas others may experience culture as a byproduct of their trip. We can argue that there is some form of cultural tourism in most holidays (even when taking an all-inclusive holiday you might try to local beer, for example).

But what do we mean by the term ‘cultural tourism’? What’s it all about? In this post I will explain what is meant by the term cultural tourism, providing a range of academic definitions. I will also explain what the different types of cultural tourists are, give examples of cultural tourism activities and discuss the impacts of cultural tourism. Lastly, I will provide a brief summary of some popular cultural tourism destinations.

What is cultural tourism?

Cultural tourism is the act of travellers visiting particular destinations in order to experience and learn about a particular culture . This can include many activities such as; attending events and festivals, visiting museums and tasting the local food and drinks.

Cultural tourism can also be an unintentional part of the tourism experience, whereby cultural immersion (with the local people, their language, customs, cuisine etc) is an inevitable part of a person’s holiday.

Cultural tourism definitions

It has been suggested that tourism is the ideal arena in which to investigate the nature of cultural production (MacCannell, 1976). Tourism provides endless opportunities to learn about the way other people live, about their society and their traditions. Whether you are attending the Running of the Bulls Festival in Pamplona , visiting the pyramids in ancient Egypt , taking a tour of the tea plantations in China or enjoying the locally brewed Ouzo on your all-inclusive holiday to Greece, you will inevitably encounter some form of cultural tourism as part of your holiday experience.

The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) (1985) broadly define cultural tourism as the movements of persons who satisfy the human need for diversity, tending to raise the cultural level of the individual and giving rise to new knowledge, experience and encounters. Cultural tourism is commonly associated with education in this way, some describing it more narrowly as educational cultural tourism (e.g. Bualis and Costa, 2006; Harner and Swarbrooke, 2007; Richards, 2005).

Although a common, more specific definition has not been agreed amongst academics due to the complexity and subjectivity of the term, there do appear to be two distinct viewpoints. The first focusses upon the consumption of cultural products such as sites or monuments (Bonink, 1992; Munsters, 1994), and the second comprises all aspects of travel, where travellers learn about the history and heritage of others or about their contemporary ways of life or thought (MacIntosh and Goeldner, 1986).

Csapo (2012) pertains that the umbrella term of cultural tourism can encompass a number of tourism forms including heritage (material e.g. historic buildings and non-material e.g. literature, arts), cultural thematic routes (e.g. spiritual, gastronomic, linguistic), cultural city tourism, traditions/ethnic tourism, events and festivals, religious tourism and creative culture (e.g. performing arts, crafts).

Types of cultural tourists

In attempt to understand the scope of cultural tourism academics have developed a number of typologies, usually based upon the tourist’s level of motivation.

Bywater (1993) differentiated tourists according to whether they were culturally interested, motivated or inspired.

Culturally interested tourists demonstrate a general interest in culture and consume cultural attractions casually as part of a holiday rather than consciously planning to do so.

Culturally motivated tourists consume culture as a major part of their trip, but do not choose their destination on the basis of specific cultural experiences, whereas for culturally inspired tourists culture is the main goal of their holiday. 

A more complex typology was proposed by McKercher and Du Cros (2002), who defined tourists based upon the depth of the cultural experience sought, distinguishing them in to one of five hierarchical categories. 

The first is the purposeful cultural tourist for whom cultural tourism is their primary motive for travel. These tourists have a very deep cultural experience. 

The second category is the sightseeing cultural tourist for whom cultural tourism is a primary reason for visiting a destination, but the experience is more shallow in nature.

The serendipitous cultural tourist does not travel for cultural reasons, but who, after participating, ends up having a deep cultural tourism experience, whilst the casual cultural tourist is weakly motivated by culture and subsequently has a shallow experience. 

Lastly, the incidental cultural tourist is one who does not travel for cultural tourism reasons but nonetheless participates in some activities and has shallow experiences. 

Adapting this theory, Petroman  et al (2013) segments tourists based upon their preferred cultural activities.

The purposeful cultural tourist, described as according to Mckercher and Du Cros (2002), enjoys learning experiences that challenge them intellectually and visits history museums, art galleries, temples and heritage sites that are less known.

The tour-amateur cultural tourist is akin with the sightseeing cultural tourist above and they often travel long distances, visit remote areas, enjoy tours and wandering through the streets.

The occasional cultural tourist plays a moderate role in the decision of travelling and enjoys an insignificant cultural experience, their preferred activities being to visit attractions and temples that are easy to reach and to explore, although not to the extent that the tour-amateur cultural tourist does.

The incidental cultural tourist plays a small or no role in the decision to travel and enjoys an insignificant cultural experience, whilst visiting attractions that area within easy reach and heritage theme parks.

The last segment is the accidental cultural tourist, who plays a small or no role in the decision to travel but enjoys a deep cultural experience. This tourist type is diverse and as such has no preferred activities attributed to it. 

Importance of cultural tourism

Cultural tourism is important for many reasons. Perhaps the most prominent reason is the social impact that it brings.

Cultural tourism can help reinforce identities, enhance cross cultural understanding and preserve the heritage and culture of an area. I have discussed these advantages at length in my post The Social Impacts of Tourism , so you may want to head over there for more detail.

Cultural tourism can also have positive economic impacts . Tourists who visit an area to learn more about a culture or who visit cultural tourism attraction, such as museums or shows, during their trip help to contribute to the economy of the area. Attractions must be staffed, bringing with it employment prospects and tertiary businesses can also benefit, such as restaurants, taxi firms and hotels.

Furthermore, for those seeking a deep cultural experience, options such as homestays can have positive economic benefits to the members of the community who host the tourists.

Read also: Overtourism explained: What, why and where

Personally, I think that one of the most important benefits of cultural tourism is the educational aspect. Tourists and hosts alike can learn more about different ways of life. This can help to broaden one’s mind, it can help one to think differently and to be more objective. These are qualities that can have many positive effects on a person and which can contribute to making them more employable in the future.

Cultural tourism activities

Whether a tourist is seeking a deep cultural experience or otherwise, there are a wide range of activities that can be classified as cultural tourism. Here are a few examples:

• Staying with a local family in a homestay
• Having a tour around a village or town
• Learning about local employment, for example through a tour of a tea plantation or factory
• Undertaking volunteer work in the local community
• Taking a course such as cooking, art, embroidery etc
• Visiting a museum
• Visiting a religious building, such as a Mosque
• Socialising with members of the local community
• Visiting a local market or shopping area
• Trying the local food and drink
• Going to a cultural show or performance
• Visiting historic monuments

Impacts of cultural tourism

There are a range of impacts resulting from cultural tourism activities, both good and bad. Here are some of the most common examples:

Positive impacts of cultural tourism

Revitalisation of culture and art.

Some destinations will encourage local cultures and arts to be revitalised. This may be in the form of museum exhibitions, in the way that restaurants and shops are decorated and in the entertainment on offer, for example.

This may help promote traditions that may have become distant.

Preservation of Heritage

Many tourists will visit the destination especially to see its local heritage. It is for this reason that many destinations will make every effort to preserve its heritage.

This could include putting restrictions in place or limiting tourist numbers, if necessary. This is often an example of careful tourism planning  and sustainable tourism management.

This text by Hyung You Park explains the principles of heritage tourism in more detail.

Negative impacts of cultural tourism

Social change.

Social change is basically referring to changes in the way that society acts or behaves. Unfortunately, there are many changes that come about as a result of tourism that are not desirable.

There are many examples throughout the world where local populations have changed because of tourism. Perhaps they have changed the way that they speak or the way that they dress. Perhaps they have been introduced to alcohol through the tourism industry or they have become resentful of rich tourists and turned to crime. These are just a few examples of the negative social impacts of tourism.

Read also: Business tourism explained: What, why and where

Globalisation and the destruction of preservation and heritage.

Globalisation is the way in which the world is becoming increasingly connected. We are losing our individuality and gaining a sense of ‘global being’, whereby we more and more alike than ever before.

Globalisation is inevitable in the tourism industry because of the interaction between tourists and hosts, which typically come from different geographic and cultural backgrounds. It is this interaction that encourage us to become more alike.

Standardisation and Commercialisation

Similarly, destinations risk standardisation in the process of satisfying tourists’ desires for familiar facilities and experiences.

While landscape, accommodation, food and drinks, etc., must meet the tourists’ desire for the new and unfamiliar, they must at the same time not be too new or strange because few tourists are actually looking for completely new things (think again about the toilet example I have previously).

Tourists often look for recognisable facilities in an unfamiliar environment, like well-known fast-food restaurants and hotel chains. Tourist like some things to be standardised (the toilet, their breakfast, their drinks, the language spoken etc), but others to be different (dinner options, music, weather, tourist attractions etc).

Loss of Authenticity 

Along similar lines to globalisation is the loss of authenticity that often results from tourism.

Authenticity is essentially something that is original or unchanged. It is not fake or reproduced in any way.

The Western world believe that a tourist destination is no longer authentic when their cultural values and traditions change. But I would argue is this not natural? Is culture suppose to stay the same or it suppose to evolve throughout each generation? 

Take a look at the likes of the long neck tribe in Thailand or the Maasai Tribe in Africa. These are two examples of cultures which have remained ‘unchanged’ for the sole purpose of tourism. They appear not to have changed the way that they dress, they way that they speak or the way that they act in generations, all for the purpose of tourism.

You can learn more about what is authenticity in tourism here or see some examples of staged authenticity in this post.

Culture clashes

Because tourism involves movement of people to different geographical locations cultural clashes can take place as a result of differences in cultures, ethnic and religious groups, values, lifestyles, languages and levels of prosperity.

Read also: Environmental impacts of tourism

The attitude of local residents towards tourism development may unfold through the stages of euphoria, where visitors are very welcome, through apathy, irritation and potentially antagonism when anti-tourist attitudes begin to grow among local people. This is represented in Doxey’s Irritation Index, as shown below.

Tourist-host relationships

Culture clashes can also be exasperated by the fundamental differences in culture between the hosts and the tourists.

There is likely to be economic inequality between locals and tourists who are spending more than they usually do at home. This can cause resentment from the hosts towards the tourists, particularly when they see them wearing expensive jewellery or using plush cameras etc that they know they can’t afford themselves.

Further to this, tourists often, out of ignorance or carelessness, fail to respect local customs and moral values. 

There are many examples of ways that tourists offend the local population , often unintentionally. Did you know that you should never put your back to a Buddha? Or show the sole of your feet to a Thai person? Or show romantic affection in public in the Middle East?

Cultural tourism destinations

Whilst many would argue that cultural tourism is ingrained to some extent in travel to any country, there are some particular destinations that are well-known for their ability to provide tourists with a cultural experience.

Cultural tourism in India

It is impossible not to visit India and experience the culture. Even if you are staying in a 5 star Western all-inclusive hotel in Goa, you will still test Indian curries, be spoken to by Indian workers and see life outside of the hotel on your transfer to and from the airport.

For most people who travel to India, however, cultural tourism is far more than peeking outside of the enclave tourism bubble of their all-inclusive hotel.

Thousands of international tourists visit the Taj Mahal each year. Many more people visit the various Hindu and Buddhist temples scattered throughout the country as well as the various Mosques. Some visit the famous Varanassi to learn about reincarnation.

Most tourists who visit India will try the local dal, eat the fresh mutton and taste chai.

All of these activities are popular cultural tourism activities.

Cultural tourism in Thailand

Thailand is another destination that offers great cultural tourism potential. From the Buddhist temples and monuments and the yoga retreats to homestays and village tours, there are ample cultural tourism opportunities in Thailand .

Cultural tourism in Israel

Israel is popular with religious tourists and those who are taking a religious pilgrimage, as well as leisure tourists. I visited Israel and loved travelling around to see the various sights, from Bethlehem to Jerusalem . I’m not religious in any way, but I loved learning about the history, traditions and cultures.

Cultural tourism in New York

New York is a city that is bustling with culture. It is world famous for its museums and you can learn about anything from World War Two to the Twin Towers here.

Many would argue that shopping is ingrained in the culture of those who live in New York and many tourists will take advantage of the wide selection of products on offer and bargains to be had on their travels to New York.

You can also treat yourself to watching a traditional West End show, trying some of the famous New York Cheesecake and enjoying a cocktail in Times Square!

Cultural tourism in Dubai

Dubai might not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think of cultural tourism, but it does, in fact, have a great offering.

What I find particular intriguing about Dubai is the mix of old and new. One minute you can be exploring the glitz and glamour of the many high-end shopping malls and skyscrapers and the next you can be walking through a traditional Arabian souk.

Cultural tourism: Conclusion

As you can see, there is big business in cultural tourism. With a wide range of types of cultural tourists and types of cultural tourism experiences, this is a tourism sector that has remarkable potential. However, as always, it is imperative to ensure that sustainable tourism practices are utilised to mitigate any negative impacts of cultural tourism.

If you are interested in learning more about topics such as this subscribe to my newsletter ! I send out travel tips, discount coupons and some material designed to get you thinking about the wider impacts of the tourism industry (like this post)- perfect for any tourism student or keen traveller!

Further reading

Want to learn more about cultural tourism? See my recommended reading list below.

• Cultural Tourism – A textbook illustrating how heritage and tourism goals can be integrated in a management and marketing framework to produce sustainable cultural tourism. 
• Deconstructing Travel: Cultural Perspectives on Tourism – This book provides an easily understood framework of the relationship between travel and culture in our rapidly changing postmodern, postcolonial world.
• Re-Investing Authenticity: Tourism, Place and Emotions – This ground-breaking book re-thinks and re-invests in the notion of authenticity as a surplus of experiential meaning and feeling that derives from what we do at/in places.
• The Business of Tourism Management – an introduction to key aspects of tourism, and to the practice of managing a tourism business. 
• Managing Sustainable Tourism – tackles the tough issues of tourism such as negative environmental impact and cultural degradation, and provides answers that don’t sacrifice positive economic growth.
• Tourism Management: An Introduction – An introductory text that gives its reader a strong understanding of the dimensions of tourism, the industries of which it is comprised, the issues that affect its success, and the management of its impact on destination economies, environments and communities.
• Responsible Tourism: Using tourism for sustainable development – A textbook about the globally vital necessity of realising sustainable tourism.

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Cultural Tourism: A Comprehensive Guide to Exploring Global Heritage

Cultural tourism is a rapidly growing segment within the global travel industry, catering to individuals seeking to immerse themselves in local populations’ customs, traditions, and lifestyles. It combines the elements of leisure with an authentic experience of a destination’s unique historical, architectural, artistic, and culinary aspects. As a result, this form of tourism allows travellers to gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of different societies and their cultural characteristics.

In recent years, the demand for cultural tourism has been on the rise as more people are interested in exploring foreign customs and cultural experiences beyond the typical tourist attractions. This trend fosters cross-cultural connections and mutual understanding and creates positive economic and social impacts on local communities. By preserving and showcasing their traditions, local people have the opportunity to generate income and employment while maintaining a sense of pride in their cultural heritage.

With the increasing focus on sustainability and responsible tourism practices, cultural tourism sets itself apart by emphasizing the importance of engaging with local communities, adhering to ethical standards and minimizing negative impacts on the environment. As such, it presents a viable option for tourists who wish to expand their horizons while also contributing positively to the places they visit.

Table of Contents

Understanding cultural tourism.

Cultural tourism is a significant and growing aspect of the global tourism industry. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO ) defines cultural tourism as the movement of people to cultural attractions away from their normal residence, with the intention of gathering new information and experiences that satisfy their cultural needs. It encompasses various activities undertaken by tourists to explore and experience different cultures, customs, and traditions.

One of the key aspects of cultural tourism is the opportunity it provides visitors to learn and engage with local communities, their history, and their way of life. This tourism is more than just visiting heritage sites or attending cultural events; it involves understanding and experiencing how people from different cultures live, express themselves through art, and maintain their traditions.

Cultural tourism fosters mutual understanding and respect between people from different cultural backgrounds. It encourages dialogue and exchange, breaking down social and cultural barriers and contributing to more tolerant societies. This form of tourism is an essential aspect of sustainable tourism development, as it seeks to preserve precious heritage for future generations while supporting economic growth for local communities.

As the tourism industry continues to grow, the demand for unique and authentic experiences increases. Cultural tourism serves to meet this demand by offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in various cultural settings, fostering a deeper understanding of the world and its diverse cultures.

Importance of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism plays a significant role in society as it helps preserve and promote the values, beliefs, traditions, and heritage that define a particular culture. It allows individuals and communities to exhibit unique perspectives on arts, rituals, folklore, music, literature, language, oral traditions, and other cultural elements. Cultural tourism serves as a bridge between societies, aiding in fostering mutual respect, tolerance, and understanding among various cultures.

Economic benefits are also apparent through cultural tourism. Visitors contribute to the local economy, supporting local businesses and sustaining host communities’ cultural products and experiences. By engaging in cultural tourism, visitors gain an authentic understanding of indigenous and local cultures, empowering them to appreciate the rich diversity and uniqueness of the world.

Furthermore, cultural tourism helps preserve cultural heritage, vital for maintaining a sense of identity and continuity for future generations. This preservation and promotion of different cultures provide a sense of pride and belonging for people who are part of those traditions. In turn, this enhances cultural exchange, allowing individuals to learn about other ways of life while appreciating their values and beliefs.

Cultural tourism also supports the sustainability of performing arts and other creative industries. Through various interactions with artists and performers, visitors can develop an appreciation for a wide range of artistic expressions, contributing to the overall vitality of the art world.

Through the development of cultural tourism, a society can showcase its cultural heritage while contributing to its economic prosperity. By embracing the importance of cultural tourism, we can foster a greater understanding, appreciation, and celebration of the rich tapestry of customs, beliefs, and traditions that make up the world’s diverse cultures.

Types of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism allows travellers to immerse themselves in the history, heritage, and traditions of different places around the world. This form of tourism can be categorized into several types, each offering a unique way for visitors to experience and appreciate local cultures.

One type of cultural tourism is Historical and Heritage Tourism . This focuses on exploring sites related to a region’s past, such as ancient archaeological sites, monuments, and museums. It can instil a sense of wonder and appreciation for past civilizations’ achievements and teach travellers about the history of the places they visit.

Moving to the artistic side, Arts Tourism highlights the creative aspects of a culture. Tourists visit galleries, theatres, and concerts to experience local art, music, dance, and drama. It allows them to understand different communities’ aesthetic and expressive tendencies, opening their minds to new perspectives and forms of creativity.

Religious and Spiritual Tourism is another common form, where tourists visit religious sites, such as temples, churches, and mosques, or engage in spiritual practices like meditation and yoga. This type of cultural tourism can provide insights into various societies’ belief systems and rituals, fostering understanding and tolerance among people of different faiths.

However, culture isn’t just about history, arts, and religion but also daily life. Ethno and Indigenous Tourism involves tourists visiting and interacting with indigenous communities to learn about their customs, way of life, and unique perspectives on the world. This type of cultural tourism encourages empathy and cross-cultural understanding while emphasising respect for indigenous people’s rights and dignity.

Lastly, Culinary and Agritourism put emphasis on local food and drink traditions, as well as the agricultural practices that underpin them. This type of tourism can include attending food festivals, partaking in cooking classes or workshops, and visiting farms, vineyards, or breweries. Culinary experiences help tourists understand the richness of a region’s flavours and the relationship between local communities and their land and resources.

In summary, cultural tourism comes in various forms, appealing to different interests and tastes. It offers travellers a chance to explore and interact with diverse cultures, fostering connections and understanding among people around the world.

Forms of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism offers a wide range of experiences for travellers who seek to immerse themselves in different cultures, traditions, and ways of life. Various forms of cultural tourism cater to different interests and preferences.

Museums and galleries play a significant role in cultural tourism as they showcase a certain location’s history, art, and culture. Examples include art galleries displaying local and international masterpieces and museums featuring exhibits about the history and development of a specific region or theme.

Monuments and historic sites attract cultural tourists interested in exploring the past. Famous landmarks, archaeological sites, and heritage buildings tell the stories of civilizations and cultures that once thrived. UNESCO World Heritage Sites are often at the top of travellers’ lists, representing the world’s most significant cultural and natural heritage.

Architecture as a form of cultural tourism exposes tourists to varying architectural styles and meanings. Walking tours, cityscapes, and visits to iconic buildings provide a deeper understanding of a city’s architectural design’s cultural, social, and political influences.

Festivals and special events are another important aspect of cultural tourism, highlighting a particular community’s local customs and practices. These may include carnivals, parades, performances, traditional dances, and food festivals that provide a unique insight into the cultural identity of a place.

Gastronomy and cuisine play an integral role in the cultural tourism experience, as they allow tourists to savour the flavours and ingredients unique to a location. Local markets, food tours, cooking classes, and traditional restaurants all offer opportunities to appreciate the culinary heritage of a destination.

Shopping for crafts and textiles is a popular form of cultural tourism, as it allows travellers to bring home tangible memories of their journeys. Local artisans may showcase their talents through handmade textiles, pottery, jewellery, and other crafts, reflecting their community’s cultural heritage and artistic expression.

Cultural tourism encompasses diverse experiences, enabling travellers to engage with their chosen destination’s rich history, art, architecture, events, cuisine, and crafts. By exploring these varied aspects, visitors can deepen their understanding and appreciation of the world’s unique cultural landscapes.

Tangible and Intangible Cultural Attractions

Cultural tourism often focuses on two major aspects: tangible and intangible cultural attractions. These attractions shape a destination’s identity, providing depth and context for visitors and facilitating cultural exchange. This section will explore various facets of tangible and intangible attractions, comprehensively understanding their significance and diversity.

Tangible cultural attractions encompass elements of history, arts, and architecture that visitors can physically experience. Notable examples include monuments, visual art, and crafts that showcase local communities’ unique skills and traditions. Such attractions often reflect centuries of evolution and showcase the ingenuity of a region’s inhabitants. By visiting these sites and engaging with these art forms, travellers gain firsthand insights into the cultural heritage of their destination.

On the other hand, intangible cultural attractions comprise the non-material aspects of a culture that contribute to its unique characteristics and traditions. Music, social practices, festive events, and customs are some of the intangible elements that enrich the cultural landscape of a tourist destination. Interaction with local people plays a crucial role in understanding the region’s intangible cultural attractions, as they act as custodians of these traditions and their oral histories.

A dynamic interplay exists between tangible and intangible cultural attractions, creating a vibrant, multi-dimensional experience for tourists. For instance, the physical structure in architectural landmarks represents the tangible aspect, while the stories, legends, and rituals connected to the site contribute to its intangible allure. This symbiotic relationship reflects the essential interdependence between culture’s material and immaterial aspects.

In conclusion, tangible and intangible cultural attractions are indispensable pillars of cultural tourism. They provide an enriching experience for visitors and play a vital role in preserving and promoting a destination’s unique cultural heritage. Both aspects should be regarded with equal importance and cultivated to ensure a comprehensive and engaging experience for travellers seeking to explore a destination’s cultural offerings.

Advantages of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism provides a unique opportunity for individuals to immerse themselves in a particular society’s history, traditions, and customs. In doing so, they can develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures that make up the world.

One significant advantage of cultural tourism is its potential to boost local economies. Tourist expenditures in local businesses such as hotels , restaurants, and shops can contribute to the growth and development of a region. Additionally, cultural tourism can create jobs, especially for local artisans, performers, and guides who offer authentic cultural experiences to visitors.

Another benefit of cultural tourism is the preservation and revitalization of cultural heritage. By attracting tourists interested in learning about and experiencing different traditions, communities are encouraged to preserve and maintain their cultural assets, such as historic sites, museums, and festivals. This helps ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from these valuable resources.

Cultural tourism also fosters cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. As people engage with diverse cultures, they may develop a broader perspective and a greater respect for cultural differences. This can lead to increased tolerance and harmony among different societies.

However, it is important to be aware of the potential disadvantages of cultural tourism. For instance, there may be issues related to overcrowding, environmental impact, or the commodification of cultural traditions. This makes it crucial to manage cultural tourism responsibly, ensuring it benefits both the tourists and the host communities.

Disadvantages of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism has gained popularity in recent years, drawing visitors from around the globe to experience and appreciate diverse cultures. However, this type of tourism also brings several disadvantages that must be considered.

One significant drawback of cultural tourism is the potential for commodification of cultures. As communities open their doors to tourists, they risk losing the authenticity and uniqueness of their cultural identity. Traditional practices and artefacts may be tailored to appeal to the tourist market, diluting their cultural significance.

Moreover, cultural tourism can put pressure on resources and spaces used by local communities. The influx of tourists may lead to overcrowding and increased competition for essential amenities. This could negatively impact the quality of life for local residents and strain the available infrastructure.

Another issue is the potential for environmental degradation resulting from cultural tourism. Some tourist activities may involve access to sensitive natural areas, leading to erosion, pollution, or disturbance of wildlife habitats. The construction of tourist facilities and infrastructure can also threaten the environment.

Lastly, cultural tourism can contribute to the unequal distribution of economic benefits. While some members of the community may profit from tourism-related businesses, others may not be able to participate in or benefit from these enterprises. This could exaggerate income disparities and create economic imbalances within communities.

In conclusion, despite cultural tourism’s numerous benefits to travellers and host communities, it is crucial to acknowledge and address its potential negative aspects. To ensure the long-term success of cultural tourism, policies and practices must be implemented that prioritize the protection of cultural and environmental resources and promote equitable distribution of economic benefits.

Cultural Tourism Destinations

Cultural tourism is a popular type of travel that allows visitors to immerse themselves in various destinations’ history, heritage, and traditions. Throughout the world, numerous places provide rich cultural experiences for travellers. Here, we explore a few notable cultural tourism destinations.

China is a vast and diverse country with a history dating back thousands of years. One can explore the architectural wonders of the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, or the magnificent Forbidden City in Beijing. Visiting local markets and trying traditional cuisine also adds to the cultural experience in China.

