Sílvia Gonçalves | Akateeminen Kirjakauppa

The processes of Globalization based on major forms of entertainment consumption has promoted the interest of enlarged social actors towards cultural experiencing. Disseminated by social media, new forms of information and knowledge about exotic and new tourism destinations have endorsed an increasing interest towards forms of Cultural Tourism, perceived as a driver of social, cultural, and economic development of tourism destinations. This Cultural Tourism turnout results from a significant change on the traveler's demand, promoted by visitors with higher educational backgrounds, new travelling behavior, demanding a new and renovated interest towards Cultural Heritage, namely tangible, intangible, as well as to storytelling, favoring genuine tourism experiences. Away from staged authenticity and commodification, these new travelers prefer local tourism experiences, in order to try to contact with locals' culture and behaviors and to get in touch with resident's daily life experiences. The present pandemic context has reaffirmed the main importance of this direct contact, more connected to local experiences, by national tourists. With this in mind, we can understand the importance of a Cultural Route and other tourism itineraries as integrated offers that combine both the tourism experience itself and a way for tourists to connect with the communities, participating in some co-creation activities and above all to create strong connection with traditions, helping their economic and socio-cultural development.