Cultural tourism’ (or culture tourism) is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region’s culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those peoples, their art, archetecture, religion(s), and other elements that helped shape their way of life. Cultural tourism includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such asmuseums and theatres.

It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous cultural communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle. It is generally agreed that cultural tourists spend substantially more than standard tourists do. This form of tourism is also becoming generally more popular throughout the world, and a recent OECD report has highlighted the role that cultural tourism can play in regional development in different world regions.

Cultural tourism has been defined as ‘the movement of persons to cultural attractions away from their normal place of residence, with the intention to gather new information and experiences to satisfy their cultural needs’. (the Source: Wikipedia)

See Resources for Cultural Tourism

Not every visitor goes shopping or visits museums, but all travelers eat. For anyone who doubts, look at the increase in cooking shows featured on The Travel Channel  or travel shows featured on The Food Network, as examples.

Culinary Tourism is defined as the pursuit of unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences, according to the International Culinary Tourism Association. Culinary Tourism differs from agritourism in that culinary tourism is considered a subset of cultural tourism (cuisine is a manifestation of culture) whereas agritourism is considered a subset of rural tourism.

That said, culinary tourism and agritourism are inextricably linked, as the seeds of cuisine can be found in agriculture.

Culinary Tourism is not just experiences of the highest caliber - that would be gourmet tourism. This is perhaps best illustrated by the notion that Culinary Tourism is about what is “unique and memorable, not what is necessarily pretentious and exclusive”. Similarly, wine tourism, beer tourism and spa tourism are also regarded as subsets of culinary tourism. (the Source: Wikipedia)
Culinary Tourism resources

Although the word safari came to popular usage in reference to hunting and touring expeditions in East Africa, it is now also used to mean watching and photographing wildlife in all parts of Africa. The term has also spread to cover other adventurous journeys and expeditions, including whale watching safaris, Artic safaris, Amazon safaris, eco-safari, etc.

The most well known safari areas in Africa include The Masai Mara and Serengeti in East Africa, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Etosha in Namibia, and The Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park in Botswana. (The Source: Wikipedia)
Safaris resources

Religious tourism comprises many facets of the travel industry including:
Pilgrimages
Missionary travel
Leisure (fellowship) vacations
Faith-based cruising
Crusades, conventions and rallies
Retreats
Monastery visits and guest-stays
Faith-based camps
Religious tourist attractions

Statistics

Although no definitive study has been completed on worldwide religious tourism, some segments of the industry have been measured:

According to the World Tourism Organization, an estimated 300 to 330 million pilgrims visit the world’s key religious sites every year.

According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, Americans traveling overseas for “religious or pilgrimage” purposes has increased from 491,000 travelers in 2002 to 633,000 travelers in 2005 (30% increase).
According to the Religious Conference Management Association, in 2006 more than 14.7 million people attended religious meetings (RCMA members), an increase of more than 10 million from 1994 with 4.4 million attendees.

The United Methodist Church experienced an increase of 455% in mission volunteers from 1992 with almost 20,000 volunteers compared to 110,000 volunteers in 2006.

The Christian Camp and Conference Association states that more than eight million people are involved in CCCA member camps and conferences, including more than 120,000 churches.

Religious attractions including Sight & Sound Theatre attracts 800,000 visitors a year while the Holy Land Experience and Focus on the Family Welcome Center each receives about 250,000 guests annually. Religious tourism, also commonly referred to as faith tourism, is a form of tourism whereby people of faith travel individually or in groups for pilgrimage, missionary, or leisure (fellowship) purposes.

50,000 churches in the United States with religious travel programs
One-quarter (25%) of travelers said they were currently interested in taking a spiritual vacation.

Religious Tourism Resources

Piligrims

This may include the chance to help with farming and ranching tasks during the visit.

Agritourism is considered to be a niche or uniquely adapted form of tourism and is often practiced in wine growing regions such as Australia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and North America.

Tourists engage in farm activities ranging from picking fruit or feeding animals, or planting crops. (Source: Wikipedia)

See resources for agritourism.

Adventure tourism is rapidly growing in popularity, as tourists seek different kinds of vacations. According to the U.S. based Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventure travel may be any tourist activity, including two of the following three components: a physical activity, a cultural exchange or interaction and engagement with nature.

Adventure tourism gains much of its excitement by allowing its participants to step outside of their comfort zone. This may be from experiencing culture shock or through the performance of acts, that require significant effort and involve some degree of risk (real or perceived) and/or physical danger. This may include activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, mountain biking, rafting, zip-lining and rock climbing. Some obscure forms of adventure travel include disaster tourism and ghetto tourism.[1] Other rising forms of adventure travel include social tourism, jungle tourism and overland travel.

Access to inexpensive consumer technology, with respect to Global Positioning Systems, flashpacking, social networking and photography, have increased the worldwide interest in adventure travel.[2][3] The interest in independent adventure travel has also increased as more specialist travel websites emerge offering previously niche locations and sports. (Source Wikipedia)

See adventure recreation resources.

See jungle tourism resources.

See Mountain Biking resources.

See Outdoor education resources.

See Parachuting resources.

See Rafting resources.

Examples of package tours operators: http://www.atlastravelweb.com/cruiselines.shtml

The main parades of the Carnival of Binche stretch over the three days before Lent. The most important participants are the Gilles, who go out in their traditional costumes on Mardi Gras and throw blood oranges to the crowd.

Carnival in Binche has a history dating back at least to the 16th century. In 2003, the Carnival of Binche was recognised as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Shrove Sunday: colourful day where the future Gilles giants wear fancy costumes. Parade at 3 pm. Until the early hours, the drums resound all over town.

Shrove Monday: children’s parade where the violas are played all morning long. Children’s “Rondeau of Friendship” on the Grand’Place. Fireworks at 7.30 pm.

Shrove Tuesday: Start of the festivities at daybreak. The Gilles entertain the town from 9 am. Parade at 3 pm. The Gilles show off their hats and throw oranges. In the evening there will be a final rondeau at 7.30 pm and a fireworks display in the city centre.

Mardi Gras is the only day one sees the “Gilles” in their various rites from daybreak to the midnight fireworks ending the carnival.

The “Gille” is a local carnival character whose hay-colored costume decorated with appliqued lions, crowns and stars in the Belgian colors of red, yellow and black is stuffed with hay and belted with heavy, jangling bells.

Other large carnival celebrations are held in Aalst and Malmedy.

Some Belgian cities hold carnivals later during Lent. One of the best known is Stavelot, where the Carnaval de la Laetare takes place on Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. The most well-known participants are the Blancs-Moussis, dressed in white and wearing long red noses. They parade through town throwing confetti and beating bystanders with dried pig bladders. Another large carnival celebration on Laetare Sunday is held in Halle. (Source: Wikipedia)

Goa (which was a Portuguese colony) has a long tradition of celebrating “Carnivaal” with colorful masks and floats. The city of Loutulim has the largest Carnival which sees merry residents gathered on the streets amid beating of drums and reverberating music. The celebrations run three days culminating in a carnival parade on fat Tuesday. There is participation of a large number of tourists. Dance troupes performed skits before throwing water on each other. After the revelry, song and dance, great food and good wine come together beautifully. After partying, the crowds enjoy a delightful Goan cuisine at a buffet dinner.

When: February, before Easter
Where: Entire Goa
Duration: Three Days
Highlights: Street plays, songs, dances, parades, feasting and merry making

If you want to participate to Goa Carnival, you check here the Goa Travel Tips

In contrast, the state of Kerala has very different celebrations. The festival is called “Raasa” (means fun in Sanskrit and in early malayalam). No masks are worn, but there is music and festivities, sometimes with fireworks.

The Raasas are organized on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday by local catholic churches, and usually culminate in a public mass or a mass conducted in the church.

Even though mostly Syrian or Roman Catholic Christians only take part in Raasa Parade (which is considered the religious part), both Hindus and Muslims join to watch and join the public mass by Christians in the festivities.

There is no food at the end of the celebration but there are fireworks organized by some churches. People however offer half boiled or raw rice for the “Chembeduppu” ceremony in large copper vessels (”Chembu”) kept at the Church. The copper vessels carrying the half-boiled rice were taken out in a Raasa procession by the faithfuls with traditional Church orchestra playing the accompaniment.

The golden and the silver cross as well as the Papal and Catholicate flags were also taken out with the Raasa procession. (the Source: Wikipedia)

There are many internet software solutions you can install on your computer or your phone, and you can make free or calls at a very low rate, depending on the country you are calling from or the country where you are calling to.

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