Cultural centres: a future for cultural Arctic tourism?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential of cultural centres to be spaces that foster interaction between tourists and locals, and thereby meet the demands of new cultural tourists. This is done through conducting a case study of Katuaq Cultural Centre in Nuuk, Greenland. Combining theories of cultural contact and placemaking, the paper analyses how locals and tourists make use of and experience the centre. The paper then goes on to conduct a broader discussion about how future placemaking in tourism can respond to the emerging demands of cultural Arctic tourists, and to suggest ways to encourage positive interaction on both a local community level and a resident-visitor level. Design/methodology/approach A series of anthropological research methods were used, including participant observation in the cultural centre itself, and informal and semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders. Findings Concluding that, from multiple perspectives, Katuaq fails to perform as a “centre of culture”, the study offers innovative insights into how cultural centres can be operated more inclusively in the future, as spaces in which members of different cultural groups can achieve positive interaction. It is argued that the future of successful and fulfilling cultural tourism offerings in the Arctic lies at the intersection of tourism and leisure studies. Originality/value The originality of this paper lies first in its deepening of the academic discussion of cultural centres. Second, and on a broader level, the paper identifies an emerging trend of “community–tourism spaces” as cultural tourism offerings, and provides some insights into the conflicts experienced in these kinds of spaces, as well as some suggestions as to how further research on these spaces should continue.

The future of sustainable polar ship-based tourism

“…However, researchers recognize conflicting visions among tourism stakeholders (Indigenous communities vs. tourism industry) when it comes to weighing the economic benefits obtained from tourism operations against those originating from other economic activities (Hillmer-Pegram, 2016). Conflicts regarding the use and availability of resources as well as the potential erosion of Indigenous cultures (cosmovision, mythology) and communities have also been identified as lasting negative consequences of tourism (Kaltenborn, 1998;Grant, 1998;Kruse, 2016;Cooper, 2020).…”

MICE Industry Survival: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The global economy is currently experiencing an unprecedented shock because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has threatened economic growth. Prolonged movement control orders, social distancing, and lockdowns precipitated the global economic downturn, disrupted demand and supply chains, reduced the workforce pool, and resulted in numerous job losses (Corbisiero & Monaco, 2021;Cooper, 2019). This scenario may result in a decrease in demand for the MICE industry as well as revenue for event organisers or industry participants.…”

Sustainable Tourism Recommendations: Systematic Literature Review

“…Eropa [24], [25], [20], [18] Asia [27], [30], [34], [19] Middle east [17] Asia pacific [32] Afrika [28], [31] Research methodology Quantitative [27], [30], [28], [34], [20], [17], [18], [32], [19] Qualitative [24], [18], [19] Literature review [31], [33] conceptual paper [25], [23], [26] Name of Journal Journal of tourism futures [27], [24], [25], [33], [17], [18], [32] Journal Asia Pacific journal of innovation [30] Journal International hospitality review [28], [31] Journal social responsibility [23] Journal of humanities and applied social science [26] Journal of marketing [34], [20] Journal of Asian Business and Economic studies [19]…”

“…10 [28] To achieve sustainability in tourism with knowing motivation of tourism. 11 [17] Tourism as a part of a systematic growth strategy, has the real and affordable potential to contribute significantly to the environtmental, social cultural and economic growth 12 [24] New cultural tourists could increase demand access to locals because locals life could showing equal social status for all relevant groups 13 [25] The uniqeness of historical buildings and their role in forming extraordinary experience escapes provides a supply of destinations and offer aesthetic experience that can not be replicated by a newly built attraction or hotel. 14 [31] Mobile advertising could act as a digital marketing trends and assist to increase international tourism as well as strategy of innovation of marketing promotion.…”

“…[23] The essential relation between the social responsibility concept in the tourism industry and sustainability is clearly illustrated there by the interconnection of the mission, basis, perceptions, reflections, and determinants of the social responsibility concept in the tourism sector, as well as by the determination of the influencing factors to integrated the general education system and especially into tourism training and education, the social responsibility concept should be incorporated into tourism management techniques and apparatus to facilitate to the common activities of the tourism market, for example is to build Coorporate Social Responsibility or CSR [20] activities that related to nature. In the concept of sosiocultural not only build CSR but also there are several supporting factors to obtain sustainability in tourism [24] also stated that offering the uniqueness of the culture of the area of origin will be a special attraction for tourists, offer historic building [25], nation branding with showing their cultural heritage [26], and build a cultural center [24].…”