Career in Cultural Tourism

Travelling to a new city or a country, you are not only interested in visiting its popular attractions but also in exploring its unique culture through food, historical marvels and traditional attires. Cultural Tourism essentially focuses on this aspect of tourism where sightseers get to experience the culture and heritage of a specific place. Nowadays travellers are thinking far beyond the picturesque landscape as they are more interested in exploring the cultural history of the city or town they are visiting. Embracing the cultural aura of any tourist destination is certainly a vividly exciting experience that has led to the study of this specialised field. So, if you are planning to establish your career in Travel and Tourism, this blog attempts to explore the essential facets of Cultural Tourism, major courses, top universities as well as the career prospects available. 

What is Cultural Tourism?

Breaking away from the same-old ways of touring a place, it is a specialised form of Tourism that allows travellers to embrace the local cultural aspects of the place they are visiting. These aspects can range from cuisines and festivities to historical sites and museums. It aims to facilitate an authentic cultural exchange between the locals as well as the tourists. Further, it helps local communities promote their history as well as boost economic growth. Studying this field, you will get to know about how varied cultural attributes of a place can be emphasised to curate an enjoyable experience for tourists. You will also be imparted with the knowledge of ensuring interactions between local communities and tourists to ensure that the explorers get a vibrant experience of the culture they want to discover.

Why should Countries focus on Cultural Tourism?

Cultural tourism is a great option to benefit the local community:

• It has a positive impact on the economy of any destination
• It can help underserved communities to flourish
• The amount can be used for the social good
• It helps preserve local culture
• Cultural tourism improves the marketing of the destinations
• It emphasizes the uniqueness of the culture

Popular Countries for Cultural Tourism

Countries around the world focus on cultural tourism and help drive local economies. Let’s check out some of the most popular countries that drive economic growth through cultural tourism:

• France is known for its best cultural tourism with Paris as the hub
• China highly focuses on its culture
• Istanbul at Turkey is at the forefront
• India is extremely famous for its culture

Courses & Universities

Similar to Sustainable Tourism, it is a specialised field of study and those wanting to study this branch can either opt for a certificate program or pursue a master’s degree in this subfield. Further, you can begin with an undergraduate degree in International Tourism and then opt for an MA or MSc. Here is a table that enlists the major certificate, undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered and their related fields of study.

Courses in Cultural Tourism	University
Professional Certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism	GW School of Business
Diploma in Global Cultures	University of Otago
Cultural Heritage Tourism Certificate	American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association
BA (Hons) in International Tourism Management	Solent University
Bachelor of Social Science in Tourism and Heritage	University of Western Sydney
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Museums and Cultural Heritage	University of Auckland
Bachelor in European Culture	University of Wroclaw
Bachelor in Heritage and Tourism	University of Sterling
Bachelor in History and Tourism	Liverpool Hope University
MA Tourism and Cultural Policy	Goldsmiths, University of London
MSc International Heritage and Cultural Tourism Management	Edinburgh Napier University
MA in Tourism and Culture	Radboud University
MSc in Tourism Development and Culture (Erasmus Mundus Joint Master)	University of Glasgow
MA in Place, Culture and Tourism	Erasmus University Rotterdam

Eligibility Criteria

The following are the eligibility criteria of pursuing cultural tourism:

• To pursue bachelor’s in cultural tourism, you should complete your 10+2 level of education from a recognised board with minimum aggregate of 50% – 60%
• To pursue master’s in cultural tourism, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
• You may be asked to submit your English language proficiency test score like IELTS, TOEFL

Scope of Cultural Tourism

With a colossal number of jobs in Travel and Tourism, there is an array of opportunities available for those wanting to pursue the field. The travel and tourism industry is booming with prospects with the pivotal impact of technology which has made it accessible for tourists to plan their own itineraries through online apps. Countries are also understanding the role of tourism in nurturing economic and cultural development. Thus, a great emphasis is put on promoting diverse cultures and communities. As cultural tourism essentially aims to highlight the heritage of a tourism destination, to establish your career in this field, you need to acquire the specific skills of facilitating high-level engagement between tourists and local communities of a place.

Completing a degree or diploma in Cultural Tourism, one can choose from an array of career prospects accessible in the public as well as the private sectors. Below we have enlisted the career profiles and job areas that you can explore in this field.

Job Areas

Other than the above-mentioned career profiles, here is a list of key job areas where you can discover a plethora of opportunities.

• Government Ministries (Tourism & Culture)
• UNESCO World Heritage
• Travel Agencies
• Heritage Museums
• Community Outreach Management
• Museum Administration
• Hotels & Resorts
• Airlines

Career Profiles

Here is a list of major job profiles that you can apply for in order to pursue a career in this field:

Job Profile Avg. Salary
Holiday Representative 2.5 Lakh
Travel Agent  2.2 Lakh
Tour Manager 3.6 Lakh
Air Cabin Crew 5.9 Lakh
Tourist Information Centre Manager 3.15 Lakh
Leisure Activity Coordinator 3.5 Lakh
Community Outreach Manager 6.0 Lakh

Thus, culture has always been an incremental driver of tourism. It aims to encourage a healthier exchange between local cultures and tourists. Needless to say, gaining an academic degree in this field can help you immerse in the varied opportunities available. Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu and let us help you find a suitable program and university that equip you with the necessary knowledge and exposure to establish a rewarding career in Travel and Tourism.