There are many different ways to learn about any culture, but immersion is one of the best. A person who lives within a culture will learn over time how it operates, and they will be able to adjust their thinking to understand local rites, rituals and thought patterns. While it is a wonderful way to be able to explore and enjoy another culture, few people have the time or resources to be able to do it effectively. For those who are still eager to explore another culture, art tourism is their ticket to the knowledge they want while spending less time acquiring it.
Art has long been one of the most important ways a culture identifies itself, so learning about art is a solid foundation for beginning to explore the culture. Those who have the leisure to create the art are already a part of their culture, and their art reflects what the people of the time and area are interested in. Exploring art through tourism takes the eager learner through the stages of the culture, and a guide explains the background that helped create it.
Tourism has long been part of the history of mankind, but only recently have those with less means been able to afford it. Modern transportation methods have brought down costs, and many countries have learned there is a great deal of value in sharing their art in a positive light. Tourism bureaus find and train those who act as guides, and they ensure they have in-depth knowledge on the country’s treasures that can be taught to those who take these tours.
Sharing knowledge with outsiders has been difficult for many cultures in the past, so the new openness of many cultures is a fresh breath for those who want to know more. Art tourism gives them a chance to explore in a specific venue that will give them an overall understanding of the culture that they can expand if they are still intrigued.