India is another top destination for cultural tourism, offering many historical sites and vibrant traditions. The Taj Mahal in Agra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see with its iconic marble mausoleum. Another popular destination is Rajasthan , where the colourful cities and the royal palaces, such as the spectacular City Palace of Jaipur, offer a glimpse into the past.

France , specifically Paris , provides visitors with rich art, architecture, and cuisine. Iconic sites such as the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Eiffel Tower showcase the country’s artistic and architectural achievements throughout history.

Similarly, Spain is renowned for its rich cultural heritage with attractions such as the Alhambra in Granada, the Park Güell in Barcelona, designed by Gaudí, and the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Turkey , especially Istanbul , offers an intricate blend of European and Asian influences, with historic sites such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Topkapı Palace. Moreover, the open-air bazaars and Turkish baths deliver an authentic cultural experience.

Italy , the birthplace of the Renaissance, is brimming with artistic and architectural masterpieces. Cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice are steeped in history, allowing visitors to marvel at landmarks like the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica, or the Uffizi Gallery.

The beautiful island of Bali in Indonesia is known for its lush landscapes, Hindu temples, and vibrant arts scene, making it an excellent location for immersing oneself in the culture of the region.

Uzbekistan has gained attention recently as tourism grows along the Silk Road route. Visitors can admire the stunning architecture and mosaics of cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, which capture the rich heritage of the ancient trading route.

In conclusion, cultural tourism invites travellers to explore fascinating destinations across the globe. While each location offers unique experiences, they provide a deeper understanding of human history, traditions, and heritage.

Stakeholders of Cultural Tourism

Cultural tourism is a multi-faceted industry that brings value to travellers in search of authentic experiences and to a myriad of stakeholders. From local communities to government bodies and from small businesses to environmental conservation efforts, cultural tourism can shape economies and lifestyles in both positive and negative ways. This guide delves into the key stakeholders in the cultural tourism sector, exploring their roles, impacts, and interconnected interests.

Tourists: The Heart of the Industry

Arguably, tourists are the backbone of cultural tourism. Whether they are history enthusiasts seeking out ancient ruins or gastronomes on the hunt for authentic local cuisine, tourists drive demand and shape the landscape of the tourism industry. They often seek enriching experiences that can offer a deep understanding of local cultures.

Local Communities: The Soul of the Destination

Local communities provide the lived experience that many cultural tourists seek. These people preserve the traditions, language, and heritage sites that form the basis of cultural tourism. Unfortunately, they can also bear the brunt of poorly managed tourism through cultural commodification and environmental degradation.

Government Bodies: The Framework Providers

Local and national governments play an instrumental role in regulating and promoting cultural tourism. They invest in infrastructure, enforce zoning laws, and facilitate public services like safety and sanitation that are vital to the tourism industry.

Tourism Boards and Agencies: The Promoters

Tourism boards, often funded by governments, are responsible for marketing a destination’s cultural assets to the world. These bodies work closely with other stakeholders to develop tourism packages, advertise local attractions, and even set guidelines for responsible tourism.

Tour Operators and Travel Agents: The Experience Curators

Specializing in delivering personalized experiences, these businesses are intermediaries between tourists and destinations. They can make or break the quality of the cultural tourism experience through their choices of local partnerships, itineraries, and guides.

Cultural Institutions: The Keepers of Heritage

Museums, art galleries, and historical sites are essential touchpoints for cultural tourists. They collaborate closely with various stakeholders to ensure that cultural assets are preserved and made accessible to the public.

Artisans and Performers: The Artistic Impressions

Artisans and performers add texture to the cultural fabric of a destination. These stakeholders benefit from increased visibility and economic opportunities , providing tourists a gateway to the authentic local culture.

Small Business Owners: The Local Economy Boosters

From restaurants and cafes to souvenir shops, small businesses see a surge in revenue when cultural tourism is thriving. They form a vital part of the local economy, providing services that enrich the tourist experience.

Academics and Researchers: The Thought Leaders

Cultural tourism is a field ripe for academic inquiry, touching upon anthropology, economics, and sociology disciplines. Research in this area can help shape policies that benefit tourists and local communities.

NGOs: The Advocates of Sustainability

Organizations that focus on cultural or environmental conservation often align with the interests of responsible cultural tourism. They act as watchdogs and advocates, ensuring that tourism practices are sustainable and ethical.

Real Estate Developers: The Infrastructure Builders

Though not directly related to the culture, real estate is essential in accommodating the influx of tourists, especially in booming destinations. They must balance business interests with responsible development.

Media: The Influencers

Media outlets, including travel bloggers and journalists, have a significant role in shaping public perception of a destination. Their storytelling can amplify the benefits or expose the pitfalls of cultural tourism.

The Environment: The Unspoken Stakeholder

Although not a traditional “stakeholder,” the environment stands to be significantly affected by tourism activities. Sustainable practices must be adopted to preserve the natural and cultural landscapes that attract visitors in the first place.

Understanding the intricate web of stakeholders in cultural tourism is the first step in creating an industry that benefits all. As cultural tourism evolves, stakeholders must actively dialogue to ensure sustainable and enriching experiences for everyone involved.

Cultural Tourism Experience

Cultural tourism experiences provide a unique opportunity for travellers to immerse themselves in the local culture, customs, and traditions of the places they visit. These immersive travel experiences enable tourists to understand the heritage and identity of the communities they encounter.

One popular way to experience cultural tourism is through homestays. These accommodations offer the chance to live with a local family, providing a firsthand glimpse into their daily lives and customs. The cultural exchange within a homestay environment can be transformative, offering insights that would otherwise remain veiled during a typical sightseeing vacation.

Another important aspect of cultural tourism is engaging with the local communities, participating in their events and festivals, and learning about their history and heritage through interactions with the people there. These experiences enable travellers to connect meaningfully with locals, fostering mutual appreciation and understanding of different cultures.

Cultural experiences often focus on different dimensions, such as:

• Arts and crafts: Exploring local artisans’ craftsmanship and heritage by visiting workshops, galleries, and markets.
• Cuisine: Sampling regional culinary specialities can offer a taste of local culture, traditions, and history.
• Religious sites: Visiting places of worship offers insight into the spiritual beliefs and practices of the area.
• Performing arts: Engaging with local music, dance, and theatre performances can reveal unique cultural perspectives and expressions.

Cultural tourism emphasizes responsible travel and encourages visitors to respect and appreciate the local customs, traditions, and the natural environment while exploring new destinations. Tourists can create unforgettable memories by connecting with people from different backgrounds and gaining a deeper understanding of their practices and values, fostering greater global empathy and cultural appreciation.

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What is cultural tourism and how to make it part of your trips

Learn all about cultural tourism and find out about amazing destinations to live cultural experiences around the world.

Worldpackers Worldpackers

Jan 08, 2024

When you’re traveling, do you try to go beyond the surface and understand the different cultures that surround you? Then this article is for you. We will talk about the main characteristics of cultural tourism and will suggest 10 fascinating destinations with unique cultural aspects. 

We will also tell you how you can have a deeper cultural immersion than a typical tourist , mixing with locals and learning from them while you get free accommodation.

You might also like to read: 

• 20 ways to travel more intentionally
• 6 ways travel promotes learning and education

What is cultural tourism?

Cultural tourism is a form of travel that focuses on exploring and appreciating the unique traditions, history, and practices of a place . It is not just about visiting museums or attending festivals, but also delving deeply into the everyday aspects of local life. Authentic local food, local markets, and even casual chats with locals are an integral part of cultural tourism.

While a conventional tourist may seek relaxation and fun and focuses on visiting famous tourist places, the cultural tourist seeks to go beyond the superficial layer. They want to immerse themselves in local history, explore the unique customs of a region, and learn about its art and architecture. This type of experience is an opportunity to grow personally and empathize with people from different parts of the world.

Among the different types of cultural tourism, there are gastronomic tourism, rural tourism, religious tourism, ethnographic tourism, sports tourism, spiritual tourism, and voluntourism, to name a few.

Characteristics of cultural tourism

A main characteristic of cultural tourism is the deep appreciation for different cultures . Travelers not only visit a place to see its natural or architectural beauties, but also to immerse themselves in its culture and understand it thoroughly.

Another important characteristic is the constant educational component that exists in this type of trip. You don't just learn about a new culture: you are also an active part of the cultural exchange while sharing your own customs and knowledge with local people.

Respect for cultural heritage is another indispensable condition for the cultural tourist, since not only the most famous tourist attractions are visited, but also places of great importance for local communities, such as natural sites with a strong mythology, ruins of ancient civilizations, or religious temples. They are spaces that house ancestral stories and traditions, which must be valued and preserved with the greatest care.

You might also be interested in:  5 actionable ways to live like a local while traveling

Importance of cultural tourism

Cultural tourism allows travelers to immerse themselves in the heart of a culture and learn about its history, customs, and traditions. But it's not just travelers who benefit from cultural tourism.

Local communities also have much to gain as this form of travel can be a powerful driver for local economic development. Income generated by tourism can be reinvested in community projects, helping improve infrastructure and boost local employment.

Role of the cultural traveler

When we embark on a cultural journey, we are much more than just passive spectators: we actively become respectful participants within these diverse communities. It is vital to understand that each culture has its own unique identity forged by centuries - sometimes millennia - of history.

As cultural travelers, our role is to learn and respect these differences. It is this open-mindedness that allows us to experience the intrinsic beauty of the varied ways in which humans interpret and express our existence .

Being a responsible tourist is central so that both parties can benefit from this exchange, since lack of respect or damage caused in the place visited can have irreparable consequences. Visiting a community with the sole objective of taking photos for social media, without being really interested in it, can ruin places in the long run.

10 places where you can practice cultural tourism

Cultural tourism can be practiced anywhere in the world since there are countless diverse cultures all around us. As you travel you will realize that there are many more than you thought, because even within the same country there can be dozens or even hundreds of ethnic groups with their own religion, beliefs, mythology, dialect, gastronomy and so on.

Below we will see some of the most favorable destinations for cultural tourism, but obviously the choice of where to go depends on your interests.

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is known as the cultural heart of Japan. With its intact Shinto shrines and ancient Buddhist temples – such as Kinkaku-ji (the Temple of the Golden Pavilion) – Kyoto offers travelers an authentic glimpse into Japan's imperial past.

Don't forget to participate in a tea ceremony and stroll through Gion, a famous geisha neighborhood full of traditional houses where the maiko learn what is necessary to become geishas.

Keep reading about Japan:

• Japan off the beaten path: discover 6 unique non-touristy destinations
• Japan on a budget: live like a local and save your dollars
• How to teach English in Japan: the easiest way

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali and a must-see destination for travelers looking to immerse themselves in the rich history and traditions of this mythical Indonesian island. This small town is surrounded by terraced rice fields, lush tropical forests and centuries-old Hindu temples that look like something straight out of a postcard.

Unlike the tourist bustle of Kuta, Canggu or Seminyak, Ubud offers a more authentic and immersive experience when exploring its surroundings. Here you can learn about Balinese customs, participate in craft workshops, or attend local cooking classes . In addition, its vibrant art scene will allow you to discover everything from traditional dances to contemporary art.

Dharamsala, India

Located in the northern region of India, Dharamsala is known for being the residence of the Dalai Lama and the center of the Tibetan government in exile . Here you can visit the Dalai Lama temple, where you can witness Buddhist ceremonies and better understand this ancient tradition.

Aside from its rich religious heritage, you will also find a fascinating mix of Indian cultures and Tibetan influences that are reflected in both local customs and cuisine. You can enjoy typical dishes such as momos (dumplings) or thukpa (a noodle soup), while interacting with the friendly locals.

Another must-see attraction is the Dhauladhar mountains that surround Dharamshala; perfect for those adventurers interested in hiking while enjoying spectacular panoramic views. There is also the unique opportunity to learn about traditional Ayurvedic medicine through educational workshops offered by local experts.

Keep reading:   Discover India's top 3 best ecotourism destinations

Marrakesh, Morocco

Marrakech, in Morocco , is famous for its medina or old town, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here you can explore labyrinths of narrow alleys filled with colorful bazaars where local artisans sell their wares.

A visit to the imposing Bahia Palace or the Saadian tombs will transport you directly to Morocco's glorious past: it’s an impressive experience of cultural tourism.

You cannot miss the opportunity to try authentic Moroccan dishes , such as couscous or a delicious tagine while enjoying the lively and hypnotizing atmosphere in Jemaa el-Fna, one of the largest and busiest markets in the world.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is an ideal destination for cultural tourism. This magical city is located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, giving it a unique mix of Eastern and Western influences.

Its ancient history has left tangible traces that you can explore during your visit. From architectural wonders such as the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace or the majestic Hagia Sophia to its bustling bazaars full of colors, aromas, and unique flavors.

Turkish culture has a lot to offer: its rich gastronomy with emblematic dishes such as kebab or baklava; its impressive ancestral religious traditions such as that of the dancing dervishes; and its palpable modernity in vibrant neighborhoods like Beyoğlu where contemporary art galleries coexist with bohemian cafes.

Rome, Italy

Rome, the "Eternal City", is a living museum. From the Colosseum to the Vatican, every corner tells a fascinating story about ancient Roman civilization and its impact on our society today, making it a classic destination for cultural tourism.

You can tour the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum and admire masterpieces of Renaissance art at the Vatican Museums. Every step through Rome allows you to immerse yourself deeply in its vibrant culture and rich history.

Keep reading : The 20 best places to visit in Italy

Granada, Spain

Known for its stunning Moorish architecture and charming cobblestone streets, Granada is another perfect destination for travelers looking to have a cultural tourism experience in Europe.

This Andalusian city, in the South of Spain,  lies at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains and offers a unique mix of Moorish and Christian influences.

The Alhambra, a jewel of Islamic art with its intricate mosaics and hanging gardens, is its main tourist attraction, but there is much more in Granada. The UNESCO World Heritage neighborhood of Albayzín is full of winding streets where you can browse local shops or simply enjoy the panoramic views from one of the many viewpoints.

You also can't miss Sacromonte, famous for its gypsy caves converted into houses and even flamenco bars. Here you can experience an authentic flamenco nigh t, full of the passionate rhythm that characterizes this traditional dance from southern Spain.

Salvador de Bahia, Brazil

Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia and the fourth most populated city in Brazil . Founded in 1549 by the Portuguese, it was the most important center in the slave market, which over time led to an artistic culture where African expressions mixed with European and Indigenous influences.

No wonder it is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations: it combines beautiful beaches with history, festivals, and traditions , being considered the cultural capital of Brazil.

Pelourinho is the old neighborhood of Salvador de Bahía, declared a World Heritage Site. Its cobbled streets are full of historical sites, colonial architecture, museums, restaurants, bars, hotels, musicians, and capoeira.

Cusco, Peru

The charm of Cusco, Peru , lies in its rich history and culture that have survived through time. This ancient Peruvian city is another perfect destination for travelers interested in cultural tourism in South America.

As the cradle of the Inca Empire, Cusco offers an unmatched experience. Here you can explore ancient Inca ruins such as the famous citadel of Machu Picchu, a must-see for any history and archeology lover.

You can also visit other historical sites such as Sacsayhuamán or Pisac. And if you are looking to immerse yourself even more in the local culture, there is nothing better than trying the exquisite Andean cuisine and participating in its colorful traditional festivals.

In addition to being a living museum full of archaeological treasures, Cusco is also known for its vibrant nightlife with numerous bars and clubs where you can enjoy folk music while mingling with locals and other international travelers.

Guadalajara, Mexico

This vibrant city, known as the birthplace of mariachi, is full of history, traditions and art that reflect the richness of Mexican culture . You can stroll through the local squares where mariachi groups perform regularly or visit the famous Degollado Theater during one of its nightly shows.

But the cultural wealth of Guadalajara goes far beyond mariachi. The towns near this metropolis are famous for their impressive craft production . Tlaquepaque and Tonalá are two perfect examples: these places are full of workshops where you can watch artists work with clay, blown glass, and other ancient techniques to create wonderfully detailed pieces.

Guadalajara also offers a wealth of cultural and historical museums, as well as well-preserved colonial buildings that tell the history of Mexico . You cannot miss visiting the Hospicio Cabañas, an architectural jewel from the 19th century and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

In addition, the city is surrounded by agave plantations, the plant that is used to produce tequila and mezcal.

You might also like : Ul timate list of the best places to visit in Mexico: the top 13

Discover different cultures with Worldpackers

An excellent way to have a true cultural immersion in the places you travel is by volunteering through Worldpackers . This platform facilitates an exchange of work for accommodation which allows for transformative and budget-friendly trips.

It’s quite simple: you lend a hand in different projects for a few hours a day , and in return you get free accommodation on site. Depending on the host, you might also get other benefits such as free meals and activities.

This type of trip is super cheap, but that’s not the best part. Volunteering with Worldpackers you can meet many people with similar interests to yours and develop new skills, such as learning a language , bartending, or bioconstruction. 

From hostels in big cities to organic farms and holistic centers surrounded by nature , the possibilities are plenty. There are positions available in all of the countries mentioned in this article and much more: there are more than 140 countries available on the platform.

Keep reading : 

• Collaborative tourism: what are collaborative travel relationships?
• 6 types of volunteer work abroad that give you free accommodation
• How to find volunteering opportunities around the world using Worldpackers

Did that spike your interest? Create a free profile on Worldpackers and start saving your favorite volunteering positions. And if you liked these tips on how to practice cultural tourism around the world, let us know in the comments section below! 

Join the community!

Create a free Worldpackers account to discover volunteer experiences perfect for you and get access to exclusive travel discounts!

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30+ Unique Cultural Experiences Every Traveller Should Try at Least Once

Do you travel for culture?

Whether it’s festivals, traditional rituals or hands-on workshops where you can learn a new skill, there are countless opportunities to immerse yourself in local culture on your travels.

This list brings together 30+ of the world’s most unique travel experiences that will teach you something about local culture and about yourself.

I hope you find some inspiration for your next journey inside!

• World’s best destinations for cultural travellers
• Best cultural festivals around the world
• Unique food cultures around the globe
• My collection of cultural travel guides for 30+ cities and regions
• World’s best unique & underrated travel destinations

Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Learn more.

Unique cultural experiences around the world

Celebrate day of the dead in oaxaca, mexico.

Celebrating Day of the Dead in Oaxaca is a true Mexico bucket-list experience. Día de Muertos is marked in cities and states throughout the country, though some celebrations are more culturally immersive than others.

One of the best places for a cultural Día de Muertos experience is Oaxaca City, the capital of Oaxaca state. The holiday takes place on November 1-2, though many arrive early to see the town gear up for the occasion. As Day of the Dead envelopes this entire city, preparations start a week prior.

Día de Muertos is an important part of Mexican culture and has pre-Hispanic roots, as the Aztecs celebrated a multi-day holiday to commemorate the dead. It was later intertwined with the Catholic Allhallowtide holiday, and further still, there are many contemporary traditions.

Today, it’s one of the most important festivals in Oaxaca. It is a time to remember our deceased loved ones, but also to celebrate with them as it’s said their spirits will return Earthside for the holiday.

While this is a holiday about death, it is also a festive celebration, complete with comparsas (parades), elaborate ofrendas (altars), street parties, and more.

By Shelley from Travel Mexico Solo

Participate in a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, Japan

It’s no secret Japan has managed to embrace centuries-old traditions whilst bringing them into the present day. The best way to better understand the unique culture of Japanese people is through local experiences, and a tea ceremony in Kyoto is no exception!

Who better than an actual geisha to talk you through the different components of this beautiful tradition ? She will teach you the four key principles of a ceremony made popular by Sen no Rikyu (one of Japan’s Great Tea Masters of the 16th century); demonstrate a purification process of the utensils used; illustrate how to whisk the matcha powder correctly; show you the correct way to hold the tea bowl; and explain why it’s polite to loudly slurp the final sip.

A traditional tea ceremony perfectly embodies the attention to detail that is displayed in many aspects of life in Japanese culture. Why not see for yourself in the very city it was first introduced in Japan?

By Alyse from The Invisible Tourist

Recieve a traditional Buddhist blessing in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap AKA ‘Temple Town’, the home of Angkor Wat , is the spiritual heartland of Cambodia and one of the country’s must-visit destinations . Cultural travellers should take the time to go beyond the typical tuk-tuk tours and delve deeper into the world of Theravada Buddhism.

Cambodia’s official religion since the 13th century, Buddhism is a critical part of the local culture and informs all aspects of daily life. Receiving a traditional Buddhist blessing at one of Siem Reap’s temples will help you to better understand Cambodia, and set you in good stead for the rest of your travels.

The ceremony starts when you enter the temple and make an offering to the resident monks before joining them to sit cross-legged on a floor mat. After a series of rituals, a red string bracelet is tied around each participant’s wrist. In Cambodian culture the colour red symbolises faith, good luck and protection. The bracelet absorbs negative energy and must be worn until it falls off (it’s bad luck to cut it!).

The blessing continues with chanting, praying, and a water anointment. If you participate in a ceremony as part of a Buddhism Tour with social enterprise Ayana Journeys , you’ll then have a chance to chat to the monks about their daily life and learn more about the Buddhist tradition.

Don’t miss the opportunity to receive a traditional blessing in Cambodia, one of the best cultural experiences in the world.

Herd sheep at the Rettir in Iceland

If you’re looking for one of the most unique experiences in Europe, then head to Iceland in September for Rettir .

First, it’s important to know that there are more than twice as many sheep as humans in Iceland – crazy, right? Rettir, herding the sheep for the winter, is a tradition with a 300-plus year history.

In summer, Icelandic farmers allow their sheep to wander. There is little fear of large predators as they don’t exist in Iceland, so the sheep can enjoy roaming the Icelandic Highlands without worry during the warmer months.

When the weather turns cold, it’s time for Rettir, the annual gathering of the sheep by farmers, family and friends. Once the sheep are found, they are corralled into a large circular pen and then distributed back to their farmers.

This event is a joyful celebration and visitors to Iceland are more than welcome to help out. There are so many sheep so the more hands the better. If you want to partake in this wonderful community tradition, research in advance or ask around once you arrive in Iceland.

By Victoria from Iceland Trippers

Go nomadic camping in Kyrgyzstan

Experience the life of a nomad by sleeping in an authentic yurt in Kyrgyzstan. A Kyrgyz yurt is a mobile dome-like dwelling made with mostly natural materials. The birch structure has a wood stove and is covered in water-resistant wool and felt, providing warmth in harsh weather conditions.

Unlike the ‘glamping’ tents you see in first-world countries, these traditional yurts function as a family home. You will see Kyrgyz people tending to their livestock, preparing dinner and raising their family in remote areas that you can only reach by foot or 4×4.

To experience the beauty of the country, go on a 3-day horse trek to Song Kol Lake with Kyrgyz Riders. The trek takes you through awe-inspiring sights to an alpine lake sitting at 3,016m elevation. Along the way you will stay at authentic yurt camps where you can live a day in the life of a Kyrgyz nomad. It’s an incredible way to learn about a different culture and appreciate the nature around you. 

By Cecily from Groovy Mashed Potatoes

Paddle an outrigger canoe in Hawaii

A Hawaiian Canoe Experience is perfect for those looking to gain a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture. Many hotels in Hawaii now offer unique cultural activities such as outrigger canoe trips to redefine what constitutes a genuinely ‘authentic’ Hawaiian island experience.

The first Polynesian outrigger canoes appeared in Hawaii in about 200 AD. Some of them were large enough to carry up to 80 people as well as essential items such as food, water and animals for the cautious voyagers who set off in search of new territory. Explorers quickly discovered the Hawaiian Islands after following bird sightings overhead.

Paddling a traditional Hawaiian canoe is an incredible experience and will give you a true appreciation of Hawaiian culture and history. Along the way, take part in traditional Hawaiian songs as you paddle along the south coast of Maui, with views of Mt. Haleakala, the West Maui Mountains, and the islands of Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Molokini.

By Casandra from Karpiak Caravan

Harvest grapes for Rtveli in Georgia, one of the world’s best cultural experiences for wine lovers

The nation of Georgia has no shortage of amazing travel experiences on offer at any time of year. But for a truly memorable encounter, visit Georgia in autumn for the Rtveli wine harvest.

Rtveli is tied to the country’s 8,000-year-old winemaking tradition, UNESCO-listed for its value to global culture. The Georgian technique sees grapes with their skins, seeds and stalks still attached fermented underground in huge clay vessels called Qvevri . The result is a full-bodied, natural wine.

During Rtveli, some 10,000-plus families attend to their vineyards to pluck the season’s grapes and prepare them for the Qvevri. It’s an auspicious time accompanied by feasting, music and much celebration. Many of the bigger wineries organise special Rtveli events for visitors to participate in.

The Rtveli usually starts in the final weeks of September in Kakheti region and runs as late as November in Western Georgia’s Guria , Racha-Lechkhumi and Adjara regions.

Tend the rice fields in Luang Prabang, Laos

As you travel around Laos, you’ll see countless rice fields peppered across the landscape. Rice has been grown in Laos for centuries, and today it plays a large part in the national economy and the fabric of life as well as being a major food source for local people.

If you want to learn more about how rice is cultivated with a truly hands-on experience, head to the Living Land Rice Farm just outside Luang Prabang .

Probably the best rice farm experience in Laos , this innovative local enterprise lets you try out the different stages of production for yourself. First up is the ploughing, which you get to do with a real water buffalo! It’s bare feet all the way as you wade through the muddy paddies. Then you’ll have a go at planting, harvesting, threshing, and grinding, all using traditional tools.

At the end of your day, you can taste the fruits of your labour with a special rice-themed meal.

