Social inclusion of older artisans through creative tourism

Abstract

Creative tourism has a potential role in promoting social benefits for communities and social inclusion of artisans; however, studies investigating this are lacking. This paper contributes to filling this gap in the literature by exploring the role of creative tourism in combating social exclusion among older artisans in the context of Loulé Criativo, a pioneering creative tourism initiative in Portugal. This qualitative study reveals, from the perspective of management staff and older artisans, that creative tourism reduces the social exclusion of older artisans through processes as improving social relations, fostering creativity and strengthening connections to place and community. Policy makers and tourism professionals can use creative tourism initiatives to actively engage older artisans and promote their empowerment and social recognition.