ABOUT US
The CTCC is a leading international centre for critical research relating to the relationships between tourism, tourists and culture. We engage in pure and applied research, postgraduate education and professional development, consultancy, publications and conference organisation. In seeking to provide greater understanding as to the complex and changing relationships which exist between international tourism and culture(s), we wish to maximise the potential of tourism to promote and support cultural diversity, stimulate intercultural dialogue and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, while maintaining a critical and creative approach.
As part of Leeds Metropolitan University we are able to draw upon a wide range of academic and professional knowledge, expertise and experience relating to tourism, culture and related fields. Collectively, and through our international network of partners and contacts, we have access to a significant body of knowledge concerning tourism and culture.
The inter-dependency of tourism and culture is well recognised in the context of global goals toward peace, poverty alleviation, environmental sustainability, diversity and inter-cultural dialogue. We approach tourism as a complex economic, social and political reality which needs greater understanding in order that its contribution to such goals can be fully realised. In line with the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity of 2001 we approach culture in terms of the spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, in addition to forms of art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.
Our philosophy is build upon six main pillars:
- We take a critical academic approach to tourism’s relationships with culture(s) based upon sound research and the development of theory.
- We adopt a transdisciplinary / interdisciplinary approach to the study of tourism. We draw upon staff from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds including: anthropology, archaeology, architecture, art and design, cultural geography, cultural studies, ethnology and folklore, history, heritage studies, landscape studies, linguistics, museum studies, political science, sociology, tourism studies and urban/spatial planning.
- We believe in international networks and partnerships through which ideas and examples of best practice can be exchanged and developed. Our Visiting Research Fellows and Associates, together with partners allow us to build research programmes.
- We also believe in the dissemination of research findings and ideas through conferences, exhibitions, events and publications in order to stimulate academic and public debate. The CTCC has an unrivalled record of organising cutting edge international tourism research conferences on innovative themes.
- We try to make our work relevant to the policy makers, planners and managers engaged in the public and private sectors involved with tourism and culture, and to various stakeholders including local communities. Our links with professional bodies and our professional development programmes allow us to assist in capacity building, the development of policy and sustainable / best practice.
- We seek to innovate and challenge in the field of tourism and culture by examining emergent trends, activities and new patterns of touristic behaviour and practice, so as to promote the importance of tourism as a way to maximise its contribution to the fulfilment of the UN Millennium Development Goals.