By Heather from Conversant Traveller

Tour a coffee farm in Jardin, Colombia

If you’re travelling to Colombia and want to have the best cultural experience possible, you simply can’t miss out on a coffee farm tour. Learn all about Colombian coffee and its production process, everything from planting the seed right up to sipping a cup of perfectly ground coffee.

You’ll learn that Coffee production in Colombia is an integral part of life for many families who live in Colombia’s coffee region , and despite the uphill struggle, have continued this trade for many generations. As with most agritourism tours, you’ll pay a fee to take part in a coffee farm workshop and have a go at picking the coffee beans as well as learn all about the drying, fermenting, and roasting process.

Since there are thousands of farms around the country, aim to select a farm like Finca Florida in Jardín , which specialises in Organic coffee crops for the most authentic experience which will also enable you to dig deeper into the everyday life of a Colombian coffee farmer.

By Dan from Layer Culture

Overnight at a desert camp in Oman

Oman’s desert, the Sharqiya Sands (Wahiba Sands), is one of the most magnificent places to visit in the country . Not only is this landscape of never-ending rippled dunes, deep wadis and oases easy on the eye, it’s also a huge part of Oman’s national identity.

Spending the night in the desert is a popular activity throughout the Middle East . In Oman, traditional Bedouin-style camps preserve a part of the local culture that’s missing from some other places. Luxury tents use traditional woven textiles and antique tea sets, while music performances and activities such as camel riding are designed to teach participants about the Bedouin way of life.

Overnighting in the Empty Quarter and immersing yourself in Oman’s rich heritage is one of the most unforgettable cultural travel experiences you’ll find in the region. Be sure to set aside a night or two in your Oman travel itinerary to travel deep into the desert and fall asleep under the stars.

Do a spontaneous homestay in Iraq

The most beautiful experience you can have in Iraq is staying with Iraqi families. I had the privilege to get to know the loveliest people and families of the world while I was travelling in Iraq .

In Iraq, homestays are on a completely different level than anywhere else on the planet. Hospitality is literally in the blood of the Iraqi people. When you are a guest, you are above everything. People bend over backwards to make you feel comfortable and welcome in their home.

Getting to know locals is remarkably easy because Iraqi people are extremely friendly and welcoming. I found myself spontaneously part of an Iraqi family many times.

It started with a Facebook group, called Iraqi Travelers Café. Through this group, I made friends who introduced me to their friends who then hosted me in their family homes. Afterwards, I was just making local friends on the fly both online and offline.

Making friends on the road by chance was literally a chain reaction. You make a friend in one city, then that friend will put you in touch with one of his friends living in your next travel destination. This will keep going on as long as you are in Iraq. If you tag your location in real-time on social media, you will open yourself up to kind people who want to get to know you and host you.

It’s all about letting yourself go and going with the flow, trusting people, and becoming part of an Iraqi family for a couple of days. It’s a truly life-changing and culturally enriching experience and it’s one of the things that makes Iraq one of my favourite travel destinations.

By Diana from The Globetrotting Detective

Eat like a local at Lobsterfest in Belize

Belize holds many festivals every year, but Lobsterfest is one of the most famous. This three-day annual event is celebrated in June to mark the start of the Lobster season.

The first day of Lobsterfest is especially meaningful to many Belizeans because Lobster is a key source of income for many fishermen, restaurant and hotel owners. Traditionally, small lobster festivals were organised by local fishing communities, but now they’ve grown into bigger events that attract many locals and tourists.

Lobsterfest happens on staggered weekends in Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker and Placencia. Visitors come from all over the country and abroad to demolish numerous lobster dishes including lobster ceviche, grilled lobster, lobster kebabs, lobster pizzas, and more.

The main reason to go to Lobsterfest is, of course, for the food. However, you’ll want to stay on long after your stomach is full for the entertainment. You’ll find live music, dancing, beach parties with well-stocked bars, competitions, contests and games.

If you’re not sure which Lobsterfest to attend, Placencia is said by many to hold the best event. It’s one of the most exciting and immersive things to do in Placencia and Belize if you’re there in June.

By Tanya from Can Travel Will Travel

Cook Cape Malay cuisine at a cooking class in Bo Kaap, Cape Town

Cape Town is such an incredible holiday destination, with endless adventures and beautiful landscapes. But one of the most interesting things about the city is its cultural diversity.

South Africa has eleven official languages, and a great deal more cultures and traditional communities . One of these is the Cape Malay people, who live primarily in Bo Kaap, a part of Cape Town which was a racially segregated area during Apartheid and has now been declared a national heritage site.

Bo Kaap is stunning, with candy-coloured houses and cobblestone streets overlooking Cape Town city centre . It’s here that Faldela, a Cape Malay woman, hosts a cooking class in her purple home.

During this Cape Malay cooking class in Faldela’s kitchen , you’ll learn to make the delicious, deeply flavoured food traditional to this community, including a curry and samoosas. It’s a lovely hands-on class that ends with a filling meal of everything you’ve made and a dessert of koeksisters . It’s the perfect introduction to South Africa!

By Katja from WanderCapeTown

Learn to dance Salsa in Colombia

Colombia and Salsa go hand-in-hand – everywhere you go, you walk to the sound of upbeat music. Dancing is such a huge part of Colombian identity and social life, there’s really no better way to get to the heart of the nation than by learning a few steps.

The Salsa genre was born in New York and is a combination of moves from Harlem, Cuba and Puerto Rico. When sailors brought Salsa to Colombia in the 1970s, the nation embraced it wholeheartedly. The city of Cali is now considered the world capital of salsa, and you can find clubs called salsatecas all around the country.

Most Colombians learn to dance at a young age by osmosis. Visitors who need a little extra help to get into the swing of things should sign up for a one-on-one class or workshop. Academies in Medellin and Bogota offer crash courses in Salsa, or you can take a private class with a small company such as 5Bogota , where you’ll learn intimate details about Salsa’s significance.

Don’t worry if you can’t master the moves – Colombians are not at all judgemental and as long as you’re bouncing around and smiling, you’ll be the life of the party!

Watch China’s oldest opera performance, Kunqu, at the Fuxi Tea House in Suzhou

Kunqu opera is one of the oldest forms of storytelling in China and remains popular to this day with locals. More than 600 years old, it’s considered the origin of Chinese opera and drama. It’s also recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Suzhou, the birthplace of Kunqu, is still the best place to experience this unique aspect of Chinese culture. The Fuxi Tea House hosts a nightly Kunqu performance where visitors can drink tea while watching the performer do her makeup and get ready for the performance.

As she prepares, she talks, jokes and entertains the audience, who can also ask her questions. You are not merely a spectator but a part of the performance.

It’s spectacular to see an ordinary woman transform into a masterful performer. Once the makeup is done and the costume donned, the actual Kunqu performance begins.

Listening to the graceful sing-talking accompanied by traditional music in a teahouse next to a beautiful canal is one of the most unique things to do in Suzhou .

By DeWet & Jin from Museum of Wander

Offer a Canang Sari in Bali

Known for its vibrant and unique culture, Bali is the stage for many of the world’s most beautiful traditions . Canang Sari is one such ritual that all visitors get a chance to observe or participate in when staying on the island.

Canang Sari is a daily offering prepared by Hindu followers as a gesture of gratitude and prayer to Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa, the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism. Though spiritual at its core, the offering also symbolises peace and self-sacrifice. The very act of crafting the intricate offering teaches mindfulness and awareness.

Each and every Canang Sari is hand-crafted from banana leaf, betel nut, palm leaves, flowers, and other natural materials. The layering and placement of each component has special significance.

Once complete, the offering is placed either at the temple or inside the home. Canang Sari experts offer workshops in Bali to teach visitors the art of preparation. To see thousands of offerings and participate in the ritual of taking them to the temple, visit Bali during one of the religious festivals such as Purnama or Kliwon.

Purify body & soul at a Mayan Temazcal Ceremony in Mexico

Experience Mexicos’ Mayan culture with a traditional Temazcal ceremony. This indigenous ritual dates back thousands of years and is valued both for its role in cleansing and spirituality.

Although there are variations of Temazcales throughout Mexico and Central America, they all involve domed sweat lodge structures made of adobe, brick or mud.

During the communal ceremony, participants enter through a small doorway and are seated around the perimeter. At the center of the structure, water is poured over heated volcanic rocks producing steam.

Then, under the direction of a shaman or Temazcalera , fragrant herbs such as basil, rosemary and eucalyptus are laid over the stones, releasing healing properties intended to purify, mind, body and spirit. At the Xcaret cenote in Riviera Maya and other locations, there may also be a circle of fire, music, chanting, massage and prayer.

No matter where you choose to go for your Temazcal, it’s a magical cultural experience that’s sure to leave you feeling renewed, revitalised and restored.  

By Michele from A Taste for Travel

Witness the Aarti Evening Ceremony in Varanasi, India

The Ganges River has been worshipped in the Hindu culture for centuries, as it’s recognised as a personification of Goddess Ganga herself. Followers bathe in its sacred waters and cremate their loved ones on its shores in an attempt to transport their souls to heaven and stop the cycle of rebirth.

Every evening in the holy city of Varanasi, an Aarti or ritual is held on the shores of the Ganges. Since 80% of the Indian people are Hindu, it’s an opportunity to witness and create a deeper understanding of the country’s culture.

The ritual is a haunting explosion of sounds and sights. Plumes of smoke rise from lamps stirred in circular movements; devotees then cup their hands over the flames and raise their palms to their forehead for purification and blessing.

Hire a boat to take you to the shoreline at the Dasaswamedh Ghat at around 5.30pm in order to get a good view of this unique cultural experience in India.

By Haley from Haley Blackall Travels

Appreciate India’s diversity at the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland

The Hornbill Festival in Nagaland , India is a massive celebration of the 17 Naga tribes of this northeast Indian state: The Ao, Konyak, Angami, Sumi, Lotha, and others.

During the Hornbill Festival, which takes place every year in December, performing troupes from the various tribes come together to put on a culturally immersive show especially for visitors from around the world.

From fire-making demonstrations to the beating of the traditional log drum and several folk dance performances, this festival has it all. Come evening, one can feast on traditional Naga cuisines and chug homemade rice beer. There are also stalls selling traditional Naga arts and handicrafts to take home as souvenirs.

The first Hornbill Festival was organised in the year 2000 to promote Naga heritage and inter-tribal interaction. Today this 10-days long fanfare is spread across many parts of Nagaland, but is mainly celebrated in the Kisama village of Kohima district.

By Avantika from Wayward Wayfarer

Attend the world’s biggest art crawl at Durga Puja in Kolkata

Durga Puja celebrates the yearly visit of the goddess from her home in the Himalaya and is a festive time for Bengali families. It’s one of the biggest festivals of India, celebrated in Kolkata with a kind of fervour and devotion that has to be experienced to be believed. The festival is more than religious, it is culturally significant and literally takes over the entire city for about 10 days every autumn. 

Basically, Durga Puja is the peak cultural and religious event each year for Bengalis wherever they are – but Kolkata is ground zero. Everyone buys new clothes and clears their schedules so they can devote the festival period to visiting relatives, feasting on festival specialties, attending pujas (a different one each day) and going pandal hopping. 

There are probably more than 4,000 Durga Puja pandals set up all across the city of Kolkata, from the relatively modest to the big, spectacular and award-winning ones that draw massive crowds, day and night. You really need a guide to Durga Puja, Kolkata to do this festival right, as it’s probably the world’s biggest art crawl.

Plus, you need patience, good shoes, water, an umbrella and energy bars!

By Mariellen from Breathedreamgo

Light it up at Burns Night in Scotland

If you want to experience the true sense of Scotland , including the history and culture, the best night of the year to visit is Burns Night.

Burns Night commemorates the life of Robert Burns (the poet who wrote ‘Auld Lang Syne’, among other works) and is celebrated each year on January 25th (although some of the bigger celebrations might be held over the nearest weekend).

The Scots love any excuse for a good party and you can find a wide range of celebrations, from informal gatherings of friends and families to huge organised dinners and events. 

A traditional Burns Night starts with a piper, the greeting, ‘Sláinte Mhath!” (Good Health!) with a glass of whisky, and then food. Lots of food. The menu often includes a starter of Cullen skink (creamy seafood soup), main course of haggis (a food central to one of Robert Burns’ most famous poems), neeps and tatties with whisky sauce, followed by clootie dumpling pudding.

Afterwards, you can expect more whisky (lots of it) and there will most definitely be music and hopefully traditional Scottish dancing.

This is a night to book a hotel or go campervanning in Scotland so you have somewhere to crash nearby. Honestly, you probably won’t remember much – but hopefully you’ll wake up knowing you had an amazing night and looking forward to next year!

By Kat from Wandering Bird

Welcome spring at the Masopust in Czechia

An annual ritual, Masopust ( Shrovetide ) parades take place all over the Czech Republic (Czechia) in anticipation of the coming spring.

Masopust, sometimes called ‘the Czech version of Mardi Gras’, is an old tradition designed to chase away winter. Traditionally, the processions were attended by men in special costumes and masks, who, walking from house to house, sang, danced and performed activities assigned to their specific roles.

Often there was a pig slaughter during the festivities, with the meat used to create delicious winter dishes.

In some regions, Masopust is accompanied by various competitions, for example for the best ham or sausage. These traditional parades have been inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010.

Today, the Masopust parades are still colourful and full of joy. There aren’t that many costumes anymore, but people still have a great time. If you are in the Czech Republic in February, look around on the internet to see if there is an organised Masopust in the area! The most interesting celebrations take place in the town of Hlinsko and the Eastern Bohemia region.

By Jakub from TymRazem

Walk the Camino in Spain

Spain is a vast and diverse country, a destination that offers practically every kind of travel experience one could imagine: Gastronomy, art, history, beaches… The list goes on.

Perhaps one of the most immersive travel experiences in Spain is the Camino de Santiago , an ancient Christian pilgrimage that ends in the historic Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela. Completed by thousands of pilgrims over the centuries, the ancient trail is a journey that immerses your mind, body and soul into every part of Spain’s vibrant culture.

While the pilgrimage routes vary in length and difficulty, the Camino de Santiago offers a unique opportunity to see parts of Spain very few tourists experience.

Traversing on foot through remote villages, vineyards , metropolitan cities and mountain ranges for sometimes hundreds of kilometres, the Camino is a travel experience very few people come back from unchanged, a trip that leaves you humbled and, if you’ve not eaten or drunk your weight in Spanish food and wine, a few kilos lighter!

By Samantha from The Gallivanting Gallos

Eat your heart out on a food tour in Bologna, Italy

The beautiful Italian city of Bologna is known for its medieval centre and handsome arched porticoes, which make every street feel that little bit more grand.

However, Bologna is also a foodie mecca in Europe . It is in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which has given the world such classics as Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano and Aceto Balsamico di Modena.

One of the best and most culturally immersive things to do in Bologna is get to the heart of the region’s culinary scene on a food tour. A walking tour with Delicious Bologna is an in-depth educational and sensory journey through the history and traditions of Emilia-Romagna.

It starts with a light breakfast at a coffee bar followed by a tour of the shops in the old Quadrilatero area, where you’ll learn about the local products. You will also visit a small factory to see Bologna’s most authentic pasta, tortellini, being made by hand.

After this, you will have an aperitivo , local wine paired with a range of cold meats and sausages, cheeses and aged vinegars. Next up is a lunch of hand-made pasta at a trattoria.

The sweet finish is of course delicious gelato, served the traditional way from covered steel urns.

By Martha from May Cause Wanderlust

Visit a working Estancia ranch in Argentina

When one thinks of Argentina, the image that often comes to mind is that of gauchos, cattle, and more red meat than any one person can eat. All of that stems from a rural culture that is vital to the country’s history and economy.

If you find yourself in Argentina, visiting a historic working ranch called an Estancia is the best way to experience this authentic side of Argentine life.

All ranches that are open to the public, like these best estancias near Buenos Aires , offer a full day of events called a Dia de Campo (day in the countryside). Upon arrival, you’ll be met with empanadas and wine. There will be a traditional Asado barbecue, horseback rides, and depending on the estancia, you may see displays of folkloric music and dancing, traditional native horse taming (called Doma India ), or displays of gaucho games on horseback.

Many also double as bed and breakfasts if you’d like to extend the experience and wake up in the Argentine pampas.

By Erin from Sol Salute

Sign up for a responsible desert safari in Dubai

Dubai is known for its jaw-dropping architecture, innovative projects and luxurious hotels. But behind that glamorous facade is a rich Emirati culture that started with the Bedouins. Taking a desert safari in Dubai is an excellent opportunity to learn more about that cultural heritage.

Of course, not all desert tours are created equal. Some have a very touristic approach and focus on action and entertainment. They take visitors on an exhilarating dune bashing tour, climbing over the red sand dunes at rapid speeds before ending the evening at a desert camp for an evening of belly dances that, while spectacular, are not part of Emirati culture.

But then there are other tours that focus on responsible travel. These usually operate within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve and educate visitors about the resident Arabian oryx and gazelles during an eco-friendly wildlife drive or camel ride.

Next up is a falconry demonstration that explains how Emirati used to train wild falcons and use them to hunt for food. The evening concludes at a torch-lit desert camp, where Arabic coffee roasting and rigag bread making demonstrations show guests the Bedouin way of life.

After enjoying an authentic Emirati dinner, visitors can also participate in a traditional drumming session or watch Yola dancers enact the same ritual that their ancestors used to perform after hunting.

By Sarah from CosmopoliClan

Spend time with the Maasai in Kenya

While many people imagine Kenya being all open savannah and wildlife, it’s so much more than that. There’s a cultural pride that you can feel when you visit. It radiates through the air, in the cities, and even on a safari in Kenya .

A great way to experience Kenya’s cultural diversity up-close is to spend some time with the Maasai, one of the few tribes who have maintained most of their traditions, lifestyle and lore. They are semi-nomadic and live by herding cattle and goats. While visiting Kenya, many safaris have an option of spending a day with the Maasai.

You can visit a number of the Maasai huts including their homes, school, and community centre. A medic will demonstrate how they use local supplies to aid in healing (including preventing malaria), and some of the women might show you how they prepare food for the tribe.

While the children use computers at school and some of the adults work outside the tribe, the Maasai have maintained their connection with the land and with Kenya as a whole.

To ensure your visit benefits the local community, book with a responsible ecotourism company such as award-winning One Horizon .

By Pamela from The Directionally Challenged Traveler

Attend an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony and Culture walk in Australia

A Smoking Ceremony is an ancient custom conducted by Aboriginal Australians. an important ceremony that aims to cleanse and protect the well-being of participants, it often takes place at the beginning of an event or tour accompanied by a Welcome to Country.

First, a fire is built using various native plants that produce smoke. Plants may be chosen for their medicinal qualities. When the smoke starts to rise, an Elder may welcome visitors and explain a little about the reason for the ceremony. They may then invite you to take part either by walking through the smoke or watching silently.

If you choose to walk through the smoke, you may be encouraged to wave the smoke up and around your body as a way of providing protection and connecting to country.

The ceremony may have slight variations depending on which tribal country it is taking place in. We joined a smoking ceremony with Djiriba Waagura on Yuin Country on the New South Wales South Coast. It was part of a 2.5-hour cultural experience that included a walk where you learn about plants used for medicinal purposes, traditional fire practices and bush tucker knowledge, and a dance performance.

By Paula from Australia Your Way

Spend time with the Himba people at the Ovahimba Living Museum in Namibia

Visiting the Himba people in Namibia is a not-to-miss cultural experience. The Himba, one of the indigenous tribes in Namibia, are a nomadic people who live in the Kunene Region near the border with Angola. The Himba are very distinguishable from other local tribes.

Semi-nomadic, the Himba have inhabited this region for hundreds of years. During the 20th century, their very existence was endangered as civil wars, genocide and terrible floods almost put an end to their traditional lifestyle.

The Ovahimba Living Museum is one of the best places in Namibia to experience Himba culture. People live there the same way their ancestors did hundreds of years ago and preserve their traditions and unique lifestyle. Everything from building houses to cooking food and making clothes is exactly the way it used to be.

The village is not a tourist set-up: All the inhabitants, including children, live there permanently. Visitors are encouraged to participate in activities rather than merely observe. This is a responsible community tourism project run by the Himba people themselves, which makes it even more authentic.

The best way to experience the village is to camp there for a couple of days. During your stay, you get a chance to learn a lot about the Himba and their way of life. 

By Alya from Stingy Nomads

Discover portals to another world in Stonetown, Zanzibar

The old roads of Stonetown in Zanzibar speak volumes about the island’s past. The island thrives on the idea of Pole Pole , literally translating as a mindset that celebrates slow living. The iconic Zanzibari doors , part of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Stonetown, are a joyous celebration of human history and cultures.

Dating back to the 17th century, the gateways to affluent traders’ houses are studded with elaborate designs, celebrating all kinds of different cultures that came to the island with the trade ships. The Swahili doors are washed in aqua marine blue and appear minimalist in design.

The Arab doors are elaborately designed, with crushing waves sculpted in the corner. Doors from India, specially from the coast of Gujarat, have intricate woodwork and beams strong enough to resist an elephant attack. There are even Chinese doors with oriental lanterns hanging from the roof in bright red hues.

It is an intriguing experience to walk the streets of Zanzibar and find these old traders’ houses where the prized Zanzibari doors still stand. Most of them, sadly, were traded on the black market before UNESCO actively started protecting these beautiful cultural monuments.

By Madhurima from Orange Wayfarer

Strike a bargain at the Panglima Sugala Barter Market in Tawi-Tawi, the Philippines

One of the best cultural experiences in Southeast Asia is staying at Bongao, a small island in Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao, Philippines. Unlike other places in the country, it is not yet commercialised – so you can enjoy an authentic experience mingling with the locals and getting to know their lifestyle.

There are several homestays on the island where visitors can talk with their hosts, taste local cuisine , and even witness traditional clothing on occasions.

There are so many things to do in Tawi-Tawi , particularly in Bongao, that you can spend several days here and still feel like it’s not enough time. You can also visit local spots on the island, including the market, the Old Chinese Pier where boats deliver their catch of the day, Badjao Village where the Badjao (sea gypsies) live and practice traditional weaving, and the sacred mountain called Bud Bongao.

Another must-do activity is visiting Panglima Sugala, where a traditional barter is held every Saturday and Sunday between the island’s residents and the Badjao. Locals bring land produce and the Badjao offer seafood and other sea bounties in return. Traditional exchange is practiced here, but cash is also accepted so you can buy things for yourself.

By Katherine from Tara Lets Anywhere

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What is Cultural Tourism and Why is It Important?

Tourism trends come and go. What was once deemed as a necessity in travel and tourism may not be a necessity today. So what is cultural tourism and why is it important? Let’s dive in!

How is Culture Defined?

In order to understand cultural tourism, we must first understand what constitutes culture. 

Culture is rooted in many complexities and many inner workings. On the surface level, culture can be defined through symbols, words, gestures, people, rituals and more. 

However, the core of culture is in its values. 

The way a culture perceives itself or stays preserved is through a set of shared values. 

Maybe its an ode to ancestry and tradition or a new breadth of 

However, the core of culture is in its values.

Whether it’s an ode to ancestry or creating a new set of values as time evolves, it can be also be held true to the 

Whether it’s an ode to ancestry or creating a new set of values as time evolves, cultural tourism is uprooted in holding and preserving cultures through traditions and heritage.  [1]

What is Cultural Tourism?

Adopted by the UNWTO General Assembly in 2017, Cultural Tourism is defined as the following: “A type of tourism activity in which the visitor’s essential motivation is to learn, discover, experience and consume tangible and intangible cultural attractions/products in a tourism destination.”

The main aim of cultural tourism is to improve the quality and livelihood of the local people who are committed to preserving cultural heritage and traditions. 

This can be through the purchase of locally made goods, initiatives through local food and the learning of recipes, 

This can be through the purchase of locally made goods, initiatives to learn how to cook local recipes and supporting local inbound operators who have a good knowledge of the cities they are operating in. 

This can be done through the following six aspects:

• Handcrafted Goods and Visual Art
• Social Practices
• Rituals and Festive Events
• Oral Traditions

Imagine visiting one of our destinations: Jordan, Tunisia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or Tanzania. 

Imagine being able to experience all six of these aspects of cultural tourism all created in one package.

Where Can You Practice Cultural Tourism?

Jordan .

From the North to the South, Jordan’s landscapes and its people are ready to welcome you to each and every experience. 

In the North, experience the gastronomy of locally preserved recipes and take your hand at being able to learn how to cook yourself. 

Take your hand at handcrafted goods like making baskets out of wheat straws or learn the art of traditional weaving in Madaba. 

In the South, practice in rituals in the desert by learning about the infamous Bedouin tea, take some words and practices that are so pertinent to those in the South. 

See our packages in Jordan

Underground colonies, history and a rich culture are just waiting for you to learn about. 

Visit an artist in Gabes who has taken traditional methods of papermaking and carried it to the present today by honoring raw and organic materials pertinent to the atmosphere of Tunisia’s landscape. 

Then have an opportunity to stay in local accommodation in underground colonies which stay cool during the summer and warm in the winter.

You can also experience Amazigh history and the different languages present in Tunisia today that trace back to civilizations many years ago. 

See our packages in Tunisia

Uzbekistan 

One of Central Asia’s unknown wonders

Uzbekistan is located on the Silk Road and holds centuries of history that trace back to the Islamic Golden Age. It holds a unique architectural background and since it holds history between the Persian Empire and the Soviet Union, you can see a contradiction between both styles, all in one place. 

See our packages in Uzbekistan

Kyrgyzstan 

Where nature is a non-negotiable

With its beautiful nature, with over 2,000 lakes, Kyrgyzstan is another Central Asian wonder that holds beautiful fairytale naturescapes and semi-nomadic living. 

Kyrygz people still adhere to ancient civilizations and honor their ancestors by living in Yurts and sharing natural practices such as horseback riding and traditional old games, like Kok Boro and eagle hunting. 

