|
by Peter Wynn-Moylan
A cultural tourist is a person who travels for the experience
of doing what the locals do and becoming immersed in the local
way of life, that is, the everyday and unique aspects of the
'culture' of a place - where it has come from, where it is
now, and where it might be going. Cultural tourists are concerned
with the whole range of human creation, custom, heritage and
activity. They are interested in the human environment, the
ways of life of a place.
In the Byron region this means festivals, special arts and
community based events, Aboriginal culture, galleries and
performance venues, alternative health and healing practices,
spiritual and religious and personal growth activity. It is
a centre of creativity in the arts, in lifestyle, food, healing,
eco-systems, permaculture, education and architecture.
The region is a population growth area where traditional
rural communities have been transformed by a massive migration
of artist and people seeking new ways of living and a simultaneous
development of new industries based on tourism, education,
and new agricultural practices. The diversity of lifestyle
choices have been integrated to a form a culture that gives
es its highest value to innovation and creativity in all its
endeavors.
For Cultural Tourism to become a successful and sustainable
part of the Cultural Industry of the region it MUST be managed
by, for and at, the local level by local cultural enterprise
operators, not by government and /tourism industry interests.
To enable government to Liase and conduct its development
programs, and organization representing local cultural industry
enterprises is essential. It must be representative of all
interests, united, and clear in its aims and objectives.
The Northern Rivers Cultural Tourism Organization has been
incorporated to meet these needs and to provide networking
and information services and, with government funds available
only to such a representative organization, undertake projects
in marketing, promotion and training as directed by its membership
to ensure actual needs are satisfied.
The Northern Rivers Cultural Tourism Organization will be
the primary forum through which cultural tourism development
in this region can be influenced.
Peter Wynn-Moylan has lived and participated in the
thick of this community's cultural development for a quarter
of a century. As a musician, artist, actor, student and
director
Rusty's Byron Guide has a new home!
Bayweb will continue to host articles from Rusty's past editions, for current and future guides visit; www.byron-bay-guide.com.au.
|
