Manual on Module I introduction to Tourism By Personal, Social and Humanities Education Section Education Bureau Copyright

Cultural attractions include the cultural traditions and activities originating from the history and customs of a group of people.

The traditions of Chinese society in Asia or throughout the world provide a focus of interest for many westerners.

Art

Most tourists like to visit places where art such as paintings, sculpture, graphics and architecture is being produced or displayed.

Handicrafts of many cultural groups are of interest to tourists, and demonstration of the craftsman’s skills in making the handicrafts also attracts interest. Sale of arts and crafts as souvenir items or gifts is created by:

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  the demand of tourists to bring back a souvenir to remind them of their visit; and
  
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  the desire of many tourists to enhance their prestige among friends and relatives by having something to show that they have visited an exotic destination.
  

Differences in the types of food and the way which they are prepared provide one of the most interesting ways to learn about another culture. Since people have to eat and usually enjoy doing so, trying new food is a novel experience that is enjoyed by most tourists.

Music and dance

Music and dance are probably the most entertaining and appealing cultural attractions for tourists.

The lifestyle of a particular culture would be represented by elements of daily life such as:

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  work
  
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  food and eating habits
  
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  traditional celebrations
  
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  religion
  
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  language
  

In Asia, the lifestyle of Buddhist monks in Tibet and Thailand also provide a point of interest for tourists who wish to find out more about the influence of religion upon the host society.

With the establishment of “model villages”, the lifestyles of particular cultures have been “packaged” for tourists who have a limited amount of time. In order to fit the tight schedules of tourists and to make it convenient for them, the development of such villages enables tourists to experience various aspects of one or a number of cultural groups.

Examples of model cultural villages are the Shenzhen Splendid China Folk Culture Village（錦繡中華中國民俗文化村）and Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. The cultural villages are designed as living museums where the lifestyles of various cultural groups are recreated for visitors to experience. Traditional dances, ceremonies, and music are usually featured. Demonstrations of cooking or craft skills are also provided to educate and entertain visitors.

1. 
   Tourists may be attracted by the age of ancient relics of their own cultural origins. For example, Americans visit Europe in order to see the cities and buildings where their ancestors lived. Likewise, Hong Kong and overseas Chinese travel to the mainland of China to look for their roots and to experience the culture of their own country.
   

2. 
   Tourists of different cultural backgrounds may enjoy visiting historic sites purely for the appreciation of the beauty of the art and architecture, e.g. Greek temple at Sounion, Taj Mahal in India.
   

3. 
   Visitors may be attracted to buildings and places for their historical/cultural meaning rather than their visual appeal, e.g. the site of 1911 Revolution in Wu Chang（武昌）, Waterloo Battlefield in Belgium, Mecca in Saudi Arabia and the holy city of Jerusalem in Israel.
   

4. 
   Tourists are interested in how other people live, work and play. They are attracted by the local/native dances, ceremonies and work skills.
   

Religion also gives rise to travel. This type of tourism may include pilgrimages, meetings or visits to religious headquarters and historical sites.

This form of tourism may stem from the curiosity of a tourist from another faith, or the spiritual motivation/inspiration of a tourist of the same faith.

Modern civilizations have created new scenery in cities with their high-rise buildings. Modern buildings, with their unique and attractive architectural styles, fascinate many people.

Theme and amusement parks

Theme and amusement parks are developed from circuses, carnivals and tournaments of Asia and Europe. Disneyland in Anaheim (California) changed the local amusement park business by integrating shops, shows, and restaurants into a theme embracing adventure, fantasy, history, and science fiction.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Zoos have function similar to that of museums and parks. They entertain and educate visitors and preserve the wildlife in their charge. Zoos serve as centers for scientific research in all areas of zoology and biology, and many zoos are involved in an effort to rescue endangered species through carefully controlled breeding programs.

Aquariums are special buildings for fish and aquatic mammals, such as dolphins and seals. Visitors are able to observe aquatic animals, from and below the waterline.

Science museums have displays that help us understand the modern world in which we live.

There are many international events that attract a large number of tourists that have no origin in history and are not particularly associated with any one regional culture. These events are of three basic types: sports events, festivals of the arts and commercial events.

Sometimes, leisure, amusement and sports are the main attractions for a vacation trip.

Sun and surf have always been natural attractions. As people become wealthier, they tend to move farther south where the sun is warmer and more pleasant in winter. They visit beaches not only for the sunshine, but also for sports, such as sailing or surfing.