See our packages in Kyrgyzstan 

Everything is “pole pole” in Tanzania

From visiting indigeneous tribes to participating in rituals to mother nature, Tanzanian people practice the “pole pole” lifestyle, which means slowly slowly in Swahili. 

With an intersection of different cultures and practiced rituals, Tanzania has become such a hub for many people to get together and enjoy the lifestyle and indigenous cultures. 

See our packages in Tanzania

Why is Cultural Tourism Important?

Cultural tourism is a travel and tourism trend that is here to stay. With more and more accessibility to the world and the people in it, there is peak interest in being able to immersively travel. 

• Peaks an interest to immerse yourself in a particular culture
• Creates meanings, stories and understanding between host and guest
• Share cultural practices and be part of the preservation of cultural heritage
• Gain a full understanding a culture without commodification 

What better way to honor a destination than by practicing in allowing something to be immortal. 

Also, if you’re interested in learning more about experiential tourism, check out this article. 

What are some cultural touristic experiences you are looking forward to trying?

What to Do in As-Salt, Jordan

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Cutting Edge | Bringing cultural tourism back in the game

The growth of cultural tourism

People have long traveled to discover and visit places of historical significance or spiritual meaning, to experience different cultures, as well as to learn about, exchange and consume a range of cultural goods and services. Cultural tourism as a concept gained traction during the 1990s when certain sub-sectors emerged, including heritage tourism, arts tourism, gastronomic tourism, film tourism and creative tourism. This took place amidst the rising tide of globalization and technological advances that spurred greater mobility through cheaper air travel, increased accessibility to diverse locations and cultural assets, media proliferation, and the rise of independent travel. Around this time, tourism policy was also undergoing a shift that was marked by several trends. These included a sharper focus on regional development, environmental issues, public-private partnerships, industry self-regulation and a reduction in direct government involvement in the supply of tourism infrastructure. As more cultural tourists have sought to explore the cultures of the destinations, greater emphasis has been placed on the importance of intercultural dialogue to promote understanding and tolerance. Likewise, in the face of globalization, countries have looked for ways to strengthen local identity, and cultural tourism has also been engaged as a strategy to achieve this purpose. Being essentially place-based, cultural tourism is driven by an interest to experience and engage with culture first-hand. It is backed by a desire to discover, learn about and enjoy the tangible and intangible cultural assets offered in a tourism destination, ranging from heritage, performing arts, handicrafts, rituals and gastronomy, among others.

Cultural tourism is a leading priority for the majority of countries around the world -featuring in the tourism policy of 90% of countries, based on a 2016 UNWTO global survey . Most countries include tangible and intangible heritage in their definition of cultural tourism, and over 80% include contemporary culture - film, performing arts, design, fashion and new media, among others. There is, however, greater need for stronger localisation in policies, which is rooted in promoting and enhancing local cultural assets, such as heritage, food, festivals and crafts. In France, for instance, the Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes , a UNESCO World Heritage site, has established a multidisciplinary team that defends the cultural values of the site, and advises the authorities responsible for the territorial development of the 300 km of the Valley.

While cultural tourism features prominently in policies for economic growth, it has diverse benefits that cut across the development spectrum – economic, social and environmental. Cultural tourism expands businesses and job opportunities by drawing on cultural resources as a competitive advantage in tourism markets. Cultural tourism is increasingly engaged as a strategy for countries and regions to safeguard traditional cultures, attract talent, develop new cultural resources and products, create creative clusters, and boost the cultural and creative industries. Cultural tourism, particularly through museums, can support education about culture. Tourist interest can also help ensure the transmission of intangible cultural heritage practices to younger generations.

StockSnap, Pixabay

Cultural tourism can help encourage appreciation of and pride in local heritage, thus sparking greater interest and investment in its safeguarding. Tourism can also drive inclusive community development to foster resiliency, inclusivity, and empowerment. It promotes territorial cohesion and socioeconomic inclusion for the most vulnerable populations, for example, generating economic livelihoods for women in rural areas. A strengthened awareness of conservation methods and local and indigenous knowledge contributes to long-term environmental sustainability. Similarly, the funds generated by tourism can be instrumental to ensuring ongoing conservation activities for built and natural heritage.

The growth of cultural tourism has reshaped the global urban landscape over the past decades, strongly impacting spatial planning around the world. In many countries, cultural tourism has been leveraged to drive urban regeneration or city branding strategies, from large-sized metropolises in Asia or the Arab States building on cultural landmarks and contemporary architecture to drive tourism expansion, to small and middle-sized urban settlements enhancing their cultural assets to stimulate local development. At the national level, cultural tourism has also impacted planning decisions, encouraging coastal development in some areas, while reviving inland settlements in others. This global trend has massively driven urban infrastructure development through both public and private investments, impacting notably transportation, the restoration of historic buildings and areas, as well as the rehabilitation of public spaces. The expansion of cultural city networks, including the UNESCO World Heritage Cities programme and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, also echoes this momentum. Likewise, the expansion of cultural routes, bringing together several cities or human settlements around cultural commonalities to stimulate tourism, has also generated new solidarities, while influencing economic and cultural exchanges between cities across countries and regions.

Despite tourism’s clear potential as a driver for positive change, challenges exist, including navigating the space between economic gain and cultural integrity. Tourism’s crucial role in enhancing inclusive community development can often remain at the margins of policy planning and implementation. Rapid and unplanned tourism growth can trigger a range of negative impacts, including pressure on local communities and infrastructure from overtourism during peak periods, gentrification of urban areas, waste problems and global greenhouse gas emissions. High visitor numbers to heritage sites can override their natural carrying capacity, thus undermining conservation efforts and affecting both the integrity and authenticity of heritage sites. Over-commercialization and folklorization of intangible heritage practices – including taking these practices out of context for tourism purposes - can risk inadvertently changing the practice over time. Large commercial interests can monopolize the benefits of tourism, preventing these benefits from reaching local communities. An excessive dependency on tourism can also create localized monoeconomies at the expense of diversification and alternative economic models. When mismanaged, tourism can, therefore, have negative effects on the quality of life and well-being of local residents, as well as the natural environment.

These fault lines became more apparent when the pandemic hit – revealing the extent of over-dependence on tourism and limited structures for crisis prevention and response. While the current situation facing tourism is unpredictable, making it difficult to plan, further crises are likely in the years to come. Therefore, the pandemic presents the opportunity to experiment with new models to shape more effective and sustainable alternatives for the future.

hxdyl, Getty Images Pro

Harnessing cultural tourism in policy frameworks

From a policy perspective, countries around the world have employed cultural tourism as a vehicle to achieve a range of strategic aims. In Panama, cultural tourism is a key component of the country’s recently adopted Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism 2020-2025 that seeks to position Panama as a worldwide benchmark for sustainable tourism through the development of unique heritage routes. Cultural tourism can be leveraged for cultural diplomacy as a form of ‘soft power’ to build dialogue between peoples and bolster foreign policy. For instance, enhancing regional cooperation between 16 countries has been at the heart of UNESCO’s transnational Silk Roads Programme, which reflects the importance of culture and heritage as part of foreign policy. UNESCO has also partnered with the EU and National Geographic to develop World Heritage Journeys, a unique travel platform that deepens the tourism experience through four selected cultural routes covering 34 World Heritage sites. Also in Europe, cultural tourism has been stimulated through the development of cultural routes linked to food and wine , as well as actions to protect local food products, such as through labels and certificates of origin. The Emilia-Romagna region in Italy, for example, produces more origin-protected food and drink than any other region in the country. One of the regions' cities Parma - a UNESCO Creative City (Gastronomy) and designated Italian Capital for Culture (2020-2021) - plans to resume its cultural activities to boost tourism once restrictions have eased. Meanwhile, Spain has recently taken steps to revive its tourism industry through its cities inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List . In this regard, the Group of the 15 Spanish World Heritage Cities met recently to discuss the country's Modernization and Competitiveness Plan for the tourism sector. Cultural tourism has progressively featured more prominently in the policies of Central Asian and Eastern European countries, which have sought to revive intangible heritage and boost the creative economy as part of strategies to strengthen national cultural identity and open up to the international community. In Africa, cultural tourism is a growing market that is driven by its cultural heritage, crafts, and national and regional cultural events. Major festivals such as Dak-Art in Senegal, Bamako Encounters Photography Biennial in Mali, Sauti za Busara in United Republic of Tanzania, Pan-African Festival of Cinema and Television of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, and Chale Wote Street Art Festival in Ghana are just a handful of vibrant and popular platforms in the continent that share cultural expressions, generate income for local economies and strengthen Pan-African identity.

Countries are increasingly seeking alliances with international bodies to advance tourism. National and local governments are working together with international entities, such as UNESCO, UNWTO and OECD in the area of sustainable tourism. In 2012, UNESCO’s Sustainable Tourism Programme was adopted, thereby breaking new ground to promote tourism a driver for the conservation of cultural and natural heritage and a vehicle for sustainable development. In 2020, UNESCO formed the Task Force on Culture and Resilient Tourism with the Advisory Bodies to the 1972 World Heritage Convention (ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM) as a global dialogue platform on key issues relating to tourism and heritage management during and beyond the crisis. UNESCO has also collaborated with the UNWTO on a set of recommendations for inclusive cultural tourism recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. In response to the crisis, the Namibian Government, UNESCO and UNDP are working together on a tourism impact study and development strategy to restore the tourism sector, especially cultural tourism.

UNESCO has scaled up work in cultural tourism in its work at field level, supporting its Member States and strengthening regional initiatives. In the Africa region, enhancing cultural tourism has been reported as a policy priority across the region. For example, UNESCO has supported the Government of Ghana in its initiative Beyond the Return, in particular in relation to its section on cultural tourism. In the Pacific, a Common Country Assessment (CCA) has been carried out for 14 SIDS countries, with joint interagency programmes to be created building on the results. Across the Arab States, trends in tourism after COVID, decent jobs and cultural and creative industries are emerging as entry points for different projects throughout the region. In Europe, UNESCO has continued its interdisciplinary work on visitor centres in UNESCO designated sites, building on a series of workshops to strengthen tourism sustainability, community engagement and education through heritage interpretation. In the Latin America and the Caribbean region, UNESCO is working closely with Member States, regional bodies and the UN system building on the momentum on the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development, including through Creative Cities, and the sustainable recovery of the orange economy, among others.

BS1920, Pixabay

In the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly, to all of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Tourism is directly mentioned in SDGs 8, 12 and 14 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources, respectively. This is mirrored in the VNRs put forward by countries, who report on cultural tourism notably through the revitalization of urban and rural areas through heritage regeneration, festivals and events, infrastructure development, and the promotion of local cultural products. The VNRs also demonstrate a trend towards underlining more sustainable approaches to tourism that factor in the environmental dimensions of tourism development.

Several countries have harnessed cultural tourism as a policy panacea for economic growth and diversification. As part of Qatar's National Vision 2030 strategy, for example, the country has embarked on a development plan that includes cultural tourism through strengthening its culture-based industries, including calligraphy, handicrafts and living heritage practices. In the city of Abu Dhabi in the UAE, cultural tourism is part of the city’s plan for economic diversification and to steer its domestic agenda away from a hydrocarbon-based economy. The Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 includes the creation of a US$27 billion cultural district on Saadiyat Island, comprising a cluster of world-renowned museums, and cultural and educational institutions designed by international star architects to attract tourism and talent to the city. Since 2016, Saudi Arabia has taken decisive action to invest in tourism, culture and entertainment to reduce the country’s oil dependency, while also positioning the country as a global cultural destination. Under the 2020 G20 Saudi Presidency, the UNWTO and the G20 Tourism Working Group launched the AlUla Framework for Inclusive Community Development through Tourism to better support inclusive community development and the SDGs. The crucial role of tourism as a means of sustainable socio-economic development was also underlined in the final communique of the G20 Tourism Ministers in October last.

Siem Reap, Cambodia by nbriam

On the other hand, cultural tourism can catalyse developments in cultural policy. This was the case in the annual Festival of Pacific Arts (FestPac) that triggered a series of positive policy developments following its 2012 edition that sought to strengthen social cohesion and community pride in the context of a prolonged period of social unrest. The following year, Solomon Islands adopted its first national culture policy with a focus on cultural industries and cultural tourism, which resulted in a significant increase in cultural events being organized throughout the country.

When the pandemic hit, the geographic context of some countries meant that many of them were able to rapidly close borders and prioritize domestic tourism. This has been the case for countries such as Australia and New Zealand. However, the restrictions have been coupled by significant economic cost for many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) whose economies rely on tourism and commodity exports. Asia Pacific SIDS, for example, are some of the world’s leading tourist destinations. As reported in the Tracker last June , in 2018, tourism earnings exceeded 50% of GDP in Cook Islands, Maldives and Palau and equaled approximately 30% of GDP in Samoa and Vanuatu. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the drop in British tourists to Spain’s Balearic Islands resulted in a 93% downturn in visitor numbers , forcing many local businesses to close. According to the World Economic Outlook released last October, the economies of tourism-dependent Caribbean nations are estimated to drop by 12%, while Pacific Island nations, such as Fiji, could see their GDP shrink by a staggering 21% in 2020.

Socially-responsible travel and ecotourism have become more of a priority for tourists and the places they visit. Tourists are increasingly aware of their carbon footprint, energy consumption and the use of renewable resources. This trend has been emphasized as a result of the pandemic. According to recent survey by Booking.com, travelers are becoming more conscientious of how and why they travel, with over two-thirds (69%) expecting the travel industry to offer more sustainable travel options . Following the closures of beaches in Thailand, for example, the country is identifying ways to put certain management policies in place that can strike a better balance with environmental sustainability. The  UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge  launched in partnership with Expedia Group focuses on promoting sustainable tourism and heritage conservation. The pledge takes an industry-first approach to environmental and cultural protection, requiring businesses to introduce firm measures to eliminate single-use plastics and promote local culture. The initiative is expanding globally in 2021 as a new, more environmentally and socially conscious global travel market emerges from the COVID-19 context.

Senja, Norway by Jarmo Piironen

Climate change places a heavy toll on heritage sites, which exacerbates their vulnerability to other risks, including uncontrolled tourism. This was underlined in the publication “World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate” , published by UNESCO, UNEP and the Union of Concerned Scientists, which analyses the consequences of climate change on heritage, and its potential to permanently change or destroy a site’s integrity and authenticity. Extreme weather events, safety issues and water shortages, among others, can thwart access to sites and hurt the economic livelihoods of tourism service providers and local communities. Rising sea levels will increasingly impact coastal tourism, the largest component of the sector globally. In particular, coral reefs - contributing US$11.5 billion to the global tourism economy – are at major risk from climate change.

Marine sites are often tourist magnets where hundreds of thousands of annual visitors enjoy these sites on yachts and cruise ships. In the case of UNESCO World Heritage marine sites – which fall under the responsibility of governments - there is often a reliance on alternative financing mechanisms, such as grants and donations, and partnerships with non-governmental organizations and/or the private sector, among others. The West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord in Norway derives a substantial portion of its management budget from sources other than government revenues. The site has benefited from a partnership with the private sector company Green Dream 2020, which only allows the “greenest” operators to access the site, and a percentage of the profits from tours is reinjected into the long-term conservation of the site. In iSimangaliso in South Africa, a national law that established the World Heritage site’s management system was accompanied by the obligation to combine the property’s conservation with sustainable economic development activities that created jobs for local people. iSimangaliso Wetland Park supports 12,000 jobs and hosts an environmental education programme with 150 schools. At the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, where 91% of all local jobs are linked to the Reef, the Coral Nurture Programme undertakes conservation through planting coral, and promotes local stewardship and adaptation involving the whole community and local tourist businesses.

Grafner, Getty Images

With borders continuing to be closed and changeable regulations, many countries have placed a focus on domestic tourism and markets to stimulate economic recovery. According to the UNWTO, domestic tourism is expected to pick up faster than international travel, making it a viable springboard for economic and social recovery from the pandemic. In doing so it will serve to better connect populations to their heritage and offer new avenues for cultural access and participation. In China, for example, the demand for domestic travel is already approaching pre-pandemic levels. In Russian Federation, the Government has backed a programme to promote domestic tourism and support small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as a cashback scheme for domestic trips, which entitles tourists to a 20% refund for their trip. While supporting domestic tourism activities, the Government of Palau is injecting funds into local businesses working in reforestation and fishing in the spirit of building new sustainable models. The measures put in place today will shape the tourism to come, therefore the pandemic presents an opportunity to build back a stronger, more agile and sustainable tourism sector.

Local solutions at the helm of cultural tourism

While state-led policy interventions in cultural tourism remain crucial, local authorities are increasingly vital stakeholders in the design and implementation of cultural tourism policies. Being close to the people, local actors are aware of the needs of local populations, and can respond quickly and provide innovative ideas and avenues for policy experimentation. As cultural tourism is strongly rooted to place, cooperating with local decision-makers and stakeholders can bring added value to advancing mutual objectives. Meanwhile, the current health crisis has severely shaken cities that are struggling due to diminished State support, and whose economic basis strongly relies on tourism. Local authorities have been compelled to innovate to support local economies and seek viable alternatives, thus reaffirming their instrumental role in cultural policy-making.

Venice, Oliver Dralam/Getty Images

Cultural tourism can be a powerful catalyst for urban regeneration and renaissance, although tourism pressure can also trigger complex processes of gentrification. Cultural heritage safeguarding enhances the social value of a place by boosting the well-being of individuals and communities, reducing social inequalities and nurturing social inclusion. Over the past decade, the Malaysian city of George Town – a World Heritage site – has implemented several innovative projects to foster tourism and attract the population back to the city centre by engaging the city’s cultural assets in urban revitalization strategies. Part of the income generated from tourism revenues contributes to conserving and revitalizing the built environment, as well as supporting housing for local populations, including lower-income communities. In the city of Bordeaux in France , the city has worked with the public-private company InCité to introduce a system of public subsidies and tax exemption to encourage the restoration of privately-owned historical buildings, which has generated other rehabilitation works in the historic centre. The city of Kyoto in Japan targets a long-term vision of sustainability by enabling local households to play an active role in safeguarding heritage by incrementally updating their own houses, thus making the city more resilient to gentrification. The city also actively supports the promotion of its intangible heritage, such as tea ceremonies, flower arrangement, seasonal festivals, Noh theatre and dance. This year marks the ten-year anniversary of the adoption of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL). The results of a UNESCO survey carried out among Member States in 2019 on its implementation show that 89% of respondents have innovative services or tourism activities in place for historic areas, which demonstrates a precedence for countries to capitalize on urban cultural heritage for tourism purposes.

Cultural tourism has been harnessed to address rural-urban migration and to strengthen rural and peripheral sub-regions. The city of Suzhou – a World Heritage property and UNESCO Creative City (Crafts and Folk Art) - has leveraged its silk embroidery industry to strengthen the local rural economy through job creation in the villages of Wujiang, located in a district of Suzhou. Tourists can visit the ateliers and local museums to learn about the textile production. In northern Viet Nam, the cultural heritage of the Quan họ Bắc Ninh folk songs, part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is firmly rooted in place and underlined in its safeguarding strategies in 49 ancient villages, which have further inspired the establishment of some hundreds of new Quan họ villages in the Bắc Ninh and Bắc Giang provinces.

Many top destination cities are known for their iconic cultural landmarks. Others create a cultural drawcard to attract visitors to the city. France, the world's number one tourist destination , attracts 89 million visitors every year who travel to experience its cultural assets, including its extensive cultural landmarks. In the context of industrial decline, several national and local governments have looked to diversify infrastructure by harnessing culture as a new economic engine. The Guggenheim museum in Bilbao in Spain is one such example, where economic diversification and unemployment was addressed through building a modern art museum as a magnet for tourism. The museum attracts an average of 900,000 visitors annually, which has strengthened the local economy of the city. A similar approach is the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), established in 2011 by a private entrepreneur in the city of Hobart in Australia, which has catalysed a massive increase of visitors to the city. With events such as MONA FOMA in summer and Dark MOFO in winter, the museum staggers visitor volumes to the small city to avoid placing considerable strain on the local environment and communities. Within the tourism sector, cultural tourism is also well-positioned to offer a tailored approach to tourism products, services and experiences. Such models have also supported the wider ecosystems around the iconic cultural landmarks, as part of “destination tourism” strategies.

Destination tourism encompasses festivals, live performance, film and festive celebrations as drawcards for international tourists and an economic driver of the local economy. Over the past three decades, the number of art biennials has proliferated. Today there are more than 300 biennials around the world , whose genesis can be based both on artistic ambitions and place-making strategies to revive specific destinations. As a result of COVID-19, many major biennials and arts festivals have been cancelled or postponed. Both the Venice Architecture and Art Biennales have been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19. The Berlin International Film Festival will hold its 2021 edition online and in selected cinemas. Film-induced tourism - motivated by a combination of media expansion, entertainment industry growth and international travel - has also been used for strategic regional development, infrastructure development and job creation, as well to market destinations to tourists. China's highest-grossing film of 2012 “Lost in Thailand”, for example, resulted in a tourist boom to Chiang Mai in Thailand, with daily flights to 17 Chinese cities to accommodate the daily influx of thousands of tourists who came to visit the film’s location. Since March 2020, tourism-related industries in New York City in the United States have gone into freefall, with revenue from the performing arts alone plunging by almost 70%. As the city is reliant on its tourism sector, the collapse of tourism explains why New York’s economy has been harder hit than other major cities in the country. Meanwhile in South Africa, when the first ever digital iteration of the country’s annual National Arts Festival took place last June, it also meant an estimated US$25.7 million (R377 million) and US$6.4 million (R94 million) loss to the Eastern Cape province and city of Makhanda (based on 2018 figures), in addition to the US$1.4 million (R20 million) that reaches the pockets of the artists and supporting industries. The United Kingdom's largest music festival, Glastonbury, held annually in Somerset, recently cancelled for the second year running due to the pandemic, which will have ripple effects on local businesses and the charities that receive funding from ticket sales.

Similarly, cancellations of carnivals from Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands to Binche in Belgium has spurred massive losses for local tourism providers, hotels, restaurants, costume-makers and dance schools. In the case of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Brazil, for instance, the city has amassed significant losses for the unstaged event, which in 2019 attracted 1.5 million tourists from Brazil and abroad and generated revenues in the range of US$700 million (BRL 3.78 billion). The knock-on effect on the wider economy due to supply chains often points to an estimated total loss that is far greater than those experienced solely by the cultural tourism sector.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain by erlucho

Every year, roughly 600 million national and international religious and spiritual trips take place , generating US$18 billion in tourism revenue. Pilgrimages, a fundamental precursor to modern tourism, motivate tourists solely through religious practices. Religious tourism is particularly popular in France, India, Italy and Saudi Arabia. For instance, the Hindu pilgrimage and festival Kumbh Mela in India, inscribed in 2017 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, attracts over 120 million pilgrims of all castes, creeds and genders. The festival is held in the cities of Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik every four years by rotation. Sacred and ceremonial sites have unique significance for peoples and communities, and are often integral to journeys that promote spiritual well-being. Mongolia, for example, has around 800 sacred sites including 10 mountains protected by Presidential Decree, and lakes and ovoos, many of which have their own sutras. In the case of Mongolia, the environmental stewardship and rituals and practices connected with these sacred places also intersects with longstanding political traditions and State leadership.

Cities with a vibrant cultural scene and assets are not only more likely to attract tourists, but also the skilled talent who can advance the city’s long-term prospects. Several cities are also focusing on developing their night-time economies through the promotion of theatre, concerts, festivals, light shows and use of public spaces that increasingly making use of audio-visual technologies. Situated on Chile’s Pacific coast, the city of Valparaíso, a World Heritage site, is taking steps to transform the city’s night scene into a safe and inclusive tourist destination through revitalizing public spaces. While the economies of many cities have been weakened during the pandemic, the night-time economy of the city of Chengdu in China, a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy, has flourished and has made a significant contribution to generating revenue for the city, accounting for 45% of citizen’s daily expenditure.

The pandemic has generated the public’s re-appropriation of the urban space. People have sought open-air sites and experiences in nature. In many countries that are experiencing lockdowns, public spaces, including parks and city squares, have proven essential for socialization and strengthening resilience. People have also reconnected with the heritage assets in their urban environments. Local governments, organizations and civil society have introduced innovative ways to connect people and encourage creative expression. Cork City Council Arts Office and Creative Ireland, for example, jointly supported the art initiative Ardú- Irish for ‘Rise’ – involving seven renowned Irish street artists who produced art in the streets and alleyways of Cork.

Chengdu Town Square, China by Lukas Bischoff

Environment-based solutions support integrated approaches to deliver across the urban-rural continuum, and enhance visitor experiences by drawing on the existing features of a city. In the city of Bamberg, a World Heritage site in Germany, gardens are a key asset of the city and contribute to its livability and the well-being of its local population and visitors. More than 12,000 tourists enjoy this tangible testimony to the local history and environment on an annual basis. Eighteen agricultural businesses produce local vegetables, herbs, flowers and shrubs, and farm the inner-city gardens and surrounding agricultural fields. The museum also organizes gastronomic events and cooking classes to promote local products and recipes.

In rural areas, crafts can support strategies for cultural and community-based tourism. This is particularly the case in Asia, where craft industries are often found in rural environments and can be an engine for generating employment and curbing rural-urban migration. Craft villages have been established in Viet Nam since the 11th century, constituting an integral part of the cultural resources of the country, and whose tourism profits are often re-invested into the sustainability of the villages. The craft tradition is not affected by heavy tourist seasons and tourists can visit all year round.

