ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to analyse the relationship between the arts and cultural tourism, which has arguably been somewhat fraught in the past, with rather different philosophies governing the two sectors. Traditionally, there was a general lack of communication between arts and tourism organisations and a poor understanding of respective activities, priorities and objectives. Arts organisations were not always well informed of tourism trends and markets, just as tourism organisations sometimes failed to understand the needs of the arts. However, both the visual and performing arts sectors are increasingly providing visitors or tourists to a destination with a whole range of colourful exhibitions or spectacles to observe, admire or participate in. This is true particularly of destinations where vibrant local cultural events such as festivals or carnivals draw in the crowds. Many such events serve as an assertion or expression of the culture and identity of minority groups, such as ethnic communities. There are therefore a number of sensitive issues surrounding the presentation of such events, and the interrelationship between performers and their audience. This chapter focuses partly on the importance of ethnic and minority arts to the cultural tourism industry; therefore the historical and political backdrop of post-colonialism and emergent multiculturalism serves as the overarching theoretical framework. There is also some analysis of changing perceptions of art and its relationship to more democratic interpretations of culture.
