Cultural Tourism
Cultural tourism is defined by
the World Tourism Organization (Report WTO, 2012) as "trips, whose main or
concomitant goal is visiting the sites and events whose cultural and historical
value has turn them being a part of the cultural heritage of a community".
Cultural Tourism as per UNWTO is
emerging as one of the most successful types of modern travel. It currently
accounts for about 37% of all travels and the demand is growing by 15%
annually. World Tourism Organization forecasts that by 2020 Cultural Tourism will
have a leading role in the world.
Cultural tourism includes besides
all the visiting of historical sites and sightseeing, providing the opportunity
for enjoyment of past human achievements. As part of domestic tourism, visiting
such places is an object of admiration, national pride and rediscovering the
achievements of our ancestors.
The link between tourism and poverty alleviation
was recognized by the UN first in 1999 to “maximize the potential of tourism
for eradicating poverty by developing appropriate strategies in co-operation
with all major groups and local communities”.
West
Bengal offers unique amalgamation of diverse cultures and natural beauty of
myriad hues. #SocialEnterprise @BanglanatakDotCom saw this as an opportune time
to showcase the cultural heritage of Bengal.
Promoting Community
led cultural heritage based tourism – Story behind TourEast
@BanglaNatakDotCom
works across the grassroots of India since 2000 to empower rural marginalized
communities of the grassroots with information, knowledge and skills to change
and improve their own life. We use #CultureAsASkill for our work. As part of
our work of using traditional culture as a skill for #CreatingLivelihoodOpportunities,
#StrengtheningIdentities and mainstreaming rural marginalized communities
through our flagship initiative @ArtforLife in 2010 we started developing these
artists’ #VillagesasDestinations. Currently we have developed 15 such villages.
We created annual festivals in these villages which are run by the communities
to promote these places. Getting UNWTO as our international partner to promote
our model of #CoummunityedCulturalHeritagebasedTourism was an honour and
recognition of our work.
Community led cultural heritage based tourism
presents true benefit of tourism to communities for #CommunityDevelopment, #Empowerment,
#PovertyAlleviation, #StrengtheningIdentities of the marginalized, developing a
#SenseofPride, #responsible use of living heritages, #check outmigration, providing
powerful #incentive for preserving and enhancing ICH since the revenue
generated can be channeled back into initiatives to aid its long term survival.
The
beginning of TourEast
In 2015 @BanglaNatakDotCom
launched its division TourEast for
promoting cultural tourism destinations of rural West Bengal and offer
authentic experience of heritage traditions and simplicity of rural life.
TourEast
aims at engaging local communities in #PromotingCulturalTourism. The villages
of folk artists and crafts persons that @TourEast promotes are perfect retreats
for city dwellers leading a frenzied life style. They offer domestic and
international visitors a rich cultural experience.
Visitors
to regular tourist destinations like Santiniketan, Bishnupur, Ayodhya Hills,
Malda or Dooars can add a day in the itinerary for a trip to the craft and art
hubs. All the locations have hotels and tourist lodges in nearby locations.
There is also scope for home stay and enjoying simple Indian meals cooked by
the household.
Art
lovers, researchers, students or institutions interested in field trips,
academic visits or placing interns, engaging volunteers, photographers, young
professionals from other sectors, including the corporate may try these newly
developed heritage based cultural tourism destinations.
Places TourEast promotes
West
Bengal is a confluence of a rich past, diverse geography, architectural
grandeur and culture. Its rich cultural repertoire ranges from the exuberant
Durga Puja to the chau dance of Purulia; from the world renowned Kolkata Book
Fair to the spring festival of Santiniketan; from earthy tones of the Bankura
terracotta to the Wooden masks of Dakshin Dinajpur; from the mystic sounds of
the Bauls and Fakirs to the subtlety of Tagore songs. Bordered by the Himalayas
in the north and the mystic mangrove forest of Sunderbans in the south, the
state is replete with nature’s bounty. Come and celebrate life with Cultural
Heritages of Bengal.
Let
us now take a virtual tour of these 15 artists’ villages that TourEast promotes.
This tour will inform you about the cultural tradition of these villages, give
a, glimpse of their annual village festivals and places of interests nearby
that a visitor to these villages can see. For experiencing it all, a physical
visit is recommended. West Bengal Khadi & Village Industries Board has
developed Common Facility Centres (CFCs) in some of the artists’ villages with
built in #accommodations facilities, #fresh and hot cooked Indian meals prepared
by the communities. One can stay here for a nominal cost or stay in the nearby
hotels and lodges. During festivals the villages have provisions of tents and
artists’ #homestays.
