Cultural Tourism and Industrial Heritage

How to find the right balance between tourism development and heritage conservation and promotion of sustainable and responsible cultural tourism? How to attract more interest unless you know and / or release pressure on cultural tourism overcrowding? These difficult questions were discussed in the Industrial cultural tourism, the fourth workshop CreativeCH promoted within the project, which was organized by the Museu de Catalunya Ciència i Technology (mNACTEC) on May 10, 2013 in Terrassa.

According to organizers, the workshop was a way to encourage reflection on key aspects of cultural tourism, with emphasis on industrial tourism. The program was designed to share information and participate in discussions organized between participants and expert speakers. Brings together local and international experts, the workshop was designed to address both aspects of the internationalization and localization of cultural tourism. Therefore, the schedule was divided into two blocks. Each block consists of a series of three short presentations followed by discussion skilled experts to facilitate dialogue among government officials, teachers, professionals and other participants.

The first block is to highlight aspects of the internationalization of cultural and industrial tourism. Prof. Wolfgang Ebert, Board Member of the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH), made the first presentation entitled "Industrial Heritage Tourism in Europe." Prof. Ebert was followed by Professor Henryk Handszuh, Museum of Coal Mine in Zabrze (Poland) with "A Cultural Park City coal production in Zabrze (Poland) - if you try to apply the condition Heritage of Humanity for attention?. "Prof. Ion Imbrescu (West University of Timisoara, Romania) presented the "rural industrial heritage Restart -. Towards an economic valuation of artistic crafts traditions" To close the first block, Professor Franco was responsible Niccolucci moderate the discussion on "How to find the appropriate balance between tourism development and heritage conservation and promotion of sustainable and responsible cultural tourism. "

The second block of depth in regional and local perspectives of cultural and industrial tourism and attended regional and local experts, representatives of public and private sector. First, Jordi Garreta (City of Terrassa) presented "XATIC, a network to promote industrial tourism in Catalonia"; Magda Gassó (Generalitat de Catalunya) encouraged participants to "Tourism and Heritage: this is the time" and Josep Maria Pey (generator, tourist and cultural projects) gave their views on the question "Industrial -Tourism an opportunity business? ". Eusebi Casanelles (former director of mNACTEC) closed the second block of moderating the debate: "How to develop experiential values CH beyond the stereotypical expectations (ie, the typical" tourist gaze ") How to attract more interest in knowledge? and / or relieve pressure on cultural tourism overcrowding?. "

During the last weeks before the workshop, discussion on internationalisations perspectives and location of cultural and industrial tourism was conducted online in the head, a web-based platform for young researchers, artists and European professionals. Participants to describe an idea to promote cultural tourism in a city or region of your choice was requested. Carla Vieira (Teia D'pulses, Portugal) won the Award of presenting the reading project leader Portimão. The winner was invited to the workshop to present the project, which creates thematic itineraries around the points of interest that can be followed by all visitors, and as Carla Vieira described, "will focus not only on the material heritage but especially in memories, stories, legends of each place. "
The discussion was fruitful, constructive and very passionate at some point, according Carme Prats, who closed the meeting and summarized the results of the day:

1. The workshop highlighted the variety of initiatives in the field of cultural and industrial tourism in Europe. Diversity provides uniqueness and richness, but at the same time, the implementation of joint projects can be complex.

2. There is a gap between existing cultural resources and tourism products. In this sense, the challenge is to transform cultural resources into marketable tourism products. Following this conclusion, the workshop stressed the need to create synergies between key sectors involved: culture, tourism and business as well as public-private partnerships to promote.

3. In the selection of resources, it is important to prioritize quality cultural resources. To turn them into tourism products, the narrative has proved an effective tool with the ability to arouse emotions.

4. Participants discussed whether to link the industrial heritage with modern industry, and did not reach consensus on whether modern industry is appealing to the public.

5. The workshop also highlighted the change with the emergence of tourism as a adivsor trip and, in this sense, the impact of the Internet for travel planning.

