Cultural Travel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cultural Travel is a type of travel that emphasizes experiencing life from within a foreign culture, rather than from the outside as a temporary visitor. Cultural travelers leave their home environment at home, bringing only themselves and a desire to become part of the culture they visit. Cultural travel goes beyond cultural exploration or discovery, and involves a complete transformation in way of life.
This definition was first used by Gary Langer (March 1977) "Travel to Learn". Transitions Abroad 1: 12-15. as a way of describing travel that requires a "transition" to a new level of understanding and appreciation for a foreign culture.
The term Cultural Travel is often distorted and misused by travel agents, tour operators and international tourism organizations. Culture primarily has to do with people and less with places or things. So visiting museums, touring ancient structures, attending festivals, and eating local food does not provide the same experience as becoming a member of the culture itself.
The antithesis of cultural travel is tourism, where people bring their home environment with them wherever they go, and apply it to whatever they see. Tourists are closed to experience outside of the superficial.