Indigenous tourism can help promote and maintain indigenous arts, handicrafts, and culture, including indigenous culture and traditions, which are often major attractions for visitors. Through tourism, indigenous values and food systems can also promote a less carbon-intensive industry. During COVID-19, the Government of Canada has given a series of grants to indigenous tourism businesses to help maintain livelihoods. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions announced that it will grant, through the International Fund for Creative Diversity (IFCD), US$70,000 dollars to Mexican indigenous cultural enterprises, which will support indigenous enterprises through training programmes, seed funding, a pre-incubation process and the creation of an e-commerce website.

Tourism has boosted community pride in living heritage and the active involvement of local communities in its safeguarding. Local authorities, cultural associations, bearers and practitioners have made efforts to safeguard and promote elements as they have understood that not only can these elements strengthen their cultural identity but that they can also contribute to tourism and economic development. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the role of intellectual property and in the regulation of heritage. In the field of gastronomy, a lot of work has been done in protecting local food products, including the development of labels and certification of origin. Member States are exploring the possibilities of geographical indication (GI) for cultural products as a way of reducing the risk of heritage exploitation in connection to, for example, crafts, textiles and food products, and favouring its sustainable development.

The pandemic has brought to the forefront the evolving role of museums and their crucial importance to the life of societies in terms of health and well-being, education and the economy. A 2019 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) examined 3,000 studies on the role of the arts in improving health and well-being, which indicated that the arts play a major role in preventing, managing and treating illness. Over the past decade the number of museums has increased by 60%, demonstrating the important role that museums have in national cultural policy. Museums are not static but are rather dynamic spaces of education and dialogue, with the potential to boost public awareness about the value of cultural and natural heritage, and the responsibility to contribute to its safeguarding.

Data presented in UNESCO's report "Museums Around the World in the Face of COVID-19" in May 2020 show that 90% of institutions were forced to close, whereas the situation in September-October 2020 was much more variable depending on their location in the world. Large museums have consistently been the most heavily impacted by the drop in international tourism – notably in Europe and North America. Larger museums, such as Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum have reported losses between €100,000 and €600,000 a week. Smaller museums have been relatively stable, as they are not as reliant on international tourism and have maintained a closer connection to local communities. In November, the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) released the results of a survey of 6,000 museums from 48 countries. Of the responding museums, 93% have increased or started online services during the pandemic. Most larger museums (81%) have increased their digital capacities, while only 47% of smaller museums indicated that they did. An overwhelming majority of respondents (92.9%) confirm that the public is safe at their museum. As reported in the Tracker last October, the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre in France (9.3 million visitors annually) witnessed a ten-fold increase in traffic to its website. Yet while digital technologies have provided options for museums to remain operational, not all have the necessary infrastructure, which is the case for many museums in Africa and SIDS.

New technologies have enabled several new innovations that can better support cultural tourism and digital technologies in visitor management, access and site interpretation. Cultural tourists visiting cultural heritage sites, for example, can enjoy educational tools that raise awareness of a site and its history. Determining carrying capacity through algorithms has helped monitor tourist numbers, such as in Hạ Long Bay in Viet Nam. In response to the pandemic, Singapore’s Asian Civilizations Museum is one of many museums that has harnessed digital technologies to provide virtual tours of its collections, thus allowing viewers to learn more about Asian cultures and histories. The pandemic has enhanced the need for technology solutions to better manage tourism flows at destinations and encourage tourism development in alternative areas.

Shaping a post-pandemic vision : regenerative and inclusive cultural tourism

As tourism is inherently dependent on the movement and interaction of people, it has been one of the hardest-hit sectors by the pandemic and may be one of the last to recover. Travel and international border restrictions have led to the massive decline in tourism in 2020, spurring many countries to implement strategies for domestic tourism to keep economies afloat. Many cultural institutions and built and natural heritage sites have established strict systems of physical distancing and hygiene measures, enabling them to open once regulations allow. Once travel restrictions have been lifted, it will enable the recovery of the tourism sector and for the wider economy and community at large.

While the pandemic has dramatically shifted the policy context for cultural tourism, it has also provided the opportunity to experiment with integrated models that can be taken forward in the post-pandemic context. While destinations are adopting a multiplicity of approaches to better position sustainability in their plans for tourism development, there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

A comprehensive, integrated approach to the cultural sector is needed to ensure more sustainable cultural tourism patterns. Efforts aimed at promoting cultural tourism destinations should build on the diversity of cultural sub-sectors, including cultural and heritage sites, museums, but also the creative economy and living heritage, notably local practices, food and crafts production. Beyond cultural landmarks, which act as a hotspot to drive the attractiveness of tourism destinations, and particularly cities, cultural tourism should also encompass other aspects of the cultural value chain as well as more local, community-based cultural expressions. Such an integrated approach is likely to support a more equitable distribution of cultural tourism revenues, also spreading tourism flows over larger areas, thus curbing the negative impacts of over-tourism on renowned cultural sites, including UNESCO World Heritage sites. This comprehensive vision also echoes the growing aspiration of visitors around the world for more inclusive and sustainable tourism practices, engaging with local communities and broadening the understanding of cultural diversity.

As a result of the crisis, the transversal component of cultural tourism has been brought to the fore, demonstrating its cross-cutting nature and alliance with other development areas. Cultural tourism – and tourism more broadly – is highly relevant to the 2030 for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs, however, the full potential of cultural tourism for advancing development – economic, social and environmental - remains untapped. This is even though cultural tourism is included in a third of all countries’ VNRs, thus demonstrating its priority for governments. Due the transversal nature of cultural tourism, there is scope to build on these synergies and strengthen cooperation between ministries to advance cooperation for a stronger and more resilient sector. This plays an integral role in ensuring a regenerative and inclusive cultural tourism sector. Similarly, tourism can feature as criteria for certain funding initiatives, or as a decisive component for financing cultural projects, such as in heritage or the cultural and creative industries.

Houses in Amsterdam, adisa, Getty, Images Pro

Several countries have harnessed the crisis to step up actions towards more sustainable models of cultural tourism development by ensuring that recovery planning is aligned with key sustainability principles and the SDGs. Tourism both impacts and is impacted by climate change. There is scant evidence of integration of climate strategies in tourism policies, as well as countries’ efforts to develop solid crisis preparedness and response strategies for the tourism sector. The magnitude and regional variation of climate change in the coming decades will continue to affect cultural tourism, therefore, recovery planning should factor in climate change concerns. Accelerating climate action is of utmost importance for the resilience of the sector.

The key role of local actors in cultural tourism should be supported and developed. States have the opportunity to build on local knowledge, networks and models to forge a stronger and more sustainable cultural tourism sector. This includes streamlining cooperation between different levels of governance in the cultural tourism sector and in concert with civil society and private sector. Particularly during the pandemic, many cities and municipalities have not received adequate State support and have instead introduced measures and initiatives using local resources. In parallel, such actions can spur new opportunities for employment and training that respond to local needs.

Greater diversification in cultural tourism models is needed, backed by a stronger integration of the sector within broader economic and regional planning. An overdependence of the cultural sector on the tourism sector became clear for some countries when the pandemic hit, which saw their economies come to a staggering halt. This has been further weakened by pre-existing gaps in government and industry preparedness and response capacity. The cultural tourism sector is highly fragmented and interdependent, and relies heavily on micro and small enterprises. Developing a more in-depth understanding of tourism value chains can help identify pathways for incremental progress. Similarly, more integrated – and balanced – models can shape a more resilient sector that is less vulnerable to future crises. Several countries are benefiting from such approaches by factoring in a consideration of the environmental and socio-cultural pillars of sustainability, which is supported across all levels of government and in concert with all stakeholders.

abhishek gaurav, Pexels

Inclusion must be at the heart of building back better the cultural tourism sector. Stakeholders at different levels should participate in planning and management, and local communities cannot be excluded from benefitting from the opportunities and economic benefits of cultural tourism. Moreover, they should be supported and empowered to create solutions from the outset, thus forging more sustainable and scalable options in the long-term. Policy-makers need to ensure that cultural tourism development is pursued within a wider context of city and regional strategies in close co-operation with local communities and industry. Businesses are instrumental in adopting eco-responsible practices for transport, accommodation and food. A balance between public/ private investment should also be planned to support an integrated approach post-crisis, which ensures input and support from industry and civil society.

The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the essential role of museums as an integral component of societies in terms of well-being, health, education and the economy. Digitalization has been a game-changer for many cultural institutions to remain operational to the greatest extent possible. Yet there are significant disparities in terms of infrastructure and resources, which was underscored when the world shifted online. Museums in SIDS have faced particular difficulties with lack of access to digitalization. These imbalances should be considered in post-crisis strategies.

The pandemic presents an occasion to deeply rethink tourism for the future, and what constitutes the markers and benchmarks of “success”. High-quality cultural tourism is increasingly gaining traction in new strategies for recovery and revival, in view of contributing to the long-term health and resilience of the sector and local communities. Similarly, many countries are exploring ways to fast track towards greener, more sustainable tourism development. As such, the pandemic presents an opportunity for a paradigm shift - the transformation of the culture and tourism sectors to become more inclusive and sustainable. Moreover, this includes incorporating tourism approaches that not only avoid damage but have a positive impact on the environment of tourism destinations and local communities. This emphasis on regenerative tourism has a holistic approach that measures tourism beyond its financial return, and shifts the pendulum towards focusing on the concerns of local communities, and the wellbeing of people and planet.

Entabeni Game Reserve in South Africa by SL_Photography

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32 Cultural Tourism Destinations for Unique Cultural Trips

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As a cultural traveler, I always look for unique cultural experiences wherever I travel. Do you also believe in cultural travel or immersive travel? That being so, this round-up of the very best cultural tourism destinations in the world is sure to help you plan a soulful cultural trip.

Cultural Tourism: Introduction

I’m a sucker for meaningful travel experiences. Beach vacations don’t excite me as much as cultural trips.

What exactly is a cultural trip?

To put it simply, a cultural trip is a trip with a purpose or a goal.

It’s about experiencing, understanding, appreciating, embracing, and preserving different cultures and traditions worldwide.

It’s about getting off the beaten path & stepping out of your comfort zone.

It’s about meeting natives and forming meaningful connections.

It’s about eating local delicacies and staying in homestays.

It’s about being a part of cultural events, local festivals, and rituals .

It’s about gaining knowledge or learning a new skill.

It’s about volunteering and helping local communities thrive.

It’s about challenging preconceptions and bringing in fresh perspectives.

It’s about traveling slowly, sensibly, sustainably, and responsibly, not leaving footprints, and treading a little lighter on the planet.

It’s about not just thinking about yourself but caring about the world @ large.

Culturally immersive travel is all the more important in present times to deal with the dynamic challenges of globalization and multiculturalism.

Cultural tourism is vital in preserving culture and heritage to build a beautiful world and we, as travelers, have a social responsibility to make a positive impact on the local economy, environment, and communities whenever and wherever we travel and inspire others to do that too.

To get on with it, I collaborated with seasoned cultural travelers to bring together this guide to the best cultural destinations in the world that include exciting cultural countries that put forward experiential cultural travel experiences.

Cultural Tourism Destinations for the Best Cultural Experiences in the World

Needless to say, you can have a culturally immersive travel experience anywhere and everywhere in the world.

Each destination has a culture different than yours waiting to be explored and thus, it’s tough to choose a few, however, I’ve cherry-picked the countries that catch the eye for their strong culture and heritage and intrigue a cultural tourist.

Top Cultural Tourist Destinations in Asia

Nele van Hout from The Navigatio

Japan is one of the most unique and culture-rich countries in the world. It’s counted as one of the leading cultural destinations in the world for a reason.

Being an island, Japan was isolated from other countries for centuries, allowing it to develop its very own unique customs and traditions.

While many influences from outside are now being introduced in the country, Japan remains a travel destination like no other.

Japan is known as a country of many contrasts. The hyper-modern side can be enjoyed in big metropolitan cities like Tokyo, where you can play video games in arcades, be checked into a hotel by a robot, sing karaoke or ride the fastest train in the world (the Shinkansen).

But it’s the traditional side where Japan really differentiates itself from the rest of the world. When visiting, you can dress up in traditional wear, the kimono, before heading over to temples there were built over a thousand years ago – some of the most famous ones can even be found inside the big cities.

In Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, you can still find geishas to this day – these are women dressed in kimonos wearing unique white make-up who specialize in tea ceremonies and performance arts.

Here, you can (must) also take part in an official tea ceremony . Matcha (Japanese green tea) plays a big role in Japanese culture and Kyoto is the perfect place to learn about it.

When in Japan, you should consider staying in a ryokan for at least one night. This is a traditional Japanese inn, usually equipt with tatami floors (traditional straw floors) and sometimes they even have an onsen (Japanese hot springs).

They can be found all across the country, but the city of Hakone has a lot of them , including onsen. Some even come with a view of the majestic Mount Fuji .

De Wet & Jin of the Museum of Wander

One of the top choices for cultural trips around the world, few places can compete with the cultural magnificence of China.

The country has a rich and diverse history that spans over 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world.

The staggering wealth of cultural heritage scattered across the country can make deciding where to go in China challenging. Whether looking for historical landmarks, tea culture , fantastic food, ancient and modern art, traditional medicine, minority cultures, or unique cultural experiences, China delivers like a few others.

First-time visitors to China can experience the best of Chinese culture and history in the capital, Beijing. Besides seeing the famous historical landmarks like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace, they’ll also have many opportunities for a slice of  authentic Beijing  life.

Join the rest of Beijing and ride a bike along the wide and leafy bike lanes, or head to one of the parks to see people play chess, practice calligraphy or opera singing, or do ballroom dancing.  

No visit to China is complete without indulging in its incredible cuisine. In Beijing, that means Peking duck. For the best roast duck in Beijing, you must not miss Quanjude restaurant.

Art lovers, collectors, or those looking for a unique souvenir from China should visit Beijing’s antique market. Panjiayuan Antique Market is home to hundreds of vendors dealing in authentic Chinese antiques and replicas – the fun is finding the difference and bargaining until the price is right.

While Beijing has accommodations to suit every budget and taste, staying in a traditional hutong courtyard hotel is best if you want to immerse yourself in the real Beijing. The  Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel  in the Dongcheng district is the perfect base to see and experience the local side of Beijing.

One of the oldest civilizations in the world, India has a rich, vibrant, and diverse cultural legacy that makes it the ultimate cultural tourism destination.

Over the centuries, India has been invaded several times by diverse rulers leaving an indelible mark on its cultural fabric. You can see and feel the influence of diverse cultures in architecture, traditional customs, food, dance, music, festivities, and languages. It, without a doubt, is one of the best places for culture in the world.

The Indian cultural heritage, values, and traditions have shaped the history of Asia and the world for that matter.

From ancient temples and royal palaces to majestic forts and historical monuments, the plethora of heritage sites in India showcases the cultural vitality of the country.

Each Indian state with its distinctive cultural heritage deserves a special place among beautiful cultural destinations in India, however, some states and cities take a lead for their cultural and historic stature on the world stage like Varanasi, Jaipur , Delhi , Amritsar , Madurai, Hampi, Mysore, Khajuraho, Kochi , and Rishikesh.

Among the various destinations for cultural tourism in India, Varanasi (Benaras or Kashi) is indeed the symbol of Indian culture. “Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together,” penned Mark Twain.

One of the oldest living cities in the world, this sacred city on the banks of the Holy River Ganges is where people from across the world come to attain moksha (salvation). Its ancient temples, historic ghats, and revered Ganga Aarti offer unmissable cultural experiences. Without a doubt, Varanasi is one of the best cultural cities in the world.

With magnificent palaces, invincible forts, folk music, colorful festivals, and fairs – the royal cities of Rajasthan narrate the grandeur of erstwhile royals.

The unique temples of Tamil Nadu have great mythological and historical significance in Indian culture. The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is the epitome of beauty and architecture and a must-visit for cultural buffs.

Khajuraho, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Madhya Pradesh beautifully mirrors the art and creativity of ancient India. One of a kind in the world!

Kerala is a melting pot of different cultures and traditions. You can sense the Arab, Chinese, and European influences, especially in Fort Kochi. You can visit Kerala Kathakali Centre to witness traditional dances such as the Kathakali or the classic martial arts form of Kalaripayattu. Art lovers can plan around Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the biggest contemporary art festival in Asia.

No cultural trip to India is complete without taking part in one of the colorful Indian festivals . Holi and Diwali are hit among cultural tourists. And of course, gorging on traditional Indian food is part and parcel of an immersive travel experience in India.

The Mughal monuments of Delhi , the Golden Temple of Amritsar, the Indo-Portuguese architecture of Goa, the Awadhi heritage of Lucknow, the artistic and literary heritage of Kolkata, the historic temples of Bhubaneswar, the Buddhist pilgrimage of Bodh Gaya, ancient ruins of Hampi, palaces and pilgrim sites of Mysore, and on and on – India is your answer to culture fix.

And how can I talk about Indian culture and not mention its ancient healing traditions – Yoga and Ayurveda that make India a leader in holistic wellness? From Rishikesh and Narendra Nagar to Kottayam, Allepey, Palakkad, and Mysore – there are endless Yoga and Ayurveda Ashrams & Resorts in India.

For an immersive Indian culture experience, book a stay at one of the unique heritage hotels or local homestays or wellness retreats in India.

Ami Bhat of Thrilling Travel

Known for its commitment to Gross National Happiness, Bhutan is a place where you will find how well-balanced the concepts of well-being and spiritual values are alongside economic development. The small landlocked country located in the eastern Himalayas is a perfect combination of culture, heritage, and nature.

The history of Bhutan dates back to the 8th century when Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, introduced Buddhism to the region. The country’s early history is characterized by the establishment of local chieftaincies, with the emergence of the Wangchuck dynasty in the early 20th century leading to the unification of the country.

It was in 2008, the country made the transition to a constitutional monarchy, with the king remaining the head of state but with a democratically elected government.

Every major town in Bhutan has a central Dzong (fort) which is not just a center of governance but also, a religious and cultural hot spot. A visit here not only allows you to appreciate the traditional Bhutanese architecture but gets you familiarized with the key customs and traditions of the country.

Besides these, there are several ancient monasteries and temples like Taktsang Monastery,  Chimi Lhakhang ( the fertility temple), and the Gangtey Monastery that one can visit.

No cultural experience is complete without a taste of the local meals. Bhutanese cuisine is known for its spiciness and use of chilies, and traditional dishes include ema datshi (chilies and cheese), phaksha paa (pork with vegetables), and momos (dumplings).

It is highly recommended that one experiences a stay in one of their traditional villages located in peaceful valleys like the Haa Valley and Phobjikha Valley. There are several farmhouses that provide authentic experiences including traditional stone baths.

Kaitlyn from Carry On Only

Vietnam is an ideal destination in South East Asia for those who wish to experience a diverse and fascinating culture. It’s a beautiful country brimming with endless cultural tourism attractions and thus, offers some of the best cultural vacations in the world.

The history of Vietnam is complex and includes significant events such as a 1000-year-long period of Chinese rule over northern and central Vietnam, a 1st century AD rebellion led by the Trung Sisters against Chinese domination, successful defense against Mongol invasion, French colonization during the 19th century, and the widely known Vietnam War.

Vietnam has a wide range of attractions that would interest culture buffs. These include the My Son Sanctuary, Cu Chi Tunnels, The Ancient Town of Hoi An (which features the Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum , War Remnants Museum and the Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City , the imperial city of Hue, Bac Ha Market in Lao Cai, Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi , and floating markets along the Mekong Delta.

If you want to have a complete cultural experience, then choosing a Homestay in the Sapa area is the optimal way to do it. You can get an authentic taste of the daily life of the Black Hmong by staying in The Little Hmong House .

Vietnamese locals are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality towards tourists, making it easy for visitors to connect with them and learn about their vibrant culture and way of life.

If you want to experience a magnificent culture, visiting Vietnam is a must-do on your bucket list!

Alex and Leah of Alex and Lean on Tour

If you’re looking for an explosion of culture, look no further than Cambodia, one of the very best cultural places in the world.

The country has endless cultural attractions that you absolutely must visit. Whether it’s the famous sunset at Angkor Wat near Siem Reap or lesser-known gems such as the Battambang Bamboo train, there’s so much to experience in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat is an absolute must-visit for anyone traveling to Cambodia. The region has tons of temples, all representing something different about Cambodian culture. 

If you’re looking to explore off the traditional touristy track, make sure to visit Battambang and stay at the beautiful Sanctuary Villa which fully blends into the environment perfectly yet still has amazing facilities!

Similarly, if you love the hustle and bustle of a city that has an abundance of great food places, Phnom Penh’s the place to be. Full of every food imaginable 

Cambodia has a very fraught history and has only recently managed to dispose of the Khmer Rouge. This truly horrific regime attempted to restructure Cambodian society which ended up slaughtering millions of innocent people in prison and killing fields. It’s still a very poor country so make sure to be conscious and respectful when you visit! 

If you’re looking to relax Cambodian-style then why not also visit the beautiful Koh Rong islands in the southwest? You’ll have the chance to swim in the turquoise sea by day and bio-illuminant plankton by night!

Dotti from Travel Oasis

Sri Lanka is a fabulous destination for culture lovers. This little island is overflowing with cultural attractions due to its extensive history dating back millennia. 

The most obvious place to get a cultural fix in Sri Lanka is the cultural triangle. This region, in the center of the country, is where the Sinhalese civilization was born. It’s also where the bulk of Sri Lanka’s cultural attractions are: the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, Mihintale, the Dambulla cave temples, and the famous rock citadel of Sigiriya.

The largest of these is Anuradhapura , Sri Lanka’s first capital. It was one of the ancient world’s great metropolises at the time, with monasteries, massive dagobas, elaborate palaces, and water tanks. Many of these monuments still remain, not only as popular tourist attractions but as important Buddhist religious sites, so it’s common to see pilgrims paying visits. 

Just south of the cultural triangle is Kandy , the second-largest city in the country. Kandy is known as the cultural capital of Sri Lanka due to housing the famous Temple of the Tooth. This temple, which is open to the public, is said to hold a tooth from the Buddha and is of utmost importance to Buddhists worldwide. 

In the north of Sri Lanka is Jaffna, home to the majority of the country’s Tamil population. Jaffna is a great place to experience Sri Lanka’s Hindu culture, with shrines peppered throughout the region. The most famous is Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, which dates back to the 13th century. 

There’s no better place to stay than Ceylonima Home Stay in Anuradhapura. Run by an incredibly welcoming family who goes out of their way to provide the best experience for their guests. From giving local tips to informal cooking classes in their own kitchen, this is a cultural experience not to miss.

Linda of Muy Linda Travels

Indonesia is an archipelago in Southeast Asia comprising five main islands and more than 18,000 smaller islands located on ancient trading routes between Asia, and the Middle East.

With more than 300 ethnic groups, Indonesian culture is a blend of traditions, religions, and cultural practices. More than 85% of Indonesians are Muslim with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity making up the remaining numbers.  

Indonesia’s ancient religious monuments are a great place to start exploring the country’s rich history and culture. The Island of Bali has more than 10,000 Hindu shrines.

But  Indonesia’s most beautiful temples  can be found in Java. Majestic Borobudur, the largest Buddhist Temple in the world, and Prambanan Temple, the oldest and the largest of Indonesia’s Hindu Temples lie near Yogyakarta in Central Java. Both famous monuments are UNESCO world-heritage listed and recognized for their historical importance and cultural significance.   

In Central Java, the Sarasvati Hotel in Borobudur is a lovely place to stay. The elegant Dutch colonial-era building has a superb location near the entrance to the Borobudur Temple grounds. 

Indonesia has a history of Sultans that ruled local areas before and during the Dutch colonial rule. Royal Courts can be visited in Java, Bali, Borneo, and the Spice Islands. The Sultans were revered for their refinement and high culture. A highlight of visiting the Royal Palace in Yogyakarta is watching a live Gamelan and shadow puppet performance.  

In Java, the Batik Museum in Solo has a beautiful collection of traditional Indonesian Batik fabrics and sarongs, and in Bali, traditional Dance is performed regularly with evening performances in Ubud and around the island.  

Traditional Indonesian food is another way to explore the culture with dishes like, sate chicken and peanut sauce, Gado Gado, Babi Guling, Nasi Goreng, and Mi Goreng.  

Indonesia has much to offer and is a great destination for culture lovers. 

Emily from Emixglobe 

With a long history of colonialism blended with rich aboriginal culture, Taiwan has an extremely colorful fusion of cultural heritage unique from all its East Asian counterparts.

One of the best ways to experience the various forms of Taiwanese culture is to visit the many historic streets scattered throughout Taiwan. Each historic street has its own unique history and culture associated with it.

From these streets, you’ll be able to get a glimpse of how Taiwanese people have lived throughout the centuries; from well-preserved buildings left from the Japanese colonial period to the fascinating and unique Hakka culture of Taiwan.

Some of the most beautiful and notable historic streets in Taiwan include Jiufen and Lukang Old Street, both dating back to the Qing dynasty.

Jiufen was once a prosperous mining town and many have speculated it to be the inspiration for Ghibli’s spirited away due to striking similarities. Lukang used to be the second most prominent town in Taiwan and an important seaport rich in Hakka culture.

The Aboriginal culture is also an important part of Taiwanese culture. The Aborigines have lived in Taiwan for 6000 years, and there are officially 16 recognized tribes in Taiwan, each with its own unique language and culture.

The best way to experience the Aboriginal culture is to take their villages and immerse yourself in their daily way of life and participate in festivals and events.

South Korea

Mayi from SecretMoona

In recent years, South Korea has undergone tremendous cultural change. Thus when considering the country, we often think of K-Pop, K-Drama, K-Food, and high-tech.

But South Korea also offers something for those interested in history and culture.  A trip to South Korea is an invitation to discover 5,000 years of history, art, and culture.

Here, Chinese and Japanese influences can be seen in the rich heritage, but Korean culture displays a particular style. Starting with Seoul, a bubbling capital where futuristic architecture brushes shoulders with ancient palaces.

