Sustainable Cultural Tourism: A Strategic Tool For Revenue Generation in Local Communities

Societies around the globe have diverse cultures that give residents a sense of place and belonging. The colorful and splendid displays of cultural and artistic practices that are passed on from one generation to the other have been a unique cementing material that unites society members. Many residents take great pride in the traditional practices handed down to them by their proud forebears. The elders in communities, especially local regions, endeavor to honor their ancestors by ensuring that these important practices and iconic events are observed and commemorated.

Some societies have extravagant cultural festivals that they celebrate annually or once in every two years to recall the archetypal roles that their great predecessors played in the development of their societies. Some of these cultural festivals are held to enlighten and teach the younger generation the valor and selflessness of their forebears in ensuring the progression of the society. For instance, the Asante ethnic society of Ghana holds special festivals known as Akwasidae to remember the great achievements of their past Asantehenes (Kings of the Asante Kingdom). Likewise, the people of Kumawu in the Ashanti region of Ghana hold the Papa Nantwi (Great Cow) festival to figure out the courageous and warlike persons in the society who can be relied on in times of war. These cultural festivals can be well planned to generate revenue for the host local communities.

Many tourists are fascinated about these cultural festivals and practices and as such patronize their commemoration. Also, many residents in a country who do not hail from a particular area may want to know more about the culture of the ethnic societies in those parts of the country. Thus, organizers can produce paraphernalia of the cultural observance in the form of T-shirts, brochures, pens, hats and other items that would help attendees immerse themselves in the occasion while generating revenue for the host communities.

Moreover, many societies have interesting cultural infrastructures which can equally be developed into tourist sites to generate revenue for communities. This includes sacred groves specially demarcated by the forebears of particular societies as an area whose biodiversity resources are not to be exploited. It may be the grounds where their ancestors died and as such is declared as sacred. Such is the case of the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kumawu in the Ashanti region of Ghana believed to be the spot where most of their early forebears died from a plague struck on them by the Dente deity as a result of their lack of hospitality. Annually, rites are held in the area to remember them and instruct the younger generation the essence of hospitality. These sacred groves and forests are potential tourist sites for communities. Recreational activities serving as a side attraction could be coupled with the celebration to make it worth remembering.

Of course, businesses in the local communities boom in sales during the commemoration of cultural events and this auger well for the local economies. Food vendors, drivers of commercial vehicles, restaurants and hotels and other goods and service providers maximize their gains strengthening the economic capital of these communities. Palaces and birthplace of great kings, battlegrounds of ancestors, and other significant cultural sites can be developed into tourist sites to generate revenue.

Indeed, many communities in the world have well sustained cultural traditions and infrastructure that have not been fully explored but are strategic tools for elevating their economies. The traditional council or the governing team in these communities must liaise with developing partners like the tourism ministry of their governments, Non-governmental organizations and private enterprises to upgrade these places of cultural heritage as tourist sites for revenue generation. This step can lead to the alleviation of poverty in the numerous local communities globally who, despite the fact that they have great cultural wealth, are poor economically.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Sustainable-Cultural-Tourism:-A-Strategic-Tool-For-Revenue-Generation-in-Local-Communities&id=9605304] Sustainable Cultural Tourism: A Strategic Tool For Revenue Generation in Local Communities