Cinemas, theaters, nightclubs and discos are a part of nightlife. Nightlife is in a special category because certain cities and resorts have such unique and interesting activities that attract large numbers of people.

There are 4 types of gambling: pari-mutual wagering, casino gambling, the activities of nonprofit making organizations (mainly bingo and raffles) and lotteries. The travel industry is mainly involved in casino gambling, as well as horse races and dog races. Casino gambling consists of playing slot machines or table games.

Skiers look for snow and mountains in the wintertime. Skiing has been the fastest growing attraction of all in the past 30 years.

Source: Switzerland NTO

In some countries, visitors pay fees for licenses to fish or hunt.

Source: Philippines NTO

Shopping has been a by-product of traveling. Recently, shopping has become a reason for traveling. People visit a certain city is partly due to the quality of its shops.

Forms of Tourism

Leisure / Holiday Tourism

Leisure/Holiday tourism can be divided into 2 forms:

1. Relaxation

2. Sightseeing

T
Sun,sea and sand

Source: Philippines NTO

Attractive scenery

The business travelers may travel for various purposes, for example, trade, meeting, convention and exhibition. Business people buy similar products as do other tourists. They would also spend money on entertainment and recreation while they are at their destinations.

Business tourism

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  Business tourists frequently travel to destinations not usually seen as tourist destinations. Cities such as London, Frankfurt, New York, Tokyo and Hong Kong are important destinations for the business travelers.
  
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  Business travel is relatively price-inelastic; business people cannot be encouraged to travel more frequently by the offer of lower prices, nor will an increase in price discourage them from traveling.
  
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  Business travel is not greatly affected by seasonal factors such as variation in climate or holidays.
  
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  Business tourists take relatively short but frequent trips to major business destinations.
  
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  Business tourists may require different services, such as communication facilities or secretarial service.
  
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  Business travelers expect, and generally receive, a higher standard of service. Much business travel is first-class or business-class, and thus receives higher levels of service from the suppliers, including the travel agencies.
  

Cultural tourism is related to the transmission of knowledge and ideas of the destination area or host community.

As tourists are curious about different kinds of experiences and cultures in various parts of the world, they travel to learn and experience the culture of a tourist destination. This becomes the prime motivational force for their travel. This kind of tourist likes to visit museums and attend musical, theatrical or folklore performances.


Eco-tourism

Tourists of this kind enjoy traveling to natural areas. They will minimize their impact on the environment as well as protect the natural resources during their travel. Therefore, eco-tourism is characterized as a force for conservation and preservation of nature.

For eco-tourism, the managing authority of wildlife areas (e.g. national parks) will spend most of the income from tourists (e.g. entrance fees and donations, etc.) on the conservation work in the area. In some areas, the authority may offer tour guides to educate tourists and modify their behavior so that they will cause less impact on the environment.

Study Tourism

Students travel to overseas learning or training centers, such as universities, for short or vacation courses. There is an increasing number of local study tours ranging from half-a-day to a week.

Study tour on board a cruise ship in Hong Kong

Religious Pilgrimage

People are motivated by their religious beliefs. The demand for this kind of tourism is quite stable. The destinations of religious pilgrimages usually have a long tradition, such as Muslims to Mecca and Christians to Jerusalem.

Since the development of spas (mineral springs) in the 18th century, there have been visitors to centers of medical treatment. The spas in the mainland of China and Japan are still popular attractions in some tour programs.

Health tourism

Some tourists travel abroad because they want to visit their friends and relatives. It is sometimes said that those visiting their friends or relatives (VFR) are not really tourists at all in the conceptual sense. They do not usually buy accommodation or much food or drink or other services at the destination; but they do consume food and beverages from the supermarkets used by their hosts, and household consumption of other services (e.g. electricity, water) is increased during their stay.

Some of the VFR tourists' destinations may not be tourist attractions, but they are the population centers where friends or relatives live. Tourists are therefore visiting “non-tourist” areas. In Hong Kong, the popular VFR destinations are the mainland of China, Canada, U.S.A. and Australia.

Sports Tourism

Many tourists travel for sports. They may:

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  participate in sports, such as skiing or mountaineering;
  
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  watch sports, such as attending the Olympic Games or World Cup Soccer.
  

For example, the International Rugby-Sevens Competition in Hong Kong attracts both sport players and spectators.

Most tourists prefer to explore the destinations from a familiar base. The degree of familiarity of this base underlies Cohen’s typology in which he identifies four tourist roles: