Cultural Tourism in the Costa Brava

Cultural Tourism in the
Costa Brava
The experience of Gebeco
Costa Brava Trade Week 2015
Prof. Dr. Rulf J. Treidel
Cultural Tourism in the Costa Brava
The experience of Gebeco and Dr. Tigges
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Product and philosophy of Gebeco and Dr. Tigges
Perspectives of Cultural Tourism
Strengths of the Costa Brava
Weaknesses of the Costa Costa Brava
Future Commercialization of the cultural product
Foundet in 1928 by Dr. Hubert Tigges:
Philosophy: Bring Europeans together by
understanding there various cultures
1954:
First German tour operator selling package
tours by plane to Mallorca via Barcelona
1967:
Birth of TUI.
2015
Gebeco and Dr. Tigges:
Group Travel
TUI Germany
Our product: Roundtrips and Citybreaks
Our Product: Classical sights
Beispiele:
Stonehenge
Alhambra zu Granada
Our product: Events
Pushkarfest Indien
Our product: High qualified guiding
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
Our product:
 Round Trips and Citybreaks
 Average Group Size: 18
 Classical sights, but always something special
 Local events and festivals
 Accomodation: Decent, but no luxury hotels
 Well educated Tour Directors
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
Our guests:
 Keen to understand foreign cultures
 Like to be informed about past & present
 Well experienced travellers
 Well-educated middle-class
 Income above average
 Age: 45+
Dr. Tigges in Catalonia:
2. Städtekurzreisen bei Dr. Tigges:
Dr. Tigges in Catalonia:
2. Städtekurzreisen bei Dr. Tigges:
Dr. Tigges in Catalonia:
2. Städtekurzreisen bei Dr. Tigges:
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
Dr. Tigges in Catalonia:
 Citybreak Barcelona
 10 Days Bilbao – Aragon – Barcelona
 8 Days Valencia and Tarragona
 Occasionally: Hiking and Cycling
 Occasionally: Rosselló and Catalonia
2. Perspectives of Cultural Tourism
Cultural Tourism is already important:
 17 % of all travellers consider themselves as mainly
attracted by culture
 More than 60 % of all travellers are culturally active during
their holidays: Sightseeing, Museums, expositions,
concerts etc.
 By the way: US Citizens visiting Europe are more
interested in cultural tourism than europeans
 Catalonia already partizipates in this international market
2. Perspectives of Cultural Tourism
Forms and Means of Cultural Tourism: Culture is
part of almost every tourist activity!






Citybreaks
Roundtrips
Study Tours
Hiking Tours
Cruises
Sun & Beach Holidays
Turismo Cultural de Turistas extranjeros,
año 2011, Instituto de Turismo de España
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
General Cultural Tourism Changes: Old Touristic World
Richards, G. (2011) Cultural tourism trends in Europe: a context for the development of Cultural Routes. In:
Khovanova-Rubicondo, K. (ed.) Impact of European Cultural Routes on SMEs’ innovation and competitiveness.
Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing, pp. 21-39.
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/culture/routes/StudyCR_en.pdf (Zugriff 3.10.15)
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
General Cultural Tourism Changes: New Touristic World
Richards, Cultural Tourism
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
Where is the significance for cultural tourism?
Richards, Cultural Tourism
+++Schwerpunkte 2012+++
General Cultural Tourism Changes:
 Co-Creation by the tourist
 Increased contact with the local culture
 Increased emphasis on the everyday and
intangible heritage
 A shift towards events as a means of valorizing plaze
Richards, G. (2011) Cultural tourism trends in Europe: a context for the development of Cultural Routes. In:
Khovanova-Rubicondo, K. (ed.) Impact of European Cultural Routes on SMEs’ innovation and competitiveness.
Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing, pp. 21-39.
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/culture/routes/StudyCR_en.pdf (Zugriff 3.10.15)
Girona and the Costa Brava: Strenghts
Girona and the Costa Brava: Strenghts
1. The product is excellent: Monuments, Museums, ancient
towns and villages, festivals etc.
2. Accomodation is appropriate
3. Transportation is very good
- Airport BCN and Girona
- Railway
- Motorway
4. Safety
5. Efficient Patronat de Turisme – Costa Brava and Catalonia
Girona and the Costa Brava: Best Practice
http://www.creativelena.com/reiseblog/wearecatalonia-stippvisiteim-land-der-sturmjaeger-zur-via-lliure-von-barcelona/
Girona and the Costa Brava: Weaknesses
Girona and the Costa Brava: Weaknesses
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Reputation: Economic and youth travel
Awareness of the public: Almost unknown
Seasonality: Just summer holidays
Accomodation for Group Travel: Not easy to find
The success of Barcelona: Stands for culture in
Catalonia
How to commercialise the Cultural Tourism Product?






Packages: Accomodation + Cultural offer
Selling Plattforms for these packages
Joint Action of all providers and political entities: Thinking
across borders (Aragon / France / Barcelona)
Not „High Culture“: Cultural tourism will be more
connected to everydays life
Encourage Creativity for tourists and between locals and
tourists
Get Online: Create communities and activities
Moltes Gràcies!