Tourism and Intangible Cultural Heritage: a Review of Opportunities and Threats. The Case of Traditional Crafts and Handicrafts

Abstract

Tourism is an important social phenomenon and a sector of economy that is developing more and more rapidly. It is especially cultural tourism that grows fast and also serves as a platform for the meeting of tourism and intangible cultural heritage. It meets the needs of the postmodern man who seeks excitement and diversity. The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) does not address the topic of tourism. From the point of view of researchers, it is regarded as a threat to intangible cultural heritage that may result  in its commercialization and commodification. However, tourism can also have a positive impact on intangible cultural heritage, including traditional handicraft skills. The topic of the paper is the relationship between tourism and intangible cultural heritage with particular emphasis on traditional crafts and handicrafts. The text is an attempt to show the positive and negative consequences of this contact and to demonstrate on the example of traditional lace-making in Bobowa that the relationship does not entail only negative consequences.