Importance of Cultural Heritage to Sweden - Essay Example

? International Tourism in Sweden Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 2 Geographical Overview 3History of Sweden 4 Culture 4 Importance of Cultural Heritage to Sweden 6 Sample Itinerary 7 Destination popularity 8 Future Trends of Sweden Tourism 9 Summary and Conclusion 9 References 11 Introduction International tourist refers to the figure of tourists travelling into a specific country besides where they commonly live and far from their normal place of residence (Keste, 2013). They normally travel to those countries for a duration not more than 12 months. Their main aim of travelling is for the recompensed activity in the visited country. Basing on Sweden international tourism, the demand for tourism is manipulated by various external and internal factors, which in turn contributes in the production of both financial and physical flows. These flows had sturdy environmental and economic consequences leading to enhanced shareholders within the tourism sector. These groups fit in to both the public and private sectors hence emerging a broader perspective of public account, which is compared internationally with the general actions of different financial activities. In Sweden, several factors comprising of substitute price, as well as comparative income was not well thought-out as an important criteria for establishing demand models of international tourism. Rather, meaningful events have been established for determining the demand models of tourism within Sweden. Other factors comprising of natural attractions, travel regulation of government, cultural significances and climate also influenced tourism demand of Sweden. Geographical Overview Basing on geographical nature of Sweden, the country is considered small but contains forests with approximately 100, 000 lakes, which attracted tourists (Goeldner et al., 2000). Sweden is thought to be a parliamentary realm due to the presence of milder climate presented by the Atlantic Gulf Stream of Sweden. The most tourist attraction in Sweden is its uniqueness basing on new, intact, fertile thrilling countryside having attractive water and ever green vegetation site for tourists. Mountains on the other side also contribute to attracting visitors to the country. This was confirmed in the 19th century whereby the Alpine associations were the origin of the tourists’ institution. In the year 1885, the Sweden Touring Club became the major tourist’s attraction nationally. History of Sweden History is considered one of the major attractive magnitudes of tourist intentions and as well, it is a major tool that enhances distinctive experience of tourist (Goeldner et al., 2000). Legends, stories and the local historical sites of that country establish the enduring experience towards the country’s tourists. History is known to distinguish and as well bring together the United Nations and this resulted in another country visiting the other. This is because momentous move become the trendiest and as well, the country’s branded image are the thriving examples, which enhanced the application of historic sites as among the attracting features of the country. Tourists visited Falun copper mine in Sweden situated in the Dalarma province in the year 1615. A German visitor tripped it and a French envoy visited it in 1634. The mineralogist and an English doctor further visited the scene whereby the tourists’ book endured since 1760s and the duty guides were also present at that time within the mining site. Another tourist booklet, which draw attention towards the tourists in the first spa of Sweden dated back in 1682 and was named “Les divertissements de Medevji”. This booklet consisted of numerous sequences of transcripts and letters that were issued to the manor houses and castles. Culture According to Goeldner et al. (2000), culture involve a group of behaviors, wants, basic values and perceptions discovered by the societal member within family and various significant institutions. All this established the general regions for tourists’ attractions. For tourism development, local heritage is supported and appreciated the local governments of Sweden and this contributed in upholding the reputation concept of tourism in regards to culture. Confined initiatives are required for classification, sustaining and endorsing cultural heritage ad as well, integrating protection together with openness and exercise. According Goeldner et al. (2000), multiple factors are known to be the dependable issues of such initiatives. As such, market of tourism in Sweden is steadily changing as well as the expansion of heritage concept, which holds the specialty of non- material heritage. As such, this practice is motivated by evolution and collected experience of both regional and local identity. In addition, the incorporated information towards cultural heritage and culture perform a major role by stimulating confined tourism. The non-material heritage, religious celebrations, holidays, history and art monuments and as well, museums are confined in the integrated information. All these are considered to attract tourists in respect to culture. Such information is obtained from tourism centers and there presence has been noticed to elevate in the earlier period. This resulted in neglecting the traditional fishing, beekeeping, blacksmithing and as well gathering of mushrooms and berries. Through globalization, the significance of cultural heritage is mounting (Goeldner et al., 2000). This reveals the idea that this heritage outlined the personality of inhabitants locally and also captivating and attracting tourists. Moreover, culture is considered an important factor as it consisted of dressing styles, handicrafts, music, gastronomy and societal norms. Moreover, it comprised of traditions, art and architecture, whereby all these factors enhanced tourists’ attractions. In Sweden, culture is of great value since it does not only consider hotels and transportation as the major attraction site but also applying specific state essence towards maintaining customs of life traditionally and as well focusing on the encouraging image that promotes tourists attraction basing on commodities and services (Goeldner et al., 2000). Sweden considered culture as the major tourists’ attraction. As such, Drottningholm palace located along the environs of Stockholm city was among the sites of attraction in the fact that it was the residing place of Sweden King together with his family. The building was situated nearly every part of Sweden and in this view, Drottningholm succeeded to be in the List of World Heritage. In addition, the prehistoric sites such as the rock carvings and man- made landscapes comprising of Iron Age towards the minute cluster of timber structures also referred to as ‘church town’ was also