Skyscrapers' influence on cities' roles as tourist destinations

Abstract

Skyscrapers are, literally, prominent features of many cities. They are increasingly dominating urban skylines around the world. Skyscrapers are advantageous for certain constituents, architects and builders who design and construct them and the politicians and corporate tenants who believe that large, upwardly thrusting symbols have promotional and competitive benefits. However, in the context of tourism, except for the very few that are distinctively tall, skyscrapers are not merely ineffective as attractions, they create unpleasant contexts for urban tourism, eroding the quality of leisure, the foundation of recreational and cultural experiences at the core of tourism. Thus, attempts to promote tourism with images of skylines dominated by tall buildings might be counter-productive in the end analysis. This implies that Asian cities where most of the world's skyscrapers are being constructed should re-examine the role of skyscrapers in promoting tourism, especially, considering that many European cities that have sustained popularity as tourist destinations lack skyscrapers.