Cultural Tourism in Developed Island Tourist Destinations: The Development of an Alternative Tourism Model in Corfu

Abstract

The tourism model of 4s prevails as the dominant development model for tourist island destinations. Corfu following the 4s model of tourism development records negative effects which combined with increased environmental sensitivity result in the search for alternative forms of tourism. Cultural tourism based can emerge as an alternative tourism carrying capacity model. The development of the conditions of cultural tourism has not been sufficiently studied for its island destinations. The development of cultural tourism can have the effect of increasing tourism revenues and improving the standard of living in mature tourist destinations such as Corfu. Tourism policy and destination marketing should be devoted into an alternative model of cultural tourism. This article examines a possible correlation between cultural tourism and accessibility, the sun - sea, attractions and sights. Key findings of the present study are that cultural tourism is strongly related with attractions and sights. In addition, there is a relatively small correlation between cultural tourism and accessibility. These research findings can help decision makers, the regional authority, the municipal authority, entrepreneurs involved, and any interested party related to tourism policies and destination marketing understand some of the conditions required for the development of cultural tourism.