among the sites of attraction (Keste, 2013). As a result, the foreign tourists engrossed by the artistic and aesthetic quality of Sweden culture had a lot to speculate. Importance of Cultural Heritage to Sweden Some extra superior notions of culture are being broken away by the nature of cultural tourism. As such, exciting better opportunities towards the community participation and development is provided by the cultural tourism. This happened because of tourist experience that focused mostly on formal setting of culture involving historic buildings, galleries and museums. Furthermore, tourists use more of their time in cafes, restaurants, and airport and as well bars and their walking around with people observing (Muller & Pettersson, 2001). This contributed in them watching and stumbling upon the culture of Sweden basing on everyday’s behaviors and practices. From this act, the tourists form their local memory of experience through them absorbing the facets of common life as they returned home. In addition, cultural heritage contributed in the invention of substitution and escalating distance far from the ‘high-brow’ culture (Buhalis, 2000). This is because every generation creates its culture, the possibility that have been completely identified by the tourist zone. Cultural heritage in Sweden promoted cultural experiences among students visiting specific tourists’ destination. As such, their experience on cultural heritage turned around with what these students recount on and how they connect with them. This resulted in students appreciating cultural products and as well demonstrated their understanding that culture changes in respect to market. Moreover, cultural heritage change within Sweden enhanced the significance of heritage, high arts and as well established performances. In this view, different varieties of creativity and cultural change reality contributed in enhancing tourism experience (Muller & Pettersson, 2001). Therefore, less contradiction arose within the tourism and heritage sector because of historic buildings, watching of Hollywood movies and shopping enjoyed by the tourists. This resulted in the development of an ever- expanding quantity of possibilities and experiences. Sample Itinerary In the year 2010, the estimated number of tourist that came to Sweden was approximately 4,951,000 as represented in the graph. For the last 15 years, the population value of tourists in the year 2007 approximated 5,224,000 as compared with that of the year 1995 whereby the country had a minimum of 2,310,000. Muller and Pettersson (2001) stated that when the value of departure is compared with that of arrival, the population value was estimated to be 13,042,000 in the year 2010 with a maximum value of 15, 677, 000 in 2005 but in the year 1995, the population value was approximated as 10, 127,000. Figure 1: Population Value of Tourists Arriving Between 1995- 2010 Source: Muller and Pettersson (2001) Destination popularity For the process of tourism products’ delivery and development, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) considered the destinations of local tourists as the fundamental contributors. As such, destination of tourists is taken as the essential component of analysis. As stated by WTO, confined destination of tourism is taken as a substantial space where a tourist splurges a night. This comprised of resources of tourism, tourism products involving attractions and support services in a day of return travelling time. According to Buhalis (2000), the destinations are considered to be particular area of geographical site, which describes the concept of destination basing on the management and deliberate perspectives of marketing destination. Muller and Pettersson (2001) further stated that marketing focuses on elevating tourism and as well tourism treats similar to other products. Destination is further identified as a perceptual model that is subjectively deduced by the tourists in respect to educational level, itinerary of travel, past experience and as well cultural background. Future Trends of Sweden Tourism Concerning the future trend of Sweden, activities together with cultural heritage and natural environment are the basis of tourism within Sweden. This is because in the near future, it is estimated that the sector of tourism will create approximately 3- 4% (Buhalis, 2000). Sweden decided that in the coming years, a fashionable power together with the legislative act be considered and an holiday of five weeks within the year need to be persuaded by separating their holiday time into small periods. In this view, existing government that is non- social had abandoned the cultural and social tourism objectives. Rather, the financial objectives lingered hence the country buy the services within the institution that is possessed by the venture sector. Summary and Conclusion Legends, stories and the local historical sites of that country establish concerning the history of Sweden, the enduring experience towards the country’s tourists. As such, History is valuable as it distinguishes and brings together the United Nations hence resulting in another country visiting the other. Culture is considered an important factor as it consisted of dressing styles, handicrafts, music, gastronomy and societal norms. Moreover, it comprised of traditions, art and architecture, whereby all these factors enhanced tourists’ attractions. All these factors contribute to an enhanced tourist attraction site it does not only consider hotels and transportation as the major attraction site but also applying specific state essence towards maintaining customs. Tourists’ destination is considered the essential component of analysis. As such, confined destination of tourism should be noted as it represents substantial space where a tourist splurges a night. This comprised of resources of tourism, tourism products involving attractions and support services in a day of return travelling time. The destinations are considered particular area of geographical site, which describes the concept of destination basing on the management and deliberate perspectives of marketing destination. In this view, destination should be taken as a perceptual model that is subjectively deduced by tourists in regards to educational level, itinerary of travel, past experience and as well cultural background. References Buhalis, D. (2000). Marketing the competitive destination of the future. Tourism Management. 97-116. Goeldner, C.R., Ritchie, J.R.B., & MacIntosh, R.W. (2000). Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keste, J.G. (2013). 2012 International Tourism Results and Prospects for 2013. HQ, Madrid, Spain: UNWTO News Conference Muller, D. K., & Pettersson, R. (2001). Access to Sami Tourism in Northern Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism. 5-18. Read More