Cultural Tourism
2 DEFINITION OF CULTURAL TOURISM
A review of existing definitions
One of the research tasks undertaken for this report was to investigate the feasibility of establishing an agreed definition/definitional framework for cultural tourism research. This involved a review of definitions included in the culture and tourism literature, as well as discussion on this topic with cultural tourism stakeholders.
The first question asked by those contacted about the collection of cultural tourism statistics invariably related to what definition of cultural tourism was being utilised. This supports the view that a wide range of meanings exist for the term, as was further reflected by a search of the literature. A report produced by the Bureau of Tourism Research (Occasional Paper No 27, 1998, pages 4-8, 63) provides a useful discussion on the types of definitions of cultural tourism in use.
Some examples of cultural tourism definitions are listed below.
A cultural tourist is defined as a person who stayed more than 40 kilometres away from home for at least one night and attended a cultural venue. (Note that cultural venues were defined to comprise the following venues and activities: art gallery; museum; animal/marine park; botanical garden; library; popular music concert; classical music concert; theatre; dance; opera or musical theatre; other performing arts; and cinema.) (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Domestic Cultural Tourism in Australia, 1994-95', 1997).
Cultural tourism is defined by attendance by inbound visitors at one or more of the following cultural attractions during their visit to Australia: festivals or fairs (music, dance, comedy, visual arts, multi-arts and heritage); performing arts or concerts (theatre, opera, ballet and classical and contemporary music); museums or art galleries; historic or heritage buildings, sites or monuments; art or craft workshops or studios; and Aboriginal sites and cultural displays (Bureau of Tourism Research,
A review of existing definitions
One of the research tasks undertaken for this report was to investigate the feasibility of establishing an agreed definition/definitional framework for cultural tourism research. This involved a review of definitions included in the culture and tourism literature, as well as discussion on this topic with cultural tourism stakeholders.
The first question asked by those contacted about the collection of cultural tourism statistics invariably related to what definition of cultural tourism was being utilised. This supports the view that a wide range of meanings exist for the term, as was further reflected by a search of the literature. A report produced by the Bureau of Tourism Research (Occasional Paper No 27, 1998, pages 4-8, 63) provides a useful discussion on the types of definitions of cultural tourism in use.
Some examples of cultural tourism definitions are listed below.
A cultural tourist is defined as a person who stayed more than 40 kilometres away from home for at least one night and attended a cultural venue. (Note that cultural venues were defined to comprise the following venues and activities: art gallery; museum; animal/marine park; botanical garden; library; popular music concert; classical music concert; theatre; dance; opera or musical theatre; other performing arts; and cinema.) (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 'Domestic Cultural Tourism in Australia, 1994-95', 1997).
Cultural tourism is defined by attendance by inbound visitors at one or more of the following cultural attractions during their visit to Australia: festivals or fairs (music, dance, comedy, visual arts, multi-arts and heritage); performing arts or concerts (theatre, opera, ballet and classical and contemporary music); museums or art galleries; historic or heritage buildings, sites or monuments; art or craft workshops or studios; and Aboriginal sites and cultural displays (Bureau of Tourism Research,