International tourism and the UNESCO category of intangible cultural heritage

Abstract

Purpose The development of heritage tourism has experienced a great development in recent years, mostly centred in the cities that are World Heritage. This paper aims to present an analysis of the relationship between Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) declared by UNESCO and tourism development associated therewith. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used in this research consisted of a fieldwork to determine the socio-demographic profile and perceptions of foreign tourists participating in this intangible cultural event. Additionally, the features of this tourist destination are also analysed. Findings The main results of this research shows the high cultural level of tourist respondents, the significant economic level of travellers and the perceptions of heritage tourists in participation in the Festival. Research limitations/implications The expansion of this line of research is to include other ICH; this should contribute to the generalisation of the knowledge acquired in this subject. Practical implications The main practical implications are centred on better understanding of the key factors involved in the relation between intangible cultural heritage and tourism. Social implications This study highlights the features that a heritage tourist destination must have to create a sustainable tourism destination with a combination of culture and tourism. Originality/value Heritage, generally tangible cultural heritage, is used as a resource in the destinations. This paper analyses the relationship between intangible cultural heritage and tourism, an aspect little studied by the scientific literature.