This research critically evaluates the value of events to cultural tourism from a cultural values perspective and how it reaffirms and celebrates cultural identity using two of the biggest beer festivals in Germany as examples. Germans are justifiably proud of their great beer history and longstanding beer tradition and beer is even considered the country’s national drink. The Oktoberfest in Munich, which is the biggest and certainly most famous beer festival of all, attracts millions of tourists from all over the world and started traditionally as a royal wedding celebration. Erlangen, a small town in the northern part of Bavaria has been celebrating the Bergkirchweih for centuries, a beer fest that celebrates the culture and the traditional customs of beer brewing.
Cultural tourism can be defined broadly as the commercialised manifestation of the human desiring to see how others live. Cultural identities come from somewhere, have histories, but like everything which is historical, they undergo constant transformation. A more fastidious and sophisticated tourism demand has emerged, looking for more complex tourist product than just a "sun, sea and sand" holiday package. Such trends have encouraged development of many diverse activities for tourists wrapped in various forms of special interest tourism, such as cultural tourism.
There is to say that the concern of tourism creating a false cultural identity of the host population became true when looking at the Oktoberfest, while the Bergkirchweih managed to reinforce the area’s indigenous cultural identity better. But of course, tourism development always involves the risk of an alteration in the local cultural identity. It is certainly not possible to achieve both a cultural significance and growing visitor numbers.
Table of Contents
A) Introduction
B) Review of topic
a) Example 1: Oktoberfest
b) Example 2: Bergkirchweih
C) Findings
D) Implications and relevance to the events industry
E) Conclusion
F) References
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this research is to critically evaluate the contribution of events to cultural tourism, specifically by examining how they serve to reaffirm and celebrate cultural identity through the lens of cultural values. The study analyzes the tension between commercial growth and the preservation of authentic cultural practices.
- Analysis of cultural tourism as a commercial manifestation of cultural identity.
- Evaluation of the Oktoberfest in Munich as a case study of a global, growth-oriented event.
- Evaluation of the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen as a case study of an authentic, locally-focused festival.
- Examination of the impact of different management strategies on the preservation of indigenous cultural identity.
- Discussion of the trade-off between tourism development and maintaining cultural significance.
Excerpt from the Book
b) Example 2: Bergkirchweih
Franconia, the northern part of Bavaria has the highest density of breweries in the world, appropriately known as Bierfranken. Statistically, you are never more than six kilometres away from a brewery. But despite this - and despite its scenic routes, picturesque towns and low prices - it has remained largely untouched by tourism. Erlangen, a town near Nuremberg, with baroque architecture and lively university town atmosphere, draws nearly a million visitors to its yearly Bergkirchweih, the historic, local beer festival (Atkinson, 2008; Cox, 2010; Sunday Business Post, 2012). For 12 days every spring, the inhabitants of Erlangen forget their daily routines and devote themselves to beer. Bergkirchweih roughly translates as `the dedication of the mountain church', referring to a church on the outskirts of Erlangen. Along a lane lined with old beer cellars winding its way up the hill to the fortress, the largest beer garden in Europe sets up shop at Pentecost under stately oak, chestnut and lime trees. Dirndl-clad waitresses weave through the crowds with huge mugs of beer while people sway to folk tunes played by several bands (Sunday Business Post, 2012). The Berg, as it is called locally, has been held every year since 1755 which predates the Munich Oktoberfest by some 55 years and it is said to be Germany's second largest beer fest after the Oktoberfest, its more famous Munich counterpart.
By the 19th century, Erlangen had become the premier beer-producing town in Bavaria. Two breweries still survive, Kitzmann and Steinbach, and there are 12 cellars on the Bergkirchweih site. One of the oldest, the Erich Keller, serves 12,000 litres of beer on a typical busy Saturday during the festival. The beer is kept cool in the traditional way, by storing it in the 6kms of connected cellars. Although