The Contribution of Festivals to Creative Tourism and Territorial Development: Are Small-Scale Festivals a Useful Contribution?

Abstract

Considering the economic potential of festivals to Creative Tourism, this chapter discusses the potential of the small-scale ones for rural development. It reviews worldwide small-scale festivals and engages them with creative activities, presenting the results of some of the small-scale festivals that occur in Southern Europe. It explores the impacts of a small-scale festival on the development of a medium-sized city or a rural area and the challenges they must face in the future. Furthermore, it deals with what kind of new offer can be developed in order to make these territories more sustainable. In this context, Southern Europe plays an important role due to its rich historical heritage that can diversify the offer and the type of experience, being an excellent opportunity to promote the preservation of those at risk of disappearing. This chapter uses primary and secondary data. A geodatabase was created to understand South European festivals on Creative Tourism. Examples from Italy, Greece, Slovenia and Portugal were analysed.

Citation

Ribeiro, V., Alves, J. and Remoaldo, P. (2022), "The Contribution of Festivals to Creative Tourism and Territorial Development: Are Small-Scale Festivals a Useful Contribution?", Remoaldo, P., Alves, J. and Ribeiro, V. (Ed.) Creative Tourism and Sustainable Territories, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 71-100. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-681-020221005