Presentación defendida en el Workshop "Tourism and Creative Industry" celebrado en la UPV (Valencia) entre el 11 y el 12 de julio de 2013.

1. Cultural tourism and
festivals: seeking a
sustainable relationship.
Catala-Perez1, D.
1Facultad de Administración y Dirección
de Empresas, edificio 7J
Cno. de Vera s/n, Universitat Politècnica
46022 Valencia
dacapre@ade.upv.es
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel Catalá-Pérez está bajo
una licencia de Reconocimiento-CompartirIgual 4.0
Internacional de Creative Commons.

2. Defining the problem
Festivals
• Collective cultural facts that remind a thing or an event through ceremonies,
rituals, celebrations and commemorations.
• Are transmitted by tradition, have permanence and evolve over time.
• The community that celebrates them gives them meaning.
• E.G. FALLAS, MOORS AND CHRISTIANS, THE TOMATINA, BOUS A LA
MAR…
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel
Catalá-Pérez está bajo una
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3. Approaching the problem
• Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible World Heritage
(UNESCO, 2003)
• “Intangible Cultural Heritage” means the practices, representations,
expressions, knowledge, skills […] that communities recognize as part of
their cultural heritage.
• The “Intangible Cultural Heritage” is manifested in the social practices,
rituals and festive events […]
Festivals
as
Intangible
Cultural
Heritage
• Cultural tourism: “Movements of persons for essentially cultural
motivations such as study tours, performing arts and cultural tours, travel
to festivals and other cultural events, visits to sites and monuments,
travel to study nature, folklore or art, and pilgrimages.” (WTO, 1985)
• Cultural tourism is open to continuous innovation and the creation of
new products, in response to demands for new experiences or needs
of tourists.
Festivals
as cultural
tourist
attraction
• The use of festivals as a tool for the development of the tourism
sector and source of economic growth has gained impulse in recent
years.
• It’s undeniable the beneficial economic impact of festivals in the
local economy (there are interesting studies about it).
Festivals as
source of
economic
growth
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel
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4. Posing the problem: impacts of cultural
tourism in the festivities
• Festivals are often a representation of a community’s culture and way of
life. The tourism growth produce changes in festivals to make them
more palatable to visitors.
• Residents who are likely to benefit from tourism are more likely to
support it.
• People with greater of involvement in and knowledge of tourism tend
to support the industry.
• Host communities are required to open their doors to welcome the
intrusion and gaze of the visitor, and to pay for the costs of the
additional infrastructure required to host them.
• Positive economic impacts: destination promotion and increase tourist
visits, extended length of stay, higher yield, increased revenue, job
creation.
• Preservation then, of cultural heritage, is as important as conservation
of other resources
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel
Catalá-Pérez está bajo una
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5. Solving the problem: sustainability
• International Cultural Tourism Charter:
– “Relationship between Heritage Places and Tourism is dynamic and
may involve conflicting values. It should be managed in a
sustainable way for present and future generations.“ (ICOMOS,
1999)
• It’s essential to assume sustainability criteria in the
development of heritage-based tourism.
• It’s necessary a serious and deep analysis of the network of
actors and stakeholders involved.
• Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage (WTO, 2012), offers
some recommendations to all stakeholders involved, considering:
– the public and the private sectors
– destination management organizations
– NGOs
– host communities
– the education sector management
– the heritage industry.
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel
Catalá-Pérez está bajo una
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6. The situation in Valencia
Consell de Festes Tradicionals de la Comunitat Valenciana
(Traditional festivals Council of the Valencian Community)
• Created by the Valencian Government in 2011.
• Composed of:
• Representatives of regional and local
administration
• Representatives of the most important
valencian festivals
• Representatives of the citizenship
• (Some important absences can be
appreciated)
• Its principal aim is related to development,
implementation, protection and improvement of
the festivals
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel
Catalá-Pérez está bajo una
licencia de Reconocimiento-
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7. Thanks for your
attention
Catala-Perez1, D.
1Facultad de Administración y Dirección de Empresas,
edificio 7J
Cno. de Vera s/n, Universitat Politècnica
46022 Valencia
dacapre@ade.upv.es
Este obra cuyo autor es Daniel
Catalá-Pérez está bajo una
licencia de Reconocimiento-
CompartirIgual 4.0 Internacional
de Creative Commons.