Tourism and culture: an assessment of cultural theory and practice in the tourism sector (1990-2000)

Abstract

This article discusses how the tourism sector has approached and incorporated culture in its development. Based on an initial discussion which focuses on the idea that culture is a key element and one of the most significant pillars of the whole tourism system, and that culture cannot therefore be divorced from tourism as a phenomenon and as a sector, the article offers empirical evidence on the substantial gap between this «umbilical chord relationship» and political practice and strategy for the tourism sector.