ABSTRACT
The role of culture and tourism in urban development and regeneration strategies in the UK, Europe and North America is increasingly recognised at both a policy and planning level in economic urban regeneration, as more and more cities incorporate these elements into their overall process of economic urban renewal. In the last two to three decades the policy makers of many de-industrialised cities across North America and Europe have seen the development of their tourism industries as one possible means of economic regeneration as it had the potential to ‘breathe new life into old cities’ (Law 1996: 11). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD 2009) identifies a number of both demand and supply factors leading to the convergence between tourism and culture, including post-modern consumption styles, increased interest in culture, the desire for more direct forms of experience, the use of cultural tourism as an economic development vehicle and the desire to improve the image of regions. This chapter examines that process as it has applied to UK cities, focusing on homogeneity versus unique identity, drawing critical reflections and presenting some considerations for future direction and sustainability.