You can explore Bukchon Hanok Village. Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses called hanok, which date back to the Joseon Dynasty.

After the capital, I invite you to visit the other major places: Busan, the maritime, Gyeongju, the historic, Andong, the traditional…

The historical treasures of Gyeongju, in particular, will take you back in time. As the ancient capital of the kingdom of Silla and often referred to as ‘ the museum without walls ,’ the city displays neither tall buildings nor modern architecture.

While there, explore the city’s royal past at Tumuli Park, a peaceful park full of tumuli (large round grassy tombs), and visit the Gyeongju National Museum. As an important cultural center, it preserves and exhibits Silla’s rich history and culture.

Other must-sees are Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia, and the Bulguksa Temple. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bulguksa Temple is home to the oldest cave temple in the country.

If you want to experience monastic life firsthand, you can stay there as part of a temple stay program and learn sunmudo, a traditional Buddhist Korean martial art, among other things. 

Another place to explore South Korea’s cultural and historical sights is Andong. The town is known for its traditional culture, and the main attraction is the Hahoe Folk Village, a Unesco World Heritage site.

The village has large tile-roofed residences, thatched roofs houses, and old pavilions. Stroll through the narrow streets, visit the traditional houses, and explore the Hahoe Mask Museum, with its intriguing collection of Korean and international masks.

Caroline of Veggie Wayfarer

A colorful treasure trove for cultural aficionados is located along the silk road in Central Asia. Uzbekistan was once at the very heart of trade between East and West, it comes therefore as no surprise that modern-day Uzbek culture is an eclectic mix of different civilizations which is reflected in the country’s architecture, music, and even cuisine.

Originally inhabited by nomadic tribes, and later ruled by a myriad of empires and kingdoms including the Samanids, Timurids, and the Khanate of Bukhara. The country was folded into the Soviet Union in the 20 th  century but regained its independence in 1991.

Luckily the gargantuan tiled mosques and traditional architecture were carefully preserved despite being depictions of an outlawed religion. Hospitality is of the utmost importance in Uzbek culture, being invited into someone’s home for a meal or a cup of tea is a common occurrence, although you might want to brush up on your Uzbek before attending.

While tourism in Uzbekistan has gained momentum in recent years, it still remains a wonderfully authentic place to visit.

Start your trip by  exploring Samarkand , with the majestic Registan Square being an absolute must-visit. Next hop on a train to Bukhara and stay with a local family at the Komil Bukhara Boutique Hotel .

End your cultural trip to Uzbekistan with little Khiva, which once held the largest slave market in all of Central Asia and was rivaled only by Bukhara in importance.

The night train from Khiva to Tashkent will bring you back to the capital, where all international airfare departs from.

Carine from We Did It Our Way

Armenia, a small country in the Caucasus, is a beautiful place with a long history & rich culture. Armenia has been on maps since the Bronze Age under different dynasties and kingdoms.

Being the first Christian nation, adopting the religion in 301 AD, many of the cultural sites in Armenia are churches.

With over 4,000 to choose from, the most notable ones are the Holy City of Etchmiadzin, where the Armenian equivalent of the pope resides, and Khor Virap, where the father of Christianity in Armenia was held captive for years.

But there’s more to do in Armenia than visit churches ! Visit the Genocide Museum to learn about the horrific genocide perpetrated by the Turks in 1915. The Areni-1 Caves, are archaeological digs where there are relics that pin Armenia as one of the birthplaces of wine-making.

The world’s oldest leather shoe was also found here, currently kept at the History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan, where there are many other museums.

Other amazing places to visit in Armenia are the Garni temple, the only pagan temple in the country, dating back to the 1st century.

Karahunj, or Zorats Karer, is suspected to be the oldest astronomical observatory in the world. Khndzoresk is an old village that has been built into the side of the mountain, with caves and ruins to explore.

Almost every night, you can attend a concert or dance show in Yerevan or Gyumri. There are also a ton of festivals and events happening almost every weekend.

A great heritage hotel is the Tufenkian Old Dilijan Guest Rooms in Dilijan. They kept the allure of the architecture of the 1800s when the city of Dilijan was known as a blossoming center of culture, commerce, and cuisine.

There are also plenty of homestays to choose from . Just be careful as your hosts will likely feed you constantly, just a little sign of how much they appreciate you! 

For these reasons and so many others, Armenia is a great place to visit for culture buffs. In 2 weeks, you can easily take in the best sights in the country.

Best Cultural Travel Destinations in Europe

Raksha Nagaraj of Solopassport

Located at the eastern end of the Black Sea between Russia and Armenia, Georgia is a transcontinental country belonging to both Europe and Asia.

As per Georgia’s history, the country has gone through many political changes/rulers, including the rule of the Soviet Union and it was declared independent (again) in 1991.

Georgia is especially famous for its wine culture, as the country is the oldest wine-making country in the world that dates back to 6000 years B.C.

With more than 80% of the population practicing Orthodox Christianity, Georgia is one of the most traditional and religious countries to visit.

Georgia was also the site of the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts in the Greek mythological tale of Argonautica. There are many medieval churches around the country, including UNESCO World Heritage sites  Jvari Monastery and Bagrati Cathedral.

In fact, Georgia’s language, Mkhedruli script (alphabets), and dance are also recognized by UNESCO.

What makes the Georgians stand out is their hospitality and their respect for women. They believe that guests are Gods and make everyone feel at home and comfortable. The food in Georgia is also unique and they love their wine.

Their culture is best observed during their feast/festival called supra. During the feast, the role of the tamada/toastmaster is significant, and the culture of drinking the wine bottoms up irrespective of how big the glass/drinking horns called khantsi is.

One of the best ways to enjoy Georgian culture is by staying at a local hotel or homestay. Musmore Boutique Hotel , situated close to Liberty Square, is a budgeted hotel run by locals and is a great opportunity to interact and learn from them. The guests can also taste and try the local cuisine at the hotel.

Tamar of World by Weekend

If you’re looking for a travel destination rich in cultural heritage, then look no further than Turkey (Türkiye). One of the best cultural vacation destinations, Turkey has been at a cultural crossroads for millennia, giving the country its unique east-meets-west mix of cultures.

While visiting Turkey you’ll have the opportunity to explore ancient Greek ruins, explore Byzantine rock churches, and see the world’s best examples of Ottoman architecture.

Culture buffs should be sure to visit Istanbul , where Europe and Asia collide into one mega-city. Current-day Istanbul was the seat of power for the Ottoman sultans, who ruled for 600 years and whose empire spanned across southern Europe and the Middle East.

You can learn about the Ottoman Empire by visiting Topkapi and Dolmabahçe Palaces. While touring these two stunning palaces you will enter former bedrooms, private prayer rooms, and grand rooms for entertaining, giving you a sense of the lavish lifestyle of the sultans.

Turkey’s cultural significance, however, extends far beyond the busy streets of Istanbul. The ancient city of Ephesus , near current-day Izmir, was once an important Roman city and home to roughly a quarter of a million people.

The city was most famous for the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today, the temple is in ruins aside from one free-standing column. However, the ancient city of Ephesus still contains many exemplary well-preserved ruins, making it a must-visit for travelers interested in ancient history.

Not to be overlooked by culture buffs visiting Turkey is the region of Cappadocia . Nearly 2,000 years ago, this picturesque land of fairy chimneys became home to early Christian settlers.

The settlers built churches into the rocks, chiseling out the rooms by hand. They also painted beautiful religious frescoes on the walls and ceilings, many of which can still be viewed today. The best place to see these Byzantine Christian creations is the Goreme Open Air Museum , which contains 15 rock churches.

For a unique and immersive accommodation experience in Cappadocia , be sure to stay at a cave hotel . Traditionally, many inhabitants of the valley resided in cave dwellings carved into the rocks. Today, you can experience this traditional local lifestyle, without the risk of erosion, by staying in a cave yourself!

Cris from LooknWalk

Located in Southern Europe, La Bella Italia, together with Greece, is considered the birthplace of Western civilization. Home to 53 cultural and 5 natural UNESCO Heritage sites, as well as 14 traditions recognized as intangible cultural heritage, the largest number in the world, Italy is a must on your itinerary if you are a culture buff.

Between historical sites, art museums, and colorful traditions, your trip to Italy will be an immersive experience of its history and culture.

Italy’s history spans eons. Rome started its life as a small village in the 8 th  century BC. It grew into a republic, then an empire, spanning the entire Mediterranean basin, going as far north as Scotland and as far east as Mesopotamia and Arabia.

Reminders of this period dot Rome’s streets. Decades of war and the changes happening in nearby territories, eventually lead to the emergence of modern Italy.

When the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861, its capital was Turin. It took 9 more years until Rome became the capital. But it wasn’t until after World War II that Italy became a republic again (1946).

Today, it’s one of the most popular travel destinations in the world and most travelers choose to discover Rome’s cultural and historical heritage.

Without a doubt, your cultural itinerary in Italy should start with visiting Rome’s Colosseum. And while you are here, tour the Vatican’s Museums, and go on a day trip to explore the   ancient city of Pompeii .

If you are also into art, plan a trip to Florence, home to a large concentration of world-famous masterpieces. Visit the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and Palazzo Vecchio. And while in the area, make sure to also check out Pisa with its famous Leaning Tower.

No cultural exploration of Italy is complete without getting to know its cuisine. Learn to make pizza in Naples or discover the secrets of orecchiette in Puglia.

When it comes to accommodation, farm stays will allow you to get immersed in the Italian lifestyle. Agriturismo Podere Campriano in the heart of Chianti, close to both Florence and Siena, is a family-owned farm that produces fantastic wine and olive oil. Aside from wonderful accommodations, they also offer cooking classes and wine tours.

Elle of Only in Germany

Dating back thousands of years, Germany or Deutschland was a pagan nation and an important center of the Holy Roman Empire . It played a significant part in the history of Europe.

Germany is a hub for culture enthusiasts, with museums, art houses, and collection centers scattered across the country. All these places narrate the story of Germany and have significant cultural importance. They are perfect for witnessing the magic of art, history, and culture.

If you are a culture enthusiast, Berlin, the capital city of Germany is one of the best cities to visit in Germany.

The Pergamon Museum on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Museum Island in Berlin houses long-buried treasures and monumental works worldwide, including Greek and Roman collections.

The Museum Brandhorst in Munich is the central venue for contemporary art, showcasing masterpieces from all over the world from the 1960s to the present.

With a host of musical theaters, opera houses, and live venues, Munich is a hub for performing arts and cultures. One must plan an evening catching traditional and classical performances at Deutsches Theater in Munich to get a dose of culture.

The Hamburg Art Hall is characterized by striking architecture, such as a historical staircase, study hall, or the atrium of the Gallery of Contemporary Art. It houses more than 150 works, including Meister Bertram and Caspar David Friedrich, and also offers a virtual tour. 

The Museum Ludwig in Cologne covers major approaches in contemporary art and the 20th century. It boasts the most extensive pop art collection in Europe, the third biggest Picasso collection in the world, one of the best collections of German Expressionism, and one of the most important collections of photography. 

The Ruhr Museum in Essen is located in the former coal preparation plant of the Zollverein colliery and provides information about the coal age to its visitors, focusing on the technical, historical, and cultural dimensions of the coal cage. Visitors can take a virtual tour of the museum and understand its history and its significance in real time. 

Germany’s museums have preserved culturally and historically significant memorabilia with the utmost care, allowing visitors to cherish a sneak peek into the world and era that went by.

Apart from museums and art galleries, palaces, castles, cathedrals, and monuments also display Germany’s rich cultural heritage. The world-famous cathedral in Cologne is a beautiful reminder of Germany’s glorious past.

Milijana from World Travel Connector

Spain is one of the top countries in the world for its rich cultural heritage. 

Spain has 49 World Heritage sites! Only Italy, China, and Germany have more World Heritage sites than Spain. 

The cultural heritage of Spain goes back to prehistoric times. The Cave of Altamira near Santillana del Mar in northern Spain and its paleolithic cave painting is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

But, the highest number of World Heritage Sites in Spain is related to medieval Spain. 

The Old Cities of Santiago de Compostela, Avila, Salamanca, Toledo, and the historic center of Cordoba are among the prettiest places in Spain and are World Heritage Sites. Gorgeous Seville is among the most beautiful cities in Spain as well.

UNESCO declared Seville’s Cathedral, Alcázar, and Archivo de Indias a UNESCO World Heritage site, too. Besides that, UNESCO’s protected Alhambra Place in Granada is the most visited site in Spain. The Alhambra Palace receives 2 million visitors a year. 

For a highly culturally immersive experience, Spain visitors can sleep in Paradors (historic buildings converted into luxury hotels). The first Parador in Spain was the Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos in Santiago de Compostela. 

However, hiking Camino de Santiago is the top culturally immersive experience in Spain to seek for. Most of the mentioned World Heritage sites are on the Camino de Santiago routes. Camino de Santiago, or St James Way, is among the most famous world pilgrimage and hiking trails.

Camino de Santiago is a net of medieval routes across Spain and Europe that lead to the tomb of Apostle James the Greater in Santiago Cathedral in Spain. UNESCO proclaimed the French Route and Routes of Northern Spain of Camino de Santiago a World Heritage Site.

Camino pilgrims visit historical places. Those places hold the finest examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture in Europe. In the last decade, over 200,000 pilgrims hiked Camino de Santiago.

So, if you seek one of the top culturally immersive experiences in a lifetime, prepare your  Camino de Santiago packing list  and head to Spain! 

Aixoise from All About Aix

France is widely regarded as one of the best destinations for culture lovers due to its rich history, stunning architecture, world-class art, and gastronomy.

It has a long and rich history, from the Roman Empire to the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the modern era.

The country is home to some of the world’s most renowned museums, including the Louvre Museum in Paris, which houses some of the most famous works of art in history, such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

France has numerous historic sites, such as the Palace of Versailles, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and Eiffel Tower. And that is just in Paris. 

Beyond the capital region, other ancient cities with significant contributions to French culture and heritage include Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Avignon, and Nice, to name just a few. Each of these cities has its own unique features. 

Lyon is known for its gastronomic scene, Marseille for its seafood, Strasbourg for its architecture and Christmas markets, Bordeaux for its wine culture and architecture, Avignon for its papal palace and annual theater festival, and Nice for its beaches, art museums, and markets.

And for an art-inspired stay that combines art, relaxation, and gastronomy, I highly recommend visiting the region of Provence in the south of France , the birthplace of Paul Cézanne, a world-renowned Impressionist painter. 

Just 15 km north of Aix-en-Provence and 49 km north of Marseille, you can stay at Château La Coste , renowned for its impressive contemporary art and architecture collection. This heritage hotel offers guests a scenic location amidst vineyards and olive groves, all the while providing an exceptional culinary experience, wine tastings, spa treatments, and relaxation. The French are known for their “ joie de vivre” and the south of France is the perfect place to experience it.

Jo Koni from World Wild Schooling

Welcome to Greece, a country rich in history and culture that has captivated travelers for centuries.

Greece is located in southeastern Europe, on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has a long and fascinating history that dates back to ancient times, and its culture has influenced the world in many ways.

Greece is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, from its idyllic islands to its rugged mountains and stunning beaches. But what really makes Greece stand out is its incredible cultural heritage.

Greece has been the birthplace of some of the most important figures in art, science, and philosophy, and its ancient ruins and monuments are some of the most impressive in the world.

For visitors to Athens, the Acropolis is a must-see attraction. This ancient citadel is home to the Parthenon, one of the most iconic buildings in Greece. The Temple of Poseidon in Sounion , just a short drive from Athens, is another must-visit destination. This temple sits atop a cliff overlooking the Aegean Sea, and the views are absolutely stunning.

But there’s much more to Greece than just Athens. The island of Delos, located just a short boat ride from Mykonos, is an incredible archaeological site that was once a thriving city.

The ancient theater of Epidaurus, located in the Peloponnese, is another must-see attraction. And the ancient palace of Knossos on the island of Crete is a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Minoan civilization.

For an immersive cultural experience in Greece, we recommend staying at the Kyrimai Hotel , located in the small town of Gerolimenas in the Mani region of the Peloponnese. This historic hotel has been beautifully restored and offers guests a chance to experience the traditional architecture and way of life in this part of Greece. The hotel’s restaurant serves traditional Greek cuisine made with locally-sourced ingredients.

Whether you’re interested in ancient history, breathtaking landscapes, or simply relaxing on the beach, Greece has something for everyone.

With its rich cultural heritage and welcoming people, it’s no wonder that Greece remains one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Czech Republic

Joanna from The World in My Pocket

The Czech Republic might be a small country in Europe, but it has such a rich culture and history.

The Czech Republic gave some very important people to the world: Frank Kafka, Sigmund Freud, and Gregor Mendel among many other notable novelists, philosophers, composers, and sportspeople.

The Czech Republic has a long history that saw the country divided between Bohemia and Moravia, as well as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Because of its history, the cultures blended and influenced the way the country is now.

In the South of the country, in Moravia, you can visit the Lednice-Vatice domain with the two castles which belonged to the Liechtenstein family. Here you can also notice the English-style landscaped gardens, which are unique in the Czech Republic.

If you are into science, it’s always a great idea to take a  day trip to Brno  and visit the museum dedicated to Mendel and his work in genetics. You will find out there that Mendel was an Augustinian friar at St Thomas Abbey, where you can see an incredible exhibition of his personal belongings.

In the West of the country, you will find the spa towns, which are now on the UNESCO Heritage list. In Marianske Lazne, you can stay at the same hotel where King Edward VII of England used to often come for treatments. You can ask at the reception of Nove Lazne to see his cabin, which has the original chair he used in the spa treatment rooms.

Diana of Travels in Poland

Poland has a rich cultural heritage that spans centuries and has influenced the world in countless ways. 

Poland has a long and storied history, dating back to the Piast dynasty that ruled the country. Even before then, the legend of Lech is well known in Polish history. 

Over the centuries, Poland has experienced numerous invasions, wars, and political upheavals, including the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century when the country was divided between Russia, Prussia, and Austria. 

During World War II, Poland was the center of some of the deadliest concentration camps, including Auschwitz Birkenau , which can still be visited today.

Despite this, Poland has managed to preserve its cultural identity through its traditions, customs, and artistic expressions.

Poland’s culture is a fusion of Slavic, Germanic, and Jewish influences. One of the most impressive cultural aspects of Poland is its architecture, with many historic buildings and landmarks still standing today. 

The Old Town of Kraków, the Wawel Castle, and the Royal Castle in Warsaw are all excellent examples of Poland’s rich architectural heritage.

Poland offers an array of experiences that celebrate its rich cultural heritage. The Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-visit attraction. The mine is a fascinating underground labyrinth of salt chambers, tunnels, and sculptures carved out of rock salt. 

Poland is also known for famous individuals including Marie Curie, Nicholas Copernicus, and Chopin. Visitors can also explore Poland’s museums and galleries showcasing these individuals. The Chopin Museum in Warsaw is a great example of a museum dedicated to the famous composer.

Hotel Pugetow is an ideal place to stay when in Krakow. It is a heritage hotel that was built in 1874 and is part of the Puget Palace complex and has rooms where duchesses and dukes had once stayed.

Poland’s rich cultural heritage is a testament to its resilience and creativity throughout its complex history and offers a wealth of cultural experiences that are sure to captivate and inspire visitors from around the world.

Abbey of Trips on Abbey Road

Croatia is considered a cultural gem in Europe, known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and beautiful natural scenery, as well as its lively music, dance, and culinary traditions.

There are countless museums, galleries, and even UNESCO heritage sites around celebrating this beautiful Baltic country. The history here spans back over 13 centuries, at least so you just know that there are some juicy stories and history around. 

One of the best things about Croatia’s cultural history is the rich tradition of folk dance. These dances vary from region to region. One of the most popular types of folk dance in Croatia is the kolo or circle dance, which is performed during religious holidays and other special occasions.

If you are visiting during one of the major holidays you may get lucky enough to see this dance performed in the town squares. Most of the time they wear traditional clothing as well. Women with big white hats and beautiful gowns, and the men keep it simple with black suits and traditional hats. 

For places to go in Croatia  for a cultural experience one of the most visited destinations is Dubrovnik , with its well-preserved medieval walls that surround the old town.

Another popular city in Croatia is Zadar . Here you will find a mix of Roman, modern, and medieval structures throughout the beautiful southern city. And if you are looking to get outside and explore the Plitvice Lakes National Park is amazing with dozens of cascading waterfalls and hiking paths to explore. 

Plitvice Panta Rei  is near the waterfalls and would be a perfect place to get an authentic and cultural stay in Croatia. 

Amber from Amber Everywhere

Culture lovers will quickly fall head over heels for Sweden, a Scandinavian country in Europe known for its coffee breaks, an affinity for the outdoors, and lively music scene.

Although Sweden shares some similarities with its Scandinavian neighbors, you’ll find many distinct cultural practices, many of which are apparent even to a first-time visitor. 

Perhaps the most popular among Swedes and visitors alike is the fika or coffee break. Often, coffee is enjoyed with chokladboll, a small, round chocolate treat.

You’ll notice immediately that most people in Sweden speak Swedish, although they tend to also speak other languages fluently. While you may not need to speak Swedish to navigate the country as a tourist, you’ll certainly experience more of Swedish culture if you have some experience with the language.

Try to learn a few words and phrases before you go to maximize your exposure to Swedish culture on your trip. 

If you have a chance to meet or get to know Swedish people, you’ll notice that they value egalitarianism and tend to dislike boasting. Additionally, the country values the environment and the outdoors, so you’ll tend to see more organic, sustainable, or eco-friendly products in Sweden.

You’ll also find plenty of people spending their holidays exploring the outdoors, from parks near Stockholm to longer trips to Abisko.

You can experience Swedish culture and the beautiful landscapes of Lapland by staying in the STF Abisko Turiststation in the Arctic Circle. From the Turiststation, you can see the northern lights, hike in Lapland, ice climb, and generally enjoy the beautiful outdoor scenery.

Scotland, United Kingdom

Kristine of Scotland Less Explored

The first images that come to mind when thinking of Scotland are kilts, bagpipes, castles, and whisky. And yes, this is part of Scotland’s culture and history but there is so much more to the country. Just like there are so many more places to explore in Scotland than in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

However, these are still great cities to visit and the Edinburgh Festival and Military Tattoo are worthy of specifically arranging a trip around. Both cities have many museums and theatre performances but to better understand Scottish culture you should also visit the highlands and islands.

Accounts of Scotland’s history often start with, unlike England, Scotland was not invaded by the Romans in the 1 st  Century AD. But sites such as Skara Brae (ruins of a village) in the Orkneys and the Callanish standing stones in the Outer Hebrides pre-date Stonehenge and even the pyramids in Egypt!

The Vikings also influenced Scotland which can be seen from the names of villages and locations. One of the most remarkable artifacts from this time is the Uig chessmen. The chess pieces are carved from walrus tusks and were found on a  beach in Uig  in 1831. They are on display at the National Museum in Edinburgh and Museum Nan Eilean in Stornoway.

Traveling through Scotland between May and September you can attend Highland Games with traditional sports such as cable toss and arts such as highland dancing accompanied by bagpipes. 

In the more remote parts of the country, you will find most of Scotland’s 1,000 castles. Many can be visited on a guided tour but the most intimate way to experience one is to stay overnight.

One of the best is Glenapp Castle Hotel south of Glasgow. As well as beautiful grounds the hotel offers great dining options and a fascinating whisky-tasting experience can be arranged. You will find whisky distilleries all over Scotland but the most authentic are on Islay or Speyside.

Top Cultural Heritage Tourism Destinations in North America

United states of america.

Dawn Robson from Culture Feasting

The United States is a cultural destination like no other. As the country grew and expanded through immigration, so did its abundant  culture .

In the Northeast, you’ll find that New York City is a tightly condensed metropolis filled with music, art, and theater. Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center will satisfy the music aficionado and there is Broadway for theater enthusiasts. With more than 6 million visitors each year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art should not be missed.

Music lovers should head South to New Orleans, Louisiana, known as the birthplace of Jazz, where every spring the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is held.  

For more live music make your way to Nashville, Tennessee, the Music City, to discover Country, Bluegrass, and Blues music at its source. Stroll through Music Row to see the recording studios of famous musicians such as Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton.

Plan a visit to Sante Fe, New Mexico, known for its abundant art scene and festivals. Uncover the culture of the indigenous people in the Southwest by visiting the Native American History Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in downtown Santa Fe. Explore the works and life of American artist Georgia O’Keefe.

To experience the art and history of the American cowboy culture visit The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Stay in a log cabin at Meadowlake Ranch just outside of Tulsa Oklahoma and participate in the many ranch activities such as horse riding and rope throwing.

From east to west, the United States is a country filled with cultural destinations waiting for you to discover.

Mal from Raw Mal Roams

With a complex history and fascinating Mayan heritage intertwined with the colonial past, Mexico is one of the most captivating countries to visit today.

Before the Spanish colonization in the early 16th century, Mexico was home to many brilliant pre-Colombian civilizations. First was the great civilization of Teotihuacán, built between 100 B.C. and 700 A.D. near what’s today Mexico City. 

Later on, came the Mayans, which were considered the most sophisticated and advanced civilization of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The influence of their culture, language, and architecture is still present today in places like Chichén Itzá, Palenque, and Tulum.

Aztecs were the last great rulers when the Spaniards arrived. During colonial times, the Spanish left their mark on Mexico by constructing grand cities, ornate monasteries, and breathtakingly beautiful churches representing a unique blend of European style and Mesoamerican influence.

Today, the rich Mayan and colonial heritage merges with the vibrant modern culture, creating a unique blend unlike any other. There are many ways you can immerse yourself in Mexican culture. Start your journey by exploring Chichen Itza – the ruins of the most important Mayan city. If you a history buff, go ahead and also visit other grand structures such as Palenque, Coba, and Uxmal.

