About Cultural Sustainability

Cultural sustainability means culture can continue to be a source from which present and future generations can create identity, belonging, and meaning. This continuity is supported through the sharing of traditions, knowledge, beliefs, heritage, and ways of life across generations.

Cultural Sustainability in Tourism

In tourism, cultural sustainability can be supported or undermined through how experiences are designed, stories are told, communities are engaged, and value is shared. Cultural sustainability management is about intentionally managing these impacts to support cultural continuity.

Tourism and local culture are deeply interconnected. Tourism’s long-term success depends on the culture that gives destinations their identity, character, and appeal, while the continuity of local culture can be strengthened or weakened by tourism’s impacts. Managing this relationship well supports both the cultural sustainability of communities and the long-term success of tourism.

Despite culture’s critical role in both community sustainability and tourism’s long-term success, cultural sustainability remains an underdeveloped area of tourism management.