Essay Sample on the Connection Between Cultural Diplomacy and the Tourism Industry

Introduction

Based touristic sense, culture is described as the peoples', their traditions and patterns which distinguish them as unique and considered being exceptionally creative and artistic endeavor with the culture providing various forms of symbolic and material resources to the tourism industry(Chon,1990). For example, even the most remote place provided a destination for tourist. Regarding the importance of the cultural diplomacy and it its responsibilities on the tourism sector has always been a debate with many researchers coming up with various speculations, for instance, 'tourism as a vehicle of peace.'

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Moreover, there is an outlined point of convergence among cultural diplomacy and tourism(Skinner,2008). Again, the enhancing of artistic expressions such as music or gastronomy, visual art or archaeology is significantly regarded as a means of cultural diplomacy and also promotes the access to various cultures via direct experience and adopts lifestyle as an away for international dialogue and debate;therefore, there is the core of the tourist experience also greatly relies on the opportunity of getting access to various cultural outlook(Szondi,2008). for example, the different art galleries, visit museums, musical and cultural events, theatre and opera tend to represent the fundamental roles realized by tourists within a specific destination.

According to Ward (2005), tourist can be regarded as significant consumers of various cultural products with cultures being the considerable motivation for the trip of an individual. The cultural perspective has further enhanced diplomacy because specific domestic and international promotion of every destination tends to be an indirect means of improving either tangible or intangible cultural expressions as a significant tourist attraction. Many of the researchers have argued that tourism is a significant means to enhance world peace via the promotion of intercultural dialogue (Melissen, 2005). Nevertheless, the effectiveness of tourism as a way to promote cultural diplomacy seems to exclusively involve the practice of various of cultural diplomacy strategies such as linking national and international policies and the awareness of the stakeholders that are engaged in the tourism sector about their varied roles, for instance, as promoters of cultural diplomacy.

The Critical Role of Cultural Diplomacy in the Tourism Industry

Smith and Richards (2013) suggest that, an increasing use of cultural diplomacy by various tourism industries and countries to promote profile to enhance in attaining competitive advantage in foreign trade and investment and even tourism with the focus on the value of cultural diplomacy as essential integral part of training and development on issues of tourism. Cultures give an opportunity to constantly contact and interact among individual tourists thus determining the development and formation of cultural tourism (Airey and Chong, 2010). Moreover, such a tourist takes part in cultural tourism and travel away from home with the sense of peace due to the existing diplomacy among different countries and to give necessities of the home environment in a relatively tolerant and desirable situation in a remote area but disposed with cultural motivation and adventuring other new cultures. Another primary importance of cultural diplomacy on tourism is based on the development ways such planning which enhance the tourism attraction features and uniqueness making a particular region to come into prominence as far as tourism is concerned. For instance, creating supplies and various travel products thus building travel packages as a result of linking attractions (Kelly, 2017).

Implementation Approaches of Cultural Diplomacy for Tourism

Tourism contributes a significant percentage to the country economy, and most countries have promoted tourism as a route to economic development. Tourism has acted as a bridge between different cultures of communities living in different countries. There is an intercultural exchange among people who visit a country for tourism purposes. The best approaches of cultural diplomacy tourism will always be that which enable easy acquisition of travel documents (Kavaratzis and Hatch, 2013). Many research and data analysis have shown that there is a critical relationship between tourism and international diplomacy and to promote cultural tourism then the diplomatic relationship between different countries must be enhanced.

Pigman and Deos (2008), the world has become increasingly interconnected, and the dialogue between different countries is essential for cultural tourism. Lucas (2003), when countries engage one another, there will be an appreciation of the tourism policies of each country, and this will enable movement from one state to another (House et al.2004). Many countries are practicing systems which will allow them to maintain to maintain a good public image and perfect reputation this because the foreign public opinion help to shape the counties image making it attractive to tourist (Potter, 2009). Different countries have started sports and cultural activities in different regional blocks when people come together for sports activities they are likely to borrow cultures, and this encourages their visit to the county. However, it is important to note that public diplomacy is not solely the role of diplomats and the public relations officer to help to promote cultural tourism to the county, but every member can play a role to create enabling an environment for tourist (Smith and Cooper, 2000). Promotion of peace in the country is another best way to promote cultural tourism; this is because many tourists love the peaceful atmosphere and where they can interact freely with people without fear.

Conclusion

Currently, the changes in the tourism show that visitors are actively involved in cultural activities. The tourists have in the recent times been of value to most countries. Some of the necessities of the cultural diplomacy on tourism industry such as protecting the natural habitat, strengthening of local culture and traditions with most agencies striving to promote the sustainability of tourism.

References

Szondi, G. (2008). Public diplomacy and nation branding: Conceptual similarities and differences. Netherlands Institute of International Relations" Clingendael".

Skinner, H. (2008). The emergence and development of place marketing's confused identity. Journal of marketing management, 24(9-10), 915-928.

Ward, C., Furnham, A., & Bochner, S. (2005). The psychology of culture shock. Routledge.

Melissen, J. (2005). The new public diplomacy: Between theory and practice. In The new public diplomacy (pp. 3-27). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

Airey, D., & Chong, K. (2010). National policy-makers for tourism in China. Annals of tourism Research, 37(2), 295-314.

Smith, M. K., & Richards, G. (Eds.). (2013). The Routledge handbook of cultural tourism. Routledge.Kelly, D. (2017).

The translation of texts from the tourist sector: textual conventions, cultural distance and other constraints. TRANS. Revista de Traductologia, (2), 33-42.

Kavaratzis, M., & Hatch, M. J. (2013). The dynamics of place brands: An identity-based approach to place branding theory. Marketing theory, 13(1), 69-86.

Pigman, G. A., & Deos, A. (2008). Consuls for hire: Private actors, public diplomacy. Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, 4(1), 85-96.

House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. W., & Gupta, V. (Eds.). (2004). Culture, leadership, and organizations: The GLOBE study of 62 societies. Sage publications.

Potter, E. H. (2009). Branding Canada: Projecting Canada's soft power through public diplomacy. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP.

Lucas, W. (2003). Beyond freedom, beyond control, beyond the Cold War: approaches to American culture and the state-private network. Intelligence and National Security, 18(2), 53-72.

Smith, G., & Cooper, C. (2000). Competitive approaches to tourism and hospitality curriculum design. Journal of Travel Research, 39(1), 90-95.