What is cultural tourism? This seelningly siInple question is actually very difficult to answer because there are almost as many definitions or variations of definitions of cultural tourism as there are cultural tourists. The Alnerican chapter of ICOMOS, the International Council on Monunlents and Sites, observed that "cultural tourism as a name means Inany things to many people and herein lies its strength and its weakness" (USICOMOS 1996: 17). A number of definitions of cultural tourism were reviewed when preparing this text that support this assertion. They fell into four broad categories: tourism derived, motivational, experiential, and Operational. Perhaps this diversity is to be expected given the emerging nature of the sector and the diversity of products and/or experiences that constitute cultural tourism. Moreover, people will shape their definition of an amorphous concept to suit their own needs. Some of the definitions are comprehensive while others are clearly narrow and self-serving. Politically oriented definitions of cultural tourism tend to be as inclusive as possible to show the level of consulner interest and thus provide further justification for investment in cultural heritage management activities. Likewise, the undercurrent ofmany marketing-oriented definitions is to strive for greater allocation of marketing resources to the sector. On the other hand, definitions that tend to focus on one or a narrow set of activities seek to position those activities as the core elements of cultural tourisnl and, by extension, position others as being peripheral to·true cultural tourism (Source: Cultural Tourism).
Expansion of Cultural Understanding: Cultural Relevance of Tourism
