Cultural tourism and the enhancement of quality-of-life

This chapter examines how cultural tourism enhances the quality-of-life of the many types of communities it affects. While cultural tourism exists first and foremost for the benefit of tourists and the tourism industry, its building blocks are based on a community’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage assets. Much has been written about the adverse impacts of tourism on local communities, but relatively little research has examined how cultural tourism enhances quality-of-life. The chapter begins by contextualizing cultural tourism and identifying four different types of communities it affects. The main body of the chapter examines the impacts on economic development, conservation, nation building and national mythmaking, community well-being, and the provision of leisure and recreation facilities. Case studies from Hong Kong and southern China are used to explore key themes in greater detail.