A Review of Cultural Tourism Development Planning

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to identify the main elements of a successful cultural tourism product and to what extent the existing relevant power structures in the field and heritage management practice influence cultural tourism development. The paper was prepared on the basis of a review of existing literature on tourism, cultural tourism and heritage management. It is based on the definition of cultural tourism as the form of tourism whose learning function is what makes it different from other forms of tourism. Cultural tourism product includes several elements such as objects and attractions, travel agents and operators, accommodation and catering services, transportation services, souvenir services, business services support and promotional material production. Cultural tourism attraction is a main feature of cultural tourism product that serves as a prime motivation for visiting specific destinations. Paper also provides a brief introduction to the role that supranational organizations like UNESCO and the European Union hold in the process of development of cultural tourism. Reviewed literature demonstrates that the more economic values of cultural heritage are appreciated and visitor economy developed the more sophisticated heritage management is and the better opportunities for cultural tourism development arise.