Delve into majestic cities such as Merida and Izamal, adorned with delightful colonial architecture, and stay in the converted haciendas such as San Miguel Arcángel Izamal.

Explore the mystical cenotes that were sacred to the Mayans. Indulge in the Mexican food that varies from region to region as you traverse this stunning country! And experience Mexico’s most important festivities, such as Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and Semana Santa (Easter).

Nikki of She Saves She Travels

Located in Central America along the Caribbean Sea, Belize is a phenomenal country to experience for those interested in history and the Mayan civilization. The Maya lived in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize.

A few of the most culturally significant sites in Belize are the Caracol Ruins, Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, and  Xunantunich Mayan Ruins , which are all located on the western edge of Belize near San Ignacio. Visitors can spend a day exploring each of these sites. Caracol and Xunantunich are Mayan cities with rich histories. Climb the pyramids and temples and let your tour guide explain the most important plazas and structures. 

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (also known as the ATM Cave) is a sacred and spiritual site for the Mayans. To see the ancient artifacts, you’ll need to wade in waist-to-shoulder deep water and trek through narrow passages within the cave.

The ancient Mayan civilization is also known for a modern-day discovery: chocolate! Visitors to Belize can find a chocolate-making tour in many of the major tourist areas and large cities. Cacao farms will even show you how to make chocolate as the Mayans did, and how it’s been converted in recent history to a much sweeter version of the original.

For a unique stay in Belize, consider the Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge . Experience the lush, tropical rainforest with options to hike and discover hanging bridges along the way. Located in the heart of Belize, this 600-acre property is the right mix of relaxation and adventure for your Belize vacation!

Carley Rojas Avila of Home to Havana

Once considered an off-limits travel destination for travelers from the United States, policy changes in the past decade have made it easier than ever for travelers from the United States and beyond to visit Cuba.

One of the most complex and rich travel destinations in Latin America, Cuba offers everything from lush rainforests and soaring mountains to white sand beaches and world-class resorts.

One of the most interesting  things to do in Havana, Cuba  is to visit the Museo de la Revolución – Museum of the Revolution. Housed in the lavish former presidential palace, this museum houses important exhibits about the Cuban Revolution.

You can still see bullet holes on the outside of the building, maintained as a sign of the history of the taking of the palace during the Cuban Revolution. The museum’s outside patio area is home to a full-scale replica of the Granma, the ship Fidel Castro used to arrive in Cuba with a band of revolutionaries at the start of the Cuban Revolution. 

While Havana is a must on any traveler’s itinerary, make sure to head outside of Havana as well to experience another side of Cuba. The Viñales Valley is a perfect choice just a few hours west of Havana.

Stay at Finca Media Luna , an eco-farm with beautiful accommodations and delicious home-cooked Cuban food, for a great way to connect with locals and see a stunning part of Cuba.

If you’d prefer a beach getaway, the people beach resort town of Varadero is a great choice with plenty of amenities, while more remote, untouched beaches like Cayo Jutias and Playa Maguana outside of Baracoa are other great options. 

Top Cultural Destinations in South America

Martha from May Cause Wanderlust

Peru is a beautiful country for culture lovers because it has such a rich and varied cultural history. And the good news is you can explore a lot of Peru’s cultural tapestry in  two weeks in Peru .

It has been home to ancient civilizations, including the Incas, who conquered the high altitude of Peru’s mountains and plateaus with stone steps, agricultural terraces, and impressive landmarks. The most well-known is, of course, Machu Picchu, a stone citadel perched high in the Andes. But there are many other Inca ruins around Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.  

Then there’s the Nazca – an older civilization than the Incas, and more mysterious. Their legacy is the impressive Nazca lines, markings, and hieroglyphs on the desert floor, best seen from above. Scientists only have theories about their purpose and how they were constructed with such geometric regularity.

But the culture in Peru is not all a history lesson. To this day, there are pockets of preserved traditional culture, and one of the best places to experience this is Lake Titicaca. Here, island communities, still relatively isolated from the mainland, have preserved their traditional way of life.

A great way to immerse yourself in one of these cultures is a homestay on Amantani island , which is the most populated island, and known for its textiles and ceramics.

You can also do day trips from Puno to Taquile Island, also known for its textiles and its pretty archways, and the floating Uros islands, which are literally floating islands made from totara reeds.

And if you still haven’t had enough culture in Peru, modern Peru is known as a great foodie destination, with fresh, inventive cuisine and world-class restaurants.

Carley Rojas Avila of Explorers Away

Don’t let the dark periods of Colombia’s recent history weigh on you; Colombia is a vibrant and rich travel destination you’ll love exploring. With its delicious and varied regional cuisines, incredible dance and music traditions, and an array of natural and man-made attractions, it’s a destination anyone can love.

One of the highlights of a trip to Colombia is a visit to Ciudad Perdida, a “lost city” deep in the mountainous jungle near Colombia’s Caribbean coast. While would-be visitors have to embark on a four-day trek through the jungle to reach the expansive ruins and terraces of this indigenous city, it’s an adventure well worth the effort.

For a slightly less adventurous itinerary but just as memorable of an experience, head to Cartagena on Colombia’s northern coast. This historic city has impressive walls and forts dating back to the Spanish colonial era, as well as glimmering new skyscrapers and white sand beaches.

Make sure to stay in one of the restored colonial boutique hotels in Cartagena, such as Casa Pestagua , considered among the  best places to stay in Cartagena  after undergoing extensive refurbishing.

Best Cultural Tourism Destinations in Africa

Andy from Explore with Finesse

Kenya is a great destination for culture lovers due to its rich and diverse history. Located in East Africa, Kenya has been inhabited by humans for millions of years. Today, it is home to 42 different ethnic groups, each with its own unique traditions, language, and customs.

The Maasai people, for example, are known for their vibrant traditional dress, intricate beadwork, and their distinct way of life centered around cattle herding. Other ethnic groups include the Kikuyu, Luhya, and Luo.

Kenya was colonized by the British in the late 19th century and gained independence in 1963. Because of this, many Kenyans speak English in addition to the country’s other official language, Swahili. Today, Kenya is known for its stunning landscapes, wildlife, and diverse cultural heritage.

For culture buffs, a visit to the Maasai Mara National Reserve offers an opportunity to experience the Maasai culture firsthand. Visitors can witness traditional dance performances, participate in beadwork workshops, and even stay in a traditional Maasai homestay.

Another cultural attraction in Kenya that is worth visiting is  Diani , a coastal town located south of Mombasa. Diani is known for its beautiful beaches and unique blend of Swahili and European cultures. One of the oldest mosques in Kenya, the Kongo Mosque, can be found in Diani. This was built in the 14th century by Arab explorers and is still in use today.

For an immersive cultural experience, consider staying at the Giraffe Manor . Located in Nairobi, the hotel is set on 140 acres of indigenous forest and offers guests the opportunity to interact with endangered Rothschild’s giraffes that frequently visit the property. 

Trisha Agrawal from Try Wandering More

Egypt is home to the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, the Pyramids of Giza, one of the best cultural attractions. Being an ancient civilization, its history and culture date back to 3200 BC – over 5000 years ago. Mind-boggling!

The best bit is that one can see remnants of that age today through grand Egyptian temples dedicated to multiple gods, gigantic Pyramids, towering statues of Pharaohs, beautifully painted tombs, well-preserved mummies, and fascinating hieroglyphics. You’ll be completely drawn in and dazzled!

To immerse yourself in ancient architecture, head to the Pyramids around Cairo; the marvelous temples around Luxor, especially Karnak Temple (the second largest temple in the world); the tombs at the Valley of the Kings near Luxor, and Abu Simbel near Aswan.

To see the mummies of the pharaohs and the treasures hidden in the royal tombs, visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Egypt is, however, more than just the Pharaonic era. It’s also about all those that came after – Persians, Greeks, Romans, Caliphates, Mamluks, Ottomans, the French, and the English.

Egypt is, therefore, a blend of cultures while being primarily Islamic. This is very noticeable in the food and architecture. Visit Alexandria and the temples of Dendera, Edfu, and Philae to learn about the Greco-Roman era. Walk through the markets and mosques in Islamic Cairo to learn about the Islamic age.

Egypt also has biblical significance. It is where Moses grew up and eventually received the Ten Commandments. It is also where the Holy Family took refuge after fleeing Bethlehem. Visit the churches and synagogues at Coptic Cairo and climb Mount Sinai to see biblical stories come to life.

While  planning your trip to Egypt , add a felucca ride or a cruise down the Nile to your itinerary to experience life along the river. Don’t miss staying at a historic hotel like Marriott Mena House in Giza that overlooks the Pyramids.

Whether you are a seasoned cultural traveler or a newbie who wants to embrace culturally conscious travel or a traveler who’s looking for a one-off-out-of-the-ordinary experience – we hear you. This hand-picked list of the best cultural holiday destinations is sure to inspire each one of you to plan your next cultural getaway.

Did we miss a destination you feel should grace this compilation? Let us know in the comments below!

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Art & Culture Travel Blog

Cultural tourism explained: how to be a cultural tourist.

• Tea Gudek Šnajdar

Cultural Tourism

How to be a cultural tourist? I have been writing about some wonderful examples of cultural tourism on this blog since 2016. And I realised that during that time, I hadn’t written an article in which I would explain well what cultural tourism actually is, who are cultural tourists and how to be one. So here it finally is – cultural tourism explained!

How to be a cultural tourist

Are you a cultural tourist if you’re visiting museums while travelling? Or if you go to the old local church during your summer trip? And what about if you read a novel set up in that destination before your visit? You could be a cultural tourist in all those cases, but not necessarily.

But how to be a cultural tourist then? And what is cultural tourism actually?

⤷ Read more : 15 Best museums in Europe you have to visit this year

History of cultural tourism

Let’s start with some basics first. As you probably know, people have been travelling already for centuries. During Ancient Rome, more than two thousand years ago, wealthy people travelled to their holiday homes on the Mediterranean Sea coast.

Later on, in Middle Ages, pilgrimages became the most popular type of travel. People travelled for religious purposes and, along their way, visited numerous churches and cathedrals. However, in the Renaissance and Baroque times, artists travelled quite a lot. They were learning about art by visiting famous churches to observe artworks in them. For the same reason, they would visit other artists’ studios and get acquainted with their art.

A bit later, the Grand Voyages became popular among the wealthy European youth. They would go on a few months-long journeys to visit some of Europe’s art and culture centres. Those trips would often include Paris , Rome and some of the best archaeological sites in Europe .

All of those early travellers were cultural tourists. They were all motivated by local art, culture and unique traditions to visit those destinations. So, if you exclude survival as one of the first reasons for early migrations, then culture is one of the earliest motivations to travel.

⤷ Read more : The travelling artists & artworks in Renaissance Europe

Culture as opposed to the mass tourism

Only from the mid-20th century did mass tourism become a thing. Before that time, travellers mainly were cultural tourists. However, with the introduction of mass transportation, people also started to go places for other reasons. And only in the 1970s is cultural tourism start being spoken about again.

Many tourism boards around the world are trying to focus more on cultural tourism in their destinations lately. So, perhaps in the near future, it will be one of the main reasons to travel again.

⤷ Read more : History of travelling – How people started to travel

If you’re wondering who cultural tourists are and if you are one, then keep reading to learn more about this type of travel. Cultural tourism theory recognises many types and subtypes of these kinds of travellers. However, not to bore you with the tiresome theory behind it, here are ten points to help you understand how to be a cultural tourist.

1 – Learn about the local culture while travelling

When deciding where to travel next, make culture one of the primary motivators for picking up that destination. When in the Netherlands, visit Dutch Golden Age heritage sites , in Croatia, learn about the local Istrian fishermen’s traditions or explore its cuisine while in Italy.

Your goal could also be to learn more about the famous local artist while travelling to a particular destination. An excellent example is exploring the Impressionist art movement in Paris or following the footsteps of Rembrandt in Amsterdam .

⤷ Read more : Locations linked to Vincent van Gogh in Europe

2 – Visiting museums & cultural sites while travelling

If museums and cultural sites are high on your bucket list when visiting a new destination, you can consider yourself a cultural tourist. Museums, galleries, great architecture, archaeological sites and beautiful churches are all considered cultural sites and are of interest to cultural tourists.

Visiting the Louvre Museum and Musée Marmottan – Monet in Paris or the Rijksmuseum or Moco Museum in Amsterdam are all considered cultural tourism activities.

⤷ Read more : How to visit the museum – A guide for the perfect museum visit

3 – Meet locals when travelling

Learning more about the local life and meeting some locals while travelling is one of the main goals of cultural tourism. It could be done by booking the tours organised by locals, going to local cafes and restaurants or visiting the local market.

Meeting the locals is one of the best ways to understand the local culture. If you’re wondering how to be a cultural tourist, meet some locals during your trip.

4 – Read about the destination before visiting it

Cultural tourists are individual travellers who prepare well for their trip in advance. Not only do they book their accommodation, transport and activities online. But they also read a lot about their destination before the trip.

You can get information about the destination you’re going to visit on travel blogs and in travel guides. However, one of my favourite ways of preparing for the trip is by reading a novel set in a destination I’m going to visit. Descriptions of its streets, architecture and life in that place make planning the trip even more exciting.

5 – Join guided tours while travelling

Guided tours are some of the best ways to learn about the local culture and destination you’re visiting. I don’t talk about mass group tours but small or private guided tours. You can join some while visiting a museum or a historical site. Or, you can learn more about the city’s history or specific areas during some of those tours.

My favourite places to look for guided tours are websites like Get Your Guide , Viator or With Locals .

⤷ Read more : 21 Most beautiful castles in Europe

6 – Try to learn a few words of the local language before and during your trip

If you plan to listen to tip no. 3 (meet some locals) from my list of how to be a cultural tourist, then this point is pretty important. If you want to be a proper cultural tourist, try to learn a few words of the local language before and during your trip.

Saying hello and thank you are some of the basics. But, if you’d like to go that extra mile, then a few more words would do magic. It’s also a great way to show respect towards the locals. Something proper culture tourists always do!

7 – Visit less known destinations for better cultural experiences

Popular and very touristic destinations often won’t give you genuine insight into the local culture. If you want to have more of an authentic experience, aim for the smaller places. Small fishermen’s villages around Barcelona will show you more true Catalunya than its capital. Small towns in France will give you a better insight into the French lifestyle than Paris.

An example I always love to give is museums with Van Gogh ‘s artworks. Most tourists who want to see the work of that famous Dutch painter visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam . But, that museum is often packed with people, and you won’t have a chance to enjoy his paintings that much. However, very few visit another Dutch institution, the Kröller-Müller Museum , home to the second-largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings. It’s home to numerous fantastic artworks, but much less crowded and a place where you can enjoy his artworks in peace and quiet.

So, you understand my point here – visit less known destinations for better cultural experiences!

8 – Search for cultural events worth visiting

Have you ever considered visiting a destination just to attend some cultural events like concerts or festivals? If yes, you could definitely consider yourself a cultural tourist. I often visit some destinations because of the temporary exhibitions organised there. For example, I plan to go to Amsterdam at the beginning of the next year to see Johannes Vermeer ‘s exhibition that will be organised in the Rijksmuseum .

Some local festivals are even better reasons to visit a particular destination. Christmas markets are some of the best known. However, many interesting cultural events are organised across Europe in the summer.

9 – Try local food while travelling

Local food shows you the soul of the country. My favourite way of learning about the local culture is by visiting the market of a destination I’m seeing. It’s a perfect place to try some local food, learn about it and feel the lifestyle of a destination.

It’s also a great way to meet and chat with some locals. And don’t be afraid if you don’t speak the local language. A smile and a few words in English can mostly be enough.

⤷ Read more : The most interesting European myths and legends

10 – Read and follow Culture Tourist for travel inspiration

Are you Culture Tourist’s regular reader? If you are, you can already consider yourself a cultural tourist!

Shameless self-promotion aside, reading about some great and inspiring examples of cultural tourism worldwide could help you be a cultural tourist. It makes it easier to stay informed about exciting destinations to visit and inspired about fun cultural trips to take.

With its focus on local communities, art and sustainability, well-executed cultural tourism is the future of travel. I hope this article helped you understand how to be a cultural tourist.

Do you consider yourself a cultural tourist? What are some other things you do to be one? Let me know in the comments below!

10 Best Cultural Activities Worth Trying Around The World In 2023

As the desire to experience new cultures drives travel decisions this year, these cultural activities should be on everyone's 2023 bucket lists.

As the world goes back to normal after years of lockdown-imposed restrictions, the travel industry is finally going back to pre-pandemic normalcy. Travelers are looking for new destinations for their 2023 voyages and according to Viator's findings , more people want a taste of new cultural experiences than ever: cultural tourism has seen a +228% since last year. Whether that's unique festivals, ancient art, and architecture, fascinating customs, and histories, or delicious culinary adventures , cultural experiences are on everyone's minds this year. If that's you, take a look at these cultural activities because they are certainly worth planning a trip around.

10 Soak In The Art And Cabarets Of Montmartre

With more museums than anywhere else in the world , Paris may very well be the cultural hub of France. But if there's one district that rules Parissien culture with its vibrant art and rich nightlife, it's Montmartre. Located in the 18th arrondissement on the northern end of Paris, Montmartre is a world of its own. The hilltop village, with its colorful buildings, quaint bistros, and cobbled streets, was once the mecca of artists where the likes of Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso resided. Montmartre is also home to The Basilica of Sacré Coeur de Montmartre and Moulin Rogue -- perhaps the world's most famous cabaret that is regarded as the birthplace of the modern-day can-can dance.

• Tour: Montmartre Walking Tour: Paris' Best Art, Culture and Food
• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cost: From $40.22

Book This Tour

9 Walk With The Geisha Of Japan

The Geisha of Japan has been described as entertainers and hosts, but that simplifies the cultural significance of a Geisha. On the contrary, a geisha goes through years of training to be able to call themselves a geisha and are considered more artists than entertainers in Japan. To truly understand the skills that a geisha must acquire to become masters in the art of conversation and ancient Japanese performance styles, a visit to the Gion district of Kyoto -- where the geisha culture truly thrives -- is paramount.

• Tour: Gion walking tour "Explore Gion and discover the arts of geisha."
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours
• Cost: $99.61

8 Enjoy An Evening Aperitivo In Italy

What the rest of the world calls happy hours, Italians call the aperitivo hour. Those who enjoy an aperitif in the land of la dolce vita will know that the aperitivo is a lot more than cheap alcohol and two-for-one cocktails, though; it's an institution. Aperitivo gets its name from the word aperire, Latin for to open, and the aperitivo hour is thought to open one's appetite for the feast to come. Sure, visitors could technically enjoy aperitifs before dinner anywhere in the world, but the aperitivo hour in Italy is an experience of a lifetime. Starting from six in the evening until nine, all of Italy pulses with electrifying energy as locals fill up bars for a glass of vermouth and platters of bruschettas, olives, salads, and pizzas.

• Tour: Florence at Sunset: Hidden Gems and Traditions of Aperitivo
• Duration: 2 hours
• Cost: $92.72

Related: How To Eat In Italy Like A Local: 10 Things You Need To Know

7 Take Part In The Rituals Of Ayahuasca With The Shamans Of Peru

No cultural activity is perhaps more misunderstood than the rituals of ayahuasca that take place deep in the wilderness of the Amazon Rainforest . Most dismiss ayahuasca as a mere drug that causes a psychedelic experience but fail to grasp the rituals and healing properties that are associated with it in the cultures of the indigenous groups in the Upper Amazon. Ayahuasca is hallucinogenic, no doubt but led by specialists known as ayahuasqueros (or shamans as people call them); the Amazonian tribes use ayahuasca as a religious medicine for physical, spiritual, and mental healing. Today, ayahuasca ceremonies are a part of multi-day wellness retreats that help visitors towards overall healing.

• Tour: Ayahuasca Ceremony in Cusco Jungle
• Duration: 5 days
• Cost: $1,450.00

6 Explore The Remains Of Ancient Egypt At The Pyramids Of Giza

The three Pyramids of Giza were built between 2550 and 2490 B.C. to last an eternity. Today, some 4,500 years later, the pyramids stand as reminders of ancient Egypt and are more than just one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World . The pyramids house the tombs of three generations of pharaohs -- Khufu, his son Khafre, and his grandson Menkaure -- and have been opened for the public to enter . Tours will guide visitors not only through the history of the ancient Egyptian civilization but also through the importance of pyramids in its culture, where pyramids were a symbol of life after death, helping pharaohs to ascend towards the light of the sun from the earth.

• Tour: Inclusive Tour Giza pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Bazaar, Pyramids view Lunch
• Duration: 8 to 10 hours
• Cost: $60.00

5 Get Insight Into The Carnivals Of Rio De Janeiro

There is no cultural festival in Brazil more famous than the grand carnivals held in the country on Ash Wednesday each year. Carnivals began in Italy and were brought to Brazil when it was a colony of Portugal. Africans of the slave trade added their own cultural influences to the carnivals, including costumes, masks, and, more importantly, samba. While dancing, eating, singing, and dressing up are all important parts of the carnival, it also represents a mesh of different cultures.

• Tour: Rio: Carnival Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail (Carnaval Experience)
• Cost: $20.85

Related: The Carnival of Brazil Is The Best In The World, And This Is When It'll Be Held Next

4 Marvel At The Architecture Of Barcelona

Barcelona is something of a treasure hunt for those with a keen eye for architecture. The capital of Catalonia has seen several civilizations with different cultures walk through its streets, and each has left its own mark on the city. Although Antoni Gaudí is the architect most famously associated with the buildings he designed in the Catalan modernism style, Gothic cathedrals, avant-garde works, and streets that take visitors back to Middle Ages are hidden in every corner of Barcelona.

• Tour: Priority Access: Best of Barcelona Tour Including Sagrada Familia
• Duration: 6 hours
• Cost: $77.64

3 Watch Bangkok's Street Food Come To Life At Night

Street food exists in just about every city in the world, but in Bangkok, street food is a way of life. Bangkok's street food is more than just a way for vendors to make a livelihood; it's an integral part of Thai culture and a symbol of its history. Street food is a profession that's passed over several generations in Bangkok, where today, more than 500,000 street vendors whip up specialties for hungry diners using centuries-old family recipes every night. This is why the government's efforts to impose strict restrictions on the street food of Bangkok have largely been unsuccessful and received nationwide backlash.

• Tour: Bangkok Street Food Tour By Night
• Duration: 3 hours
• Cost: $53.10

Related: Thailand's Most Popular Street Foods Are Worth Passing Up Restaurants For

2 Hop Between The Forts And Palaces Of India

India's history, heritage, and traditions differ from region to region and the same goes for its forts and palaces. Several dynasties have ruled its lands, and different colonizers have influenced the cultures in different pockets of India. Today, over 80 palaces and 1000 forts stand as a testament to the country's tumultuous past. These magnificent structures will take visitors back in time to India's ancient cultures, rituals, and ways of life.

• Tour: 8 Days Private Luxury Tour of Taj Mahal & Palaces of India - Timeless Royalty
• Duration: 8 days
• Cost: $1,408.00

1 Live Like A Maasai In Kenya

There is no better way to understand an unfamiliar culture than to live the way its people do, even if it's just for 24 hours. The Maasai tribe of Kenya has long attracted curious travelers from around the world. Residing near the game parks of the African Great Lakes, the Maasai believe that god made them custodians of the world's cattle, and cows, in particular, are a symbol of wealth in the community. The semi-nomadic tribe moves with its livestock based on the seasonal rotation of lands to ensure that its cattle do not overgraze a land and so that the Maasai don't exhaust the game meant for hunting in the area.

• Tour: Maasai Village Experience Day Tour
• Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
• Cost: $72.00

• Division of Arts and Culture

The Division of Arts and Culture promotes arts and culture as essential to quality of life for all Floridians.

Para español, seleccione de la lista

• Department of State
• Info and Opportunities

Resources by Topic

• Cultural Tourism Toolkit
• What is Cultural Tourism? - Basic Information

What is cultural tourism?

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, cultural tourism is “movements of persons for essentially cultural motivations such as study tours, performing arts and cultural tours, travel to festivals and other cultural events, visits to sites and monuments, travel to study nature, folklore or art, and pilgrimages.”

We expand this definition to encompass the participation of visitors in cultural activities whether those activities are the primary purpose of their travel or not.

Why should my organization take action on cultural tourism?

Cultural tourism is big business in Florida. Our state attracts more than 100 million visitors per year, and 65% of those visitors take part in at least one cultural activity. 

These visitors spend more on their trips and stay longer than other visitors.

Creating a plan to attract cultural tourism can do more than affect your bottom line, it can also help define your area as a cultural and artistic destination.

Why would a visitor come to my area?

Travelers look for an “authentic experience,” and your community has its own special attributes that set it apart from others. These features include your history, traditions, and yes, your arts and culture.

Your community has a story to tell, and finding an engaging way to tell that tale is one way to attract visitors. Tools are available for creating an inventory of community assets.  A few of them are found as links in this toolkit.

Where to begin?

That’s up to you!  Engage with other organizations and individuals in your area, or simply measure the effect visitors have on your own organization. The important thing to do is to start somewhere . You don’t even have to spend any money.

How do I approach my local Destination Marketing Organization (DMO)or Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)?

Sometimes arts and cultural organizations may be daunted at the idea of approaching the local DMO or CVB.  Arts and cultural organizations create value for tourists by offering experiences that cannot be found elsewhere.

You have a product that your DMO can sell… and their goal is to sell your area to visitors. You may find that showing them how many visitors take advantage of your services will catch the DMO’s interest. You may find that the excellent quality of your work will excite them as much as you know it will excite tourists.  Finding your way in may be difficult, but it can be done.

