Cultural Tourism - Essay Example

Cultural Tourism Tourism, in the world nowadays, is one of the strong industries. Almost every nation in the world banks on to their cultural capital. Selling culture is part of every nation’s aim to improve their economic conditions and raise the income to sustain their financial activities. Currently, people are going to the famous places of a particular nation and end up setting for the experience that it gives. Most of the key tourist spots are the major cities of the people due to the fame already associated with it. In my opinion, such phenomenon makes these famous cities overrated and same old – same old. Whenever a tourist ventures into a foreign land, a unique place or an exotic haven, he or she is also looking for a totally new, wholesome and fun experience that can be considered out of this world: extravagant and worthy. In this world, not a lot of things are heard about other European countries like those which are in the Scandinavian region where a lot natural and man – made wonders exists that cannot be found in any other place in the world. The uniqueness of this place is often disregarded due to strong domination of the countries like France, Spain, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia and Italy that displaced other countries. The Scandinavian, in particular, the Finland, has a lot beautiful places that are commendable as tourist destinations. As a haven of ice, it is quite fascinating to experience the cold, mystifying culture that besets the place. The heat is something that must be hyped in order for you not to catch a cold. In totality, the hot and cold moments spent in Finland can be a thrilling experience that one must look forward. Despite of the luscious fields that Finland possesses, how can it boost its tourism industry? How can it be levelled with the other famous tourist spots in the world? There can be several steps that can be taken to ensure that such promotion will take place. Before setting up the paradigms of promotions, it is important to have a focused location. In this paper, I would like to work on the promotion of the Saariselka, Finland. This has not been given much focus on despite of the creativity it possesses. Igloo has been commonly known as the houses of the Eskimos. People are fascinated how these groups of Arctic people managed to survive living in a house built from snow and ice. People, in most cases, want to try the experience of living and staying inside an igloo and feel how it really feels to there. This is where the point of marketing comes in. The very selling point of the igloo houses in Saariselka is its unique structure. Even though the occasion of winter is rare, one must take chance of it since it is one of a lifetime. People will definitely be curious once Finland introduces the fascinating thing about igloos. Also, it is not just a matter of staying inside the igloos but also serves as an accommodation for those who want to stay in the area. The good thing this Igloo Village is it comes with three types of accommodation: “20 snow igloos for an authentic arctic experience, 32 traditional rustic log cabins, and 20 warm glass igloos to watch the Northern Lights from your bed” (Mapes 2012). These three are all good accommodation strategies. The authentic igloo house provides the real value of the culture that comes with it. It is a matter of providing a whole new level of experience for those who wants to get the best of what the Scandinavian culture has to offer. The log cabins also provide another level of comfort especially for those who may be sick and incapable of handling the cold conditions present in the authentic igloo houses. Nevertheless, it still does not devalue the experience on site. The glass igloos, on the other hand, are also made available for those who want to take advantage of the lovely night sky while sleeping inside the igloo. The experience may not be as authentic compared with the full blown igloo structure but it is still worth a try. To improve the services that the igloos offer, it is safe to add a unit service crew where the group shall attend to the needs of people staying. At the same time, there should be catering services where the food making paraphernalia are provided and are meant to be made by the visitors in order to have a more enhanced feeling being an Eskimo. The foods that must be served are those fit in the Eskimo culture so that the feeling of satisfaction is enhanced. In this manner, people will definitely look forward to coming back to the place. There is also a need to ensure that a positive, reliable and strong workforce exists. Well, if there are those who do not want to stay in their Eskimos to eat and have fun, there are restaurants in the area. The good thing about is that it is also made from huge block of snow that can accommodate around 150 people. This is where sumptuous Finland cuisine is served. One must not let this moment pass because this is where the tummy is satisfied. One must understand that food is something that is so marketable. This is another way to amplify the experiences of the place. The good thing also about this ice restaurant is that it is the largest of its kind in the world and nothing else (Mapes 2012). This is already one of its marketable characteristics. How is this important? Possession of certain characteristics that are commendable would already leave an impression of awe and curiosity on the part of the tourist who are excited to go though the adventure. Another spectacle that one must see upon going to the place is the largest smoke sauna located within the premises of the Igloo village (Mapes 2012). This is something that can neutralize the intense cooling sensation present in the snow