6. According to the participants, it is essential to pay attention to local tourism, as the volume of visitors is very important.

7. The experts discussed the relevance of the actions and products developed based on visitor demand, and not vice versa. In this regard, there was consensus on the need to recognize the value of education as a tool for modeling tourism demand.

8. Drivers or what motivates tourists to travel, have been controversial, especially when it came to cultural tourism. In particular, there was no conclusion if the target itself is the primary motivating factor in planning a trip.

9. As in other sectors, the workshop stressed the need to segment the audience during the design of cultural tourism products, and the importance of understanding in detail the drivers of passengers. After this, the representatives of the Catalan government reported the launch of a new statistical software when tourists access a cultural resource, continuously collects data about the motivations of visitors.

The workshop was held at the Fira Modernista (New Fair), a colorful and interesting attraction where visitors had the opportunity to travel back in time and relive Terrassa 100 years.

Industrial Tourism

By definition, the tourism industry represents all forms of industrial workshop visited by tourists, students, professionals or individuals. It is increasingly common and attracts more and more visitors. In fact, many companies are already introducing these daily activities in their monthly expenses. While most students to plan in advance the program of visits to factories to practice their theoretical studies.

Most of these scans are not free and visiting hours are usually set in advance. Visits costs are considered as a value information (useful for each industry) and all companies are willing to give hours of exposure to the public, even in return for payment. These offers may be samples of their products, tasting dishes of food produced, or allow visitors to test the operation of your plant equipment. In addition, these plants have their specific administrators reason to schedule specific times to prepare for what they want to accomplish before the visitors and to conceal its production data they want to keep secret.

Many manufacturing sectors are affected by this type of tourism, but the production of most dynamic food and crafts. For example, is the assembly of Phoenix Mauritius Breweries, makers of the famous beer of Mauritius formula and recipe remains unchanged from the first day of the operation. Provide a tour of 60 people on average every hour and offer adults the opportunity to taste the beer its establishment despite their service is free. We can also take the example of the great workshop Cornille Havard-, France, the production of bells in a modern way, using computer technology. They receive a large number of tourists every year and the cost is € 3.35 per visit per person.

However, there are other companies that are very famous in the organization of leisure visitors and customers to visit their factories. Another example of the plant at La Rance, France, the electricity producer and commercially represented by the FED, which welcomes more than 200,000 visitors only so each year takes place between industrial sites the most visited the world. There is also the center of Airbus, which offers a bus tour with professional guides for only 9 euros per hour and offers its customers the panels and models showing aircraft manufacturing.

Thus, the tourism industry is not just for some sectors, almost all economic activities have entered the arena. In fact, everyone received the benefits they can get to open the doors of its facilities to the public.

The advantages of industrial tourism.

For businesses, the views of the public in their workshops are proving to be a relevant and enjoyable way to make themselves known. Although the objectives of these tourists are not directly in the interest of the industry in question, since its goal is simple curiosity, but these needs have found a very effective advertising impact for the company. This applies to EDF, who open their doors to the public who wants to have a misconception of the task, immediately saw an increase in its customer base and therefore increase your turnover. In other words, public communication allows companies to develop their brand image and customer loyalty.

For the public, the tourism industry can acquire new knowledge. Indeed, the fact of entering the heart of the action answers many questions: How can a manufacturer to make the ink of a pen? Where I can find materials to produce porcelain plates? What are the steps and processes for the production of wine or other drinks without alcohol? Furthermore, it is also a way to guide young students about what they want in life, education level, should reach to achieve your dream profession.

But the tourism industry also has a positive effect on regional and national levels. Indeed, by accepting inform the public about technology and economic heritage of the region, an industry in a region is another challenge to do better. This type of healthy competition does not kill the company, but the pressure to continuously improve

Finally, he realizes that globalization has forced management, companies are encouraged in all areas to communicate with the world economic order and keep up.