Cultural Tourism is strongly associated with boosting local economies, generating more foot traffic through cultural institutions, and helping to raise the profile of revenue-hungry cities. But balance must be sought between the livability of an area for its residents and a continuing appeal to visiting tourists. Keynote speaker Elizabeth Becker shared key insights on the value of cultural tourism while cautioning the overuse
of this strategy for economic development considering its possible detrimental effects on local communities. A wider discussion and debate on the topic followed, featuring case studies of cultural tourism from around the world.