Remember, bring them a quality product and show them how they can use it to their own advantage.

Another helpful step is to integrate the boards of directors of DMO/CVB’s with the boards of arts and cultural organizations.  If a member of the DMO board is interested in arts and culture, there may be an opportunity for expanding their interest by having a conversation regarding an upcoming project or event. 

In addition, if you have someone from the tourism industry on your board, they may be able to provide some useful guidance and new ideas for promoting cultural tourism in the community.

What can I measure that relates to cultural tourism?

You can always start small in measurements. Try collecting the zip codes of your patrons as a way to find out how many of them traveled to your event or activity.  Think of what you want to accomplish, and ask yourself some important questions:

            “Why do we do what we do?”

            “Why do people take advantage of my current offerings?”

            “For what reasons are we funded?”

            “What change are we trying to create in our community?”

These questions and others like them can help you decide what to measure and how to measure it.

Once you have your numbers, analyze them and look at how you can improve what you’re doing.

Once you’ve implemented a change, no matter how small, measure again to see if you’ve achieved the outcome you wanted.

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Understanding the Surge in Cultural Tourism: An In-depth Look into Its Popularity

By: Author Valerie Forgeard

Posted on Published: August 3, 2023  - Last updated: August 4, 2023

Categories Travel

You’ve probably heard the term ‘cultural tourism’ buzzing around travel circles, but have you ever wondered why it’s so popular? It’s more than just a trend.

Cultural tourism lets you dive deep into the heart of different societies, providing an up-close view of diverse traditions, customs, and ways of life.

Imagine walking through ancient ruins, participating in vibrant festivals or learning local crafts; it’s about experiencing a culture firsthand rather than observing from afar.

It’s not just about taking photos for your social media feed; it’s about expanding your knowledge and understanding of the world.

This article will guide you through the reasons behind cultural tourism’s popularity, its future prospects, and offer some tips on planning your own immersive adventure.

So let’s explore why more tourists are trading standard vacations for this enriching travel experience.

Key Takeaways

• Cultural tourism provides an up-close view of diverse traditions and customs, allowing for a firsthand experience of a culture.
• It expands knowledge and understanding of the world, while also ensuring cultural preservation and the passing down of traditions.
• Cultural tourism offers a distinct experience from mainstream tourism, providing immersive experiences beyond mere sightseeing.
• The role of media, including travel shows and social media influencers, and the economic impact of cultural tourism also contribute to its popularity.

Understanding the Concept of Cultural Tourism

Understanding the concept of cultural tourism involves more than just visiting historical sites or watching traditional dances. It is about immersing yourself in the very heartbeat of a society, experiencing its customs, traditions, and way of life. It requires appreciating and respecting another culture’s way of living. Cultural tourism involves exploring art forms, religious practices, and even participating in local festivals.

Cultural preservation plays a crucial role in cultural tourism. It ensures that these rich traditions are not lost but passed down through generations. Tourism policies also come into play by creating an environment conducive for tourists to learn while ensuring respect towards the host culture.

In essence, cultural tourism is popular because it offers a distinct experience from mainstream tourism. It allows you to walk away with valuable insights into diverse cultures.

Desire to Experience Other Cultures First-hand

Imagine stepping into a world so different yet so captivating, immersing yourself in the customs and traditions of an unfamiliar land. That’s the allure of exploring new civilizations first-hand. Cultural tourism lets you do just that, offering a rich tapestry of experiences that stretch beyond mere sightseeing.

With cultural immersion experiences, you get to:

• Spend time with locals, learning their ways and absorbing their wisdom.
• Participate in traditional activities or crafts, gaining insights not accessible through books or media.
• Savor authentic regional cuisines cooked by local chefs.

In cultural tourism, authenticity is paramount. It’s about more than just visiting; it’s about deeply connecting with people and places. This desire for genuine connections and immersive experiences fuels the popularity of cultural tourism.

Pursuit of Knowledge

In your quest for knowledge, there’s no better way than diving headfirst into new experiences and soaking up the wisdom of different societies. Cultural tourism offers this opportunity on a silver platter. It’s not just about sightseeing; it’s an explorative journey that quenches your thirst for historical learning and artistic exploration.

You can traverse through time, from ancient civilizations to contemporary cultures, discovering how past events have shaped today’s world. Artistic exploration becomes a sensory feast as you witness diverse art forms – be it painting, sculpture, or dance – each narrating a unique story of its people.

Cultural tourism is popular because it transforms travel into an enriching educational experience. So pack your curiosity and embark on this enlightening adventure!

Personal Growth and Development

There’s no denying that delving into new experiences can significantly contribute to your personal growth and development. Cultural tourism offers a unique opportunity for this, providing an avenue for personal introspection and cultural immersion.

When you journey into new cultures, you’re not just observing different traditions or customs. You’re connecting with the essence of human diversity, broadening your horizons while deepening your understanding of the world. It challenges your perceptions and biases, compelling you to reassess what you thought you knew about people, their way of life – even yourself.

This process of self-discovery through cultural exploration is transformative. It expands your empathy, fosters tolerance, and enhances your worldview. So embrace cultural tourism; it’s more than a vacation—it’s a journey towards becoming a better version of yourself.

The Role of Media in Promoting Cultural Tourism

Imagine immersing yourself in the vibrant cultures of the world right from your living room, thanks to travel shows and documentaries.

With social media’s influence, you don’t just have to visualize it; you can experience it virtually, even interact with locals before stepping foot on their land.

The role of media in promoting cultural tourism has become increasingly essential, making distant cultures accessible and inspiring us to explore them firsthand.

Travel shows and documentaries

You’re sitting comfortably on your couch, engrossed in a travel documentary that transports you to the vibrant streets of Tokyo, making cultural tourism incredibly appealing without even leaving your living room. The allure lies not just in the exotic locales but also in the way these places are presented by charismatic show hosts.

Documentary filming and the influence of show hosts play a critical role in this:

• They narrate captivating stories about historical landmarks.
• Their enthusiasm is infectious and engages viewers emotionally.
• They provide firsthand experiences about local cultures and traditions.
• They introduce viewers to authentic local cuisine, highlighting its connection to regional culture.

In essence, travel shows and documentaries work as virtual tour guides, making cultural tourism popular from the comfort of your home.

Social media influence

Switch on your phone and the world is at your fingertips, thanks to the immense influence of social media. It’s a significant player that’s making cultural tourism more popular than ever.

You see, it’s not just about snapping selfies anymore. The ‘Influencer Impact’ has changed the game. Instagram stars and travel bloggers are showcasing diverse cultures, traditions, and hidden gems from around the globe.

These viral destinations often become bucket-list entries for their followers who yearn for authentic experiences. They’re using platforms like Instagram or YouTube to share captivating stories and vivid imagery which inspire others to explore these culturally-rich locales themselves.

Social media is acting as a window into different cultures, promoting understanding and appreciation in an engaging way. And you can’t deny – it adds an exciting dimension to cultural tourism!

Economic Impact of Cultural Tourism

You’ll find it fascinating how cultural tourism significantly bolsters local economies by creating jobs, generating income, and fostering entrepreneurship. The tourism policies enacted to safeguard cultural heritage preservation translate into substantial economic gains.

Here’s a snapshot:

Such impacts can revitalize struggling regions or diversify the economic base of an area. Cultural tourism isn’t just about appreciating diversity; it’s also a catalyst for sustainable economic growth.

Environmental Impact of Cultural Tourism

While cultural tourism can be a boon to local economies, it’s important to consider its potential environmental impact. Done right, cultural tourism can result in sustainable practices that preserve and enhance the natural environment.

• Tourists visiting heritage sites often contribute to their maintenance and conservation efforts.
• Sustainable practices, such as eco-friendly accommodations and transport options, are increasingly associated with cultural tourism.
• Community involvement is crucial in ensuring these practices are maintained. Locals take ownership of protecting their cultural heritage and the surrounding environment.
• The enhanced appreciation for nature nurtured by cultural experiences can inspire tourists to adopt more environmentally friendly habits.

So remember, your travels don’t just impact you – they shape the world around us too!

The Thrill of Adventure and Discovery

Shifting gears from the environmental implications of cultural tourism, let’s delve into the element that truly fuels its popularity: the thrill of adventure and discovery. There’s an innate curiosity within you, a desire to uncover new cultures, heritage sites or historical landmarks.

Adventure preparation and discovery methods play a pivotal role in this quest. The table below elucidates this further:

In essence, preparing well amplifies your adventurous spirit while innovative discovery methods help you experience culture at its most authentic. So go ahead! Immerse yourself in the excitement of cultural tourism—it’s your passport to understanding our diverse world better.

The Role of Cultural Festivals and Events

Imagine being swept up in the vibrant whirl of a local festival, each beat of the drum resonating with your heartbeat, every splash of color etching an unforgettable memory. This is what cultural tourism offers you – an immersive experience that’s more than just sightseeing.

Now picture this:

• You are contributing to something bigger – festival financing. Your participation supports local economies by funding these grand spectacles and sustaining traditions.
• Not only does your ticket purchase help fund the event, it also helps finance future festivals.
• You’re aiding in creating job opportunities for locals and boosting small businesses.
• You’re supporting event sustainability. By choosing events mindful of their environmental impact, you demonstrate responsible tourism.
• Opting for eco-friendly events shows respect for the host cultures and their environment.

Cultural tourism isn’t merely a pastime but a pathway to global understanding and unity.

The Growth of Cultural Tourism Industry

The growth of the cultural tourism industry is evident as you journey through various world traditions. It’s clear to see that the industry of immersive travel experiences has flourished exponentially. Cultural tourism is no longer a niche market; it’s a booming industry, thanks in part to well-crafted tourism policies that emphasize cultural preservation.

These policies not only cater to your longing for unique and authentic experiences but also safeguard local customs and heritage. By choosing cultural tourism, you’re supporting the communities you visit while quenching your thirst for knowledge. You’re contributing to an eco-system that values diversity, respects tradition, and promotes mutual understanding.

So next time you plan your travels, consider this: Cultural tourism isn’t just popular because it’s interesting or exotic – it’s popular because it makes a positive impact on both travelers and host communities alike.

Challenges and Solutions in Cultural Tourism

As you explore the realm of cultural tourism, you’ll find that there are certain challenges. These challenges include overtourism and issues around cultural sensitivity and respect. Overtourism can lead to environmental damage and strain on local resources. A lack of cultural sensitivity can result in misunderstandings or even offense. However, by being aware of these potential pitfalls, we can work towards solutions. These solutions will allow us to enjoy the richness of diverse cultures while preserving their integrity for future generations.

Overtourism

You might’ve heard the term ‘overtourism’ thrown around, which refers to the negative impacts of too many tourists flocking to a particular cultural hotspot. It’s when infrastructure and resources are strained, locals feel pushed out, and cultures become degraded under the sheer weight of visitors.

This is where tourism regulation steps in as an immediate solution. Regulations may limit visitor numbers or implement timed entries on popular sites, ensuring that tourism doesn’t overwhelm local communities.

But it’s not just about restrictions; sustainable strategies are key. These can include encouraging off-peak travel or promoting lesser-known destinations to spread tourism more evenly.

So while overtourism poses challenges, with thoughtful planning and respect for local culture, we can ensure our love for travel doesn’t spoil what makes these places special.

Cultural sensitivity and respect

Navigating unfamiliar destinations, it’s essential to remember that your actions can greatly impact the communities you visit, particularly when it comes to their traditions and customs. Cultural etiquette isn’t just about being polite; it’s a way of showing respect for diversity appreciation.

In the spirit of cultural sensitivity:

• Imagine how you’d feel if someone disregarded your culture or beliefs.
• Understand that what might seem strange to you could be deeply meaningful for others.
• Be open-minded, willing to learn and adapt.
• Remember that observing can sometimes be more respectful than participating.
• Ask questions politely if you’re unsure about something.

By doing so, you not only enrich your travel experiences but also contribute towards preserving these precious cultural heritages.

The Future of Cultural Tourism

Looking towards the horizon, it’s clear that cultural tourism isn’t just a passing trend – it’s molding the future of travel in fascinating ways.

Advancements like virtual reality tours are bringing faraway cultures right into our living rooms, allowing us to experience unique traditions and landmarks without leaving home.

But don’t worry, nothing can replace the thrill of actual travel. Instead, these innovations inspire curiosity and promote sustainable practices. You’ll be more inclined to respect local customs and protect natural resources when you understand their value firsthand.

So as we move forward, brace for a future where cultural immersion is possible from anywhere in the world yet still encourages responsible exploration.

It’s an exciting time to be a traveler indeed!

How to Plan a Cultural Tourism Trip

Planning your next journey with a focus on immersion in local traditions and heritage can be an eye-opening experience, revealing the vibrant tapestry of human societies just waiting to be explored. Here’s a simple guide to help you plan your cultural tourism trip.

Firstly, consider budgeting considerations such as travel costs and dining expenses. You’ll need to balance these with accommodation choices that allow you to immerse yourself in local culture without breaking the bank.

Remember, planning leads to better experiences. So, take your time and choose wisely. Enjoy discovering new cultures!

Case Studies of Popular Cultural Tourism Destinations

Get ready to explore some fascinating case studies of popular cultural tourism destinations. These renowned destinations celebrate local traditions and heritage, offering immersive experiences that allow you to truly delve into the soul of a place.

Let’s start with Kyoto, Japan. This city is known for its serenity, with traditional tea ceremonies, a vibrant geisha culture, and ancient temples. The preservation of its historic charm is evident in its destination branding.

Next, we have Marrakech, Morocco. This city is famous for its vibrant souks and aromatic cuisine. Exploring the local cuisine here is a sensory delight that immerses you in the culture.

Moving on to Puebla, Mexico. This destination is renowned for its Talavera pottery and Mole Poblano, showcasing how food can be an integral part of cultural tourism. The unique flavors and traditions of Puebla make it a must-visit for food enthusiasts.

Let’s not forget about Rome, Italy. This city is a living testament to history, with iconic landmarks that serve as powerful brand ambassadors. Everywhere you turn in Rome, you’ll encounter a piece of history.

Lastly, we have Jaipur, India. This city is home to heritage sites that showcase intricate architecture and colorful festivals. Exploring Jaipur allows you to immerse yourself in the rich cultural tapestry of India.

Each of these destinations has a unique story waiting to be discovered by curious travelers like you. So pack your bags and get ready to embark on a cultural adventure!

Tips and Advice for Cultural Tourists

Having explored various case studies of popular cultural tourism destinations, you might feel inspired to embark on your own journey. As you prepare for this enriching experience, it’s important to remember certain tips and advice that can make your cultural tourism more enjoyable and respectful.

Firstly, immerse yourself fully in the experience by exploring local cuisine. This not only tantalizes your taste buds but also gives you a deeper understanding of the culture.

However, while indulging in this exploration, ethical considerations should be at the forefront. Be conscious of the environmental footprint you leave behind and show respect for local customs and traditions.

Remember that cultural tourism isn’t just about what you take away from it; it’s equally about appreciating and respecting the cultures you encounter along your journey.

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Cultural tourism & COVID19

With COVID-19 bringing global tourism to a standstill, millions of people in quarantine have been seeking out cultural and travel experiences from their homes. Culture has proven indispensable during this period, and the demand for virtual access to museums, heritage sites, theatres and performances has reached unprecedented levels.

With more than 80% of UNESCO World Heritage properties having closed down, the livelihoods of millions of cultural professionals have been seriously jeopardized. If tourism is set to contribute to the survival of the culture sector, i.e. cinemas, arts and many other segments, it should strengthen the cultural identity and branding of tourism destinations.

Despite all the challenges, the tourism and culture sectors are facing an opportunity to create new partnerships and collaboration. They are bound to jointly reinvent and diversify the offer, attract new audiences, develop new skills and support the world’s transition to the new conditions.

The recommendations outlined below have been prepared by the UNWTO Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department in collaboration with its international partners with competence in culture and tourism.

The information flow between sectors is key to understanding the pandemic’s impacts and devising effective responses. Specific data on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on culture and tourism, as well as on the solutions being put in place for cultural tourism survival, will allow for more focused mitigation plans to respond to different needs and replicate good practices.

The tourism and culture sectors must continue to work together to inspire a more sustainable future for cultural tourism. Marketing strategies in tourism are highlighting local cultural expressions not only to address new audiences, but also to inspire responsible travel. Destinations and cultural sites are grappling with how to survive this period of hibernation, while planning for reopening of tourism.

The professional profiles of culture and tourism workers will require new skills for immediate actions and to take part in the recovery. Both sectors need to develop creative and inventive employment solutions to provide resilience to the workforce after decades of precarity. The existing jobs in cultural tourism should be kept and upskilled as human talent and knowledge are already there.

This crisis is an outstanding opportunity to build cross-sectoral governance models between tourism and culture key players. These models should involve tech partners to build platforms and exchange forums to coordinate actions and share information. The platforms should imply an effective communication, decision-making and agreements on setting the limits of tourism development involving cultural assets.  

The culture sector is shaping up committed global citizens and the tourists of the future, by reaching out to children & youth. The emotional bonds emerging now between citizens and cultural creators will make a difference in the years to come. The confinement can also make repeat visitors and “senior” cultural tourists support culture with patronage and solidarity actions.

Tourism success was traditionally measured by statistics highlighting visitors’ numbers, while qualitative indicators and visitors’ profile had less importance. The joint recovery of tourism and culture should align resilience policies, new priorities with the new measurement values, as well as tailor-made marketing strategies.

Destinations should address new and traditional markets & specific profiles of cultural visitors, whose interests and priorities may reshape after COVID-19 crisis. Culture will require support to survive and flourish, as it enriches the destinations’ identity and inspires tourism revival. Some cultural gatherings may be temporarily replaced by alternative products, as new scenarios unfold.

Bringing back inbound cultural tourism will be more challenging before consumers decide to travel abroad. By customizing their cultural offer, governments, destinations and cultural industries can have a more international outreach. International and cross-sectoral alliances will have a key role.

Innovation in SMEs, cooperatives and creative economy will be needed for the recovery, especially for the empowerment of women, youth & indigenous peoples. COVID-19 will heavily affect these groups as their economy is often informal, notably in emerging destinations. Their livelihoods will improve by consolidating their market access and inclusion into the cultural tourism supply chain. The shift from informal towards formal economy will benefit many communities and destinations.

The accessibility of cultural facilities, products and services should be advanced to cater better to the needs of persons with disabilities, seniors and families with small children, locals & visitors alike. Scaling up accessibility in culture benefits everyone.

The post COVID-19 recovery of cultural tourism should leave no one behind!  

Follow us on social media: #TravelTomorrow; #ShareCulture Share your experiences with us! – Email us at [email protected] The content is updated regularly with new information and resources. For further information about tourism and COVID-19, please click here To consult the statement by Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UNWTO on Tourism and COVID-19, please click here To consult measures to support travel and tourism, please click here To consult UNWTO’s webinar on recommendations for Communicating Crisis: pre, during, post COVID-19, please click here

Experience Dublin

Experience the World at Cultural Tourism Week Dublin – Join the Global Cultural Exchange Festival!

Discover Ireland

Discover Ireland’s Unique Culture and Heritage at Cultural Tourism Week Dublin – An Event for Everyone!

Special Guest of Honour

Hrh. dr. amb. olusegun aderemi jp..

FIMC. CMC. MCArb. FIMS.(UK) FOSHA. FSFS. FCAI. ATAYERO OF ARAMOKO KINGDOM

Information

Registration, accommodation, global cultural exchange festival.

An unmatchable experience!

The Cultural Tourism Week Dublin is a collaborative effort between Rekindle Talents Ireland and its strategic partners, including travel and tour agencies, event management experts, and cultural tourism and heritage industry players. With delegates from over 20 countries, including the United States, Brazil, India, and various African and European nations, this event is set to be a truly global cultural exchange festival.

What To Expect:

Presentations, cultural experiences, exhibitions, entertainment.

Join Industry Experts and Enthusiasts at Cultural Tourism Week – A Week-Long Celebration of Culture, Business, and Education!

Calling All DJs, Buskers and Food Vendors

Be a part of the vibrant Culture Tourism Week, Dublin – 2023. Whether you’re a busker, food vendor, or DJ, showcase your talent and join us for an unforgettable event. Sign up now and make your mark on Dublin’s cultural scene. Apply today and let your talent shine!

Upcoming Events

Culture tourism week ireland, august 11 - 23, 2023.

10:00 am – 2:00 am daily Multiple Venues in Dublin

Cultural Exchange Festival Chicago

Sept. 8 - 9, 2023.

9:00 am – 9:00 pm daily TBA

Cultural Exchange Festival Sao-Paulo

November, 2023.

10:00 am – 5:00 pm TBA

Cultural Tourism Rwanda

April, 2024, who will be attending, governments, court yard hotel – leixlip:.

Built on the original site where Arthur Guinness created his brewing empire. Situated in the heart of Leixlip, Co. Kildare and just 15 minutes from Dublin City Centre and 20 minutes from Dublin Airport. The Court Yard Hotel truly is Kildare’s best-kept secret. 

Tyrrelstown House

Features two 600-year-old walled gardens, an arboretum, and woodland walks including 2 hectares of wildflower & pictorial meadows.

The Sugar Club

The Sugar Club is Dublin’s premiere music venue. Over the last 20 years, The Sugar Club has consolidated its place in Dublin nightlife hosting a multitude of live music events, theatre productions, movie screenings, and other events.

Carrick on Shannon

Carrick on Shannon is known as ‘ the marina capital of Ireland ‘ and the Marina is an attractive focal point of the town. Walking along the boardwalk towards the Marina and People’s Park is a most-splendid experience.

Dubhlinn Garden, Dublin Castle

Enclosed behind Dublin Castle, the Dubh Linn garden looks like a formal piece of landscaping styled with a touch of Celtic nationalism.

National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland houses the national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of Dublin.

Vico Baths, Dalkey, Dublin

The historic Vico Baths are one of the most popular places to go swimming in Dublin . This historic bathing place has delighted for many a year.

St. Finbarr’s National Hurling & Football Club

St. Finbarrs National Hurling and Football Club has a long and proud history. In the early 1800s, a team of men from the parish of St.Finbarrs played hurling and were well known, far and wide, for their prowess on the field of play.

Rich Cultural Experiences in Cork City

Cork City is a culturally rich destination that offers visitors a variety of experiences. These include historic buildings and narrow old town streets, traditional Irish music sessions, the Crawford Art Gallery, and Irish food at the English Market.

Cultural tourism is a means of promoting strong and effective international relationships and peace among people globally. It involves understanding, feeling, and physically experiencing diverse local cultures worldwide, and the impact it has in promoting cultural exchange cannot be overstated.

The Cultural Tourism Week Dublin is a collaborative effort between Rekindle Talents Ireland and its strategic partners, including travel and tour agencies, event management experts, and cultural tourism and heritage industry players.

With delegates from over 20 countries, including the United States, Brazil, India, and various African and European nations, this event is set to be a truly global cultural exchange festival.

The week-long event will be held at multiple locations in Ireland, with a daily schedule of fun and interesting activities and events for both local and international participants. From the opening and plenary sessions to the 2-day conference on cultural tourism, face-to-face business meetings, exhibitions, fashion shows, cultural nights, musical nights, ferry tours along the local historic Royal canal, and many other attractions, there will be something for everyone.

As a participant, you will have the opportunity to interact with industry experts, enthusiasts, and media under one roof, promoting business, education, and local experience of culture.

Whether you are a state tourism or culture agency, travel agency, tour operator, event organizer/manager, tourism or cultural association, promoter of culture and tourism, cultural entertainer, investor in culture and tourism, or a member of the media, this event is designed for you.

We invite you to join us for this exciting event and take advantage of the many benefits that come with attending, including improving your knowledge of the industry, staying up-to-date with the latest developments, regulations, and standards, and potentially exchanging contact information and forming partnerships with competent and reliable operators.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience the unique culture and hospitality of Ireland while networking with like-minded individuals from around the world.

Who Should Attend?

These conferences/events are designed for the principal players and promoters of culture and tourism.

These include personnel from:

• State tourism and culture agencies
• Travel agencies
• Tour operators
• Event organizers/managers
• Tourism and cultural associations
• Promoters of culture and tourism
• Cultural entertainers
• Investors in Culture and Tourism
• Media organizations

Expected Outcomes:

It is going to be a win-win outcome for all stakeholders post-event aftermath:

• Cultural “exchange” (Give & Take) to all stakeholders
• Cultural tourism rekindling and rejuvenation targeted impact on the younger/older generation and others

It will be a gathering of industry experts, enthusiasts, and media under one roof at different locations in Ireland, which will promote business, education, and local experience of culture. There is much value in attending because of the all-potential gains to be made.

It will allow you to mingle with industry leaders in a relaxed setting and potentially exchange contact information and discuss the possibility of agreeing on tourism post-conference referral arrangements.

Companies want to form partnerships with competent and reliable operators.

Benefits of Attending (B2B):

A presentation sessions at the conference helps you explore and improve your knowledge on the industry. The sessions in an environment full of like-minded people keeps you up-to-date with the latest developments, experiences, new regulations and standards that enables you to chart a course for your business to be improve with your ability to provide better-value to user of your services.

Sponsors & Partners

Recommended Hotel/Holiday Apartment Reservations:

You can stay at our Sponsors and Venue Partners for ease of commute, convenience, and the exquisite experience you would enjoy from staying here. Click on the hotel name below to book:

The Court Yard Hotel – Leixlip

You can also make enquiries for Ticket and Accommodation bookings with our partner: Rightway Travels and Tours

Alternative arrangements can be found at the Booking.com portal for accommodation options to suit all interests and budgets.

For assistance, please contact us on +353879721203

Email: [email protected]

*Please note that we are not responsible for flights and hotel accommodations.