An introduction to creative tourism development: Articulating local culture and travel

Abstract

Creative tourism is a dynamic tourism niche that has emerged both as a development of cultural tourism and in opposition to the emergence of 'mass cultural tourism'. On the one hand, creative tourism demand is driven by travellers seeking more active and participative cultural experiences in which they can use and develop their own creativity. On the other hand, creative tourism provides avenues for communities' desire to accentuate their distinctive elements and develop new value-added initiatives for local benefit. The book is intended for entrepreneurs and public agencies interested in developing creative tourism activities and programmes, with a complementary interest expected from students and researchers in creative tourism, cultural tourism, and community-based tourism fields. The book aims to offer theoretical approaches as well as to inform practical implementation, presenting a wide range of examples, experience-based insights, and advice. It offers guidance for practitioners in planning, operationalizing, and iteratively improving their creative tourism projects and adapting them to changing local situations. The book also aims to situate creative tourism within local development, and to show how it can contribute to local economic benefit, community engagement, social inclusion, empowerment, cultural vitality and sustainability, cross-cultural exchange, and responsible travel.