ABSTRACT
Museums and galleries support the creative industries, and they can act as a powerful engine for regeneration. They often form the primary reason why visitors and tourists come to a country or region (DCMS 2005). Because of this, they often feature as an important element in tourism strategies, along with other cultural goods and historic buildings, in promoting a region or city as a tourist attraction and destination. Museums and galleries vary in terms of characteristics, from local to national, and to those with international reputations. Some museums are international ‘superstar’ museums, and provide a ‘total experience’ for visitors (Frey 1998). One of the objectives of management of public art galleries and museums is to display works of art and artefacts that appeal to the public. The increasing number of both local visitors and tourists is seen as a means of justifying public subsidy to galleries and museums, especially for those which do not charge an entry price.
