Cultural and International Tourism for Life's Enrichment - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 217

The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses at the Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum, Lintong County, Shaanxi province,
are an important archaeological excavation that attracts many tourists. PhotocourtesyofCorbisDigitalStock.

quali ed interpreter. One example might be a 40-hour course titled ''Tourism: Keeper of the Culture.''
Those who successfully complete the course would be fully aware of their area s resources and, thus,

would be capable of providing guide services or other services in which their knowledge can be useful.
All forms of tourism, from group to individual, can in various ways bene t from the assistance of such
informed, enthusiastic individuals.
Such an educational effort, when publicized, also creates a new self-awareness and pride in the
community and a resulting improvement in the quality of life. Local art events, for example, can be
organized to be attractive to the community and tourists alike.

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'' Heritage Trails '' or '' Cultural

Highways '' can be designated. '' Art in the Park '' and festivals with various cultural themes help

show off the area ' s resources and help to lengthen the season or fill in low spots in visitor demand.

From the tourist s standpoint, engaging in such culturally oriented activities builds a heightened

appreciation and respect for the qualities and abilities of the hosts.

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Concentration of Activities around Important Themes

In recent years, much has been done to link tourist-related activities with themes or events of
widespread interest, as in the case of festivals that bring together a variety of dramatic, musical, or
cinema performances. An example is the successful Winter Carnival in Quebec, Canada. Another way
is to focus attention on large exhibitions or fairs. Events such as these give an opportunity for the
combined sponsorship of many different types of activity. International congresses or meetings can be
held at the same time as the exhibitions or festivals. Youth festivals or jamborees can take place to
coincide with important sporting events or large conventions.
Another way of stimulating interest is through , whereby towns, communities, or regions

in different countries establish relations with each other and send delegations to events arranged by
their partners. Special attractions such as Epcot at Walt Disney World in Florida bring together in one
location large-scale cultural exhibits and entertainment of several countries. Another example is the
Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. A map of the center is shown in Figure 10.2.

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