covered areas of the Scandinavia. At least, the warmth of the sauna can alleviate the feeling of stress. This is another chance for unwinding and relaxing. There are also other venues made of ice. There is the ice chapel, ice gallery and the like which can be considered as an additional factor for promotion (Mapes 2012). This kind of architectural masterpieces shows how the Finnish people are creative in making places look more enjoying. At the same time, this shows the virtuosity of the people when it comes to artistic creation that can be considered marketable for the people within and outside the country. All of these are the selling points of the venue. However, how can this be promoted further to increase its value and significance? One that can be used is the internet marketing strategy. The very people who are working in the area can promote the place by using the internet as a medium. At the same time, the travellers, when satisfied with the experience of going in the area, also serves as another form of marketing for the area. Thus, it is promoting further the camaraderie and fun present in the area. If this is maximized, it is ensured that promotion is indeed taking place. Another level promotion can be also considered as tool to enhance the reputation of the area. This is where the government plays an important and pivotal role. Establishing diplomatic relations and good economic policies between nations, where cultural marketing is included, can be a good place avenue to promote culture and the tourism industry of both nations. Another thing to consider is providing an itinerary tour by establishing multiple linkages to key centres and cities. This is where the city can be more welcoming. The city will be introduced and know further because of the linkage and setting tours that can just be a feast for the eyes but also source of cultural knowledge. This is something that cannot be disregarded and devalued. Cultural interaction is one of the best whenever tourism and promotion takes place. In terms of accommodation, people can be already satisfied with the way it is presented and arranged. However, an improvement of the facade and other things can be of good help too. Additional spaces for igloos, the restaurant and other amenities can be really impressive. By making a story of the place, that where most of the excitement comes in. There is a telling of heritage, history and lineage of cultural values and traditions that made the Finnish people the way they are right now. Their identity is shaped as their culture is promoted. Another good thing about the place that must be continued is the process of reservation in inquiry which is fast and accommodating. This is where most of the good things come in when it comes to logistical matters due to the administration of the Hotel Kakslauttanen (Mapes 2012). The good thing about this is how things become systematic. Once this is worked out properly, thing are pretty sure to have been in favour of the people who are making things good for the place that they are working in to. Another additional factor that the people in the area can used to promote the culture is an inclusion of cultural activities like the presentation of performances like dancing, singing and others along with the presentation of cuisines and other stuff that are vital for the culture of the Finnish people. Amidst all these propositions, how can the city be a major tourist spot? It will be once these things are done. However, how can this be a heritage site? This is something that can be considered as a big issue since getting the site as UNESCO is relatively difficult because of the technicalities and procedures that comes with the selection process. Most of the UNESCO sites have been either of strong cultural significances that have provided conditions to explain the complex history of the humans. In this case, how can the Igloo village speak of heritage and tradition? Basically, it can be seen that the Igloo village is a modern day spectacle. It is the humans of the moderns that have formulated to use the Igloo as a marketable piece for cultural promotion of their nation. To some extent, it cannot be denied that the construction of the said Igloos is magnificent. How can this evoke human history? It can be explained. One must recognize that the Eskimos may have no longer been adherent to the igloo lifestyle and may have possibly lived up with different conventions. At the same time, the Eskimos might no longer be the same as they were before. The use of the Igloos can only be the way to keep the rich tradition and history alive. Yes, it is man – made and can change but one cannot deny that most of the UNESCO’s selections are man – made. Only a few made it to the natural wonders and works of nature. In the end, it important to recognize that almost all of the most important tourist spots of certain countries are carriers of the significant cultural material, traditions and history that everyone must be proud of. All of these things are product of the humans across time. The Igloo village can be considered as an attempt to preserve history. This cannot be disregarded, devalued and neglected. At the same time, this cannot be considered tokenistic. It something that justifies the need to show importance towards culture that has been neglected in this world that starts to become globalized. Culture is something that is preserved upon the attempt to create and establish a reputation. This should be done in almost all levels of planning when it comes to tourism, cultural, political and economic conditions. REFERENCES Mapes, Terri, 2012. The Ice Hotels in Scandinavia. Available from [http://libguides.is.uwa.edu.au/content.php?pid=43218&sid=328596] [21 April 2012] Read More