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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: