This column is the second in a series devoted to promoting cultural tourism in coastal Georgia. They will be published weekly in the Tribune & Georgian newspaper in Kingsland, GA. This column appeared Wednesday (August 31, 2005).
Last week, we looked at the impact of travel and tourism on a local, regional and national economic scale. According to economic development experts and demographers, not only is tourism a moneymaking enterprise of immense proportions, but also due to the inclination of certain population groups, a particular genre of tourist attractions has become more commonplace and interesting. These are the forms of tourism that are embedded in local and regional culture, that have become known as “cultural tourism.”
One of the most interesting things about cultural tourism is that it has its own statistical peculiarities. Cultural tourists are generally wealthier, more educated and more technologically savvy than other travelers. More than three quarters of them say they find trips more memorable when they can learn or experience something distinctive. When they travel, they stay longer, spend more and are more likely to use a hotel, motel or bed & breakfast.
Now exactly what do you mean by cultural tourism, you ask? Generally, it is a mosaic of places, traditions, art forms, celebrations and experiences that portray our nation, its locales and its people. You find it in art galleries featuring local artists and unique art forms, in museums displaying artifacts peculiar and special to the locale, and in theatres filled with songs and stories about regional and local people and their customs grown from the circumstances of their lives and history. You find it in unique and remarkable buildings, and glorious historically significant places. It is these sites, within special communities and neighborhoods that pride themselves in their remarkable, storied histories and the hard to describe landmarks you always remember when asked to recall “special” vacation memories.
Cultural tourism takes many forms and comes in lots of shapes and sizes. Whether it’s a cultural event (a flavorful and musical night in Greek community in San Diego, California) or a crafts festival that encompasses homes and neighborhoods (Power’s Crossroads in Newnan, Georgia) or a highly entertaining festival that celebrates unusual local historical events (Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado), cultural tourism is making its mark across the United States. One interesting cultural tourist destination in the lonely location of De Smet, South Dakota has been generated by a series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, which have been known and loved by children and adults for generations. This museum, cemetery and annual pageant are 40 miles from the nearest interstate highway and yet more than 20,000 people visit them each year.
There are many more examples of cultural tourism in this country and others. A common thread ties them all together. These events, attractions, festivals and performances highlight the best historical, cultural and geographic traits of their locations. The people and communities that create them exhibit extraordinary vision and pride. They possessed the knowledge to understand a unique possibility and had the generosity to share it with a willing public. These phenomena are a combination of great ideas, public responsibility and talent, which, combined, are brought to bear on opportunity and sustained by hard work.
Next week, we will look at some regional examples of cultural tourism that have rejuvenated communities, fostered civic pride and brought families, neighbors and strangers together for a common good. And we will present some interesting possibilities that cultural tourism presents for our region of the Georgia coast.
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