The benefits of festival tourism are clear: they boost the economy and create a buzz in a city. Many festivals celebrate traditional and religious values and welcome visitors with open arms. Festivals also foster community pride and learning, and they help build stronger bonds between locals and tourists. Festivals can be challenging, however. You might not get your star performer, or your stage could collapse, causing reputational damage to your city. Planning your itinerary and visiting different festivals should be done carefully and with a budget in mind.
Whether it’s Halloween or Easter, a festival is a time to celebrate community life. Often, it is an annual event, involving a range of different events. Its origins date back to medieval Latin festis or festum, meaning ‘feast’. The festival concept has evolved into many different forms throughout the world. It can be anything from a food festival to a cultural celebration. And there’s always a festival for every taste, and most festivals are cultural events with a distinctly local flavour.
While a tourist population increases during the festive season, local residents are also happy to accommodate visitors. The positive attitude of local residents is a key factor in the popularity of festivals. Most local residents don’t turn away tourists, and the festival influx provides a boost for local business. In addition, local residents are happier to see foreigners. A festival is a great way to introduce a city to a new culture and to meet locals.
During the festive season, many people travel a lot to visit friends and family. They often spend the festival with their families, so trains and buses are packed. For the most part, foreign visitors can take part in festivals in India without the need for a visa. For example, the Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses III set up a festival to celebrate his victory over Libya, which is now known as the New Year’s Eve.
Another social benefit of a festival is educational. The education presented during a festival does not happen in classrooms, but rather in the context of a celebration. In 2011, the University of Minnesota Tourism Center measured the educational objectives of festival sponsors. The study revealed that 83 percent of first-time festival goers reported feeling satisfied with the experience and planned to return. As such, festival sponsorship builds strong relationships in a community. These relationships and connections are created during the festival planning phase and benefit the entire community in the long run.
Another factor that influences the popularity of a festival is the infrastructural set-up of the city. Access to public transport and adequate accommodation are important factors that influence festival attendance. Furthermore, local administration plays a vital role during a festival. The city’s transportation network is well-organized and the availability of accommodation is essential. There are also special arrangements for disabled visitors. If the festival location offers adequate public transport facilities, you can take advantage of these arrangements to stay in a hotel or a rental apartment.