TOURISM AND CULTURE

• Culture is defined to be one of the motivation factors for the tourists or a key attraction to visit a destination
• Culture consists of beliefs, values, attitudes, habits, and behaviors shared by a society and passed down through generations
• Cultural tourism is defined as the movement of people for cultural motivations, including study tours, performing arts, cultural tours, travel to festivals, and visits to historical sites and monuments
• Moving from a familiar culture to an unfamiliar one can lead to culture shock, causing feelings of anxiety, surprise, disorientation, uncertainty, and confusion
• Cultural factors that appeal to tourists include art, music and dance, handicraft, industry and business, agriculture, education, literature and language, science, government, religion, food and drink, and history
• Art:

  • The "Pangkat Kawayan" or "Singing Bamboo of the Philippines" is a unique orchestra using unconventional bamboo instruments
  • The Spoliarium by Filipino artist Juan Luna
  • The Mona Lisa by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci
• Music and Dance:

  • major source of enjoyment and satisfaction of tourists in several countries such as Philippines, Hawaii, Spain, and the United States.
  • Kulintang is composed of small gongs accompanied by larger gongs and drums
  • Kundiman is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs with smooth, flowing melodies
  • The Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company is a group of Filipino dancers and musicians conceived in the ancient spirit of bayanihan
  • Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance-drama
• Handicraft:

  • People from different cultural communities create beautiful items from natural resources like wood, bamboo, rattan, abaca, coconut shells, capiz shells, and other abundant materials
  • Capiz shells are used in handicrafts, harvested from the Placuna placenta mollusc found in the Philippines
• Industry and Business:

  • SM Mall of Asia in the Philippines is a large shopping mall located in Bay City, Pasay
• Agriculture:

  • Del Monte Philippines Inc. Pineapple Plantation is the largest in the Far East, a major attraction in Bukidnon
  • India leads in banana production, representing 28% of the worldwide crop
• Education:

  • The University of Santo Tomas is the oldest existing university in Asia
  • Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States
• Literature and Language:

  • Travel motivation can be based on a country's literary achievements
  • Libraries and reading of poetry are popular cultural activities for tourists
• Science:

  • Tourist promotion organizations should provide facilities for the exchange of scientific information
• Government:

  • Visits to centers of government, like capitals, are motivating for individuals interested in political science
• Religion:

  • Religious pilgrimages, like the pilgrimage to Mecca, are motivations for travel
  • People visit headquarters of their church organizations and religiously significant places
• Food and Drink:

  • Food and drink are important aspects of a country's culture for tourists
  • Tourists enjoy native and local dishes, and restaurants can make a good impression by serving local cuisine
• History:

  • Tourists should be provided with information on historical attractions, admission fees, hours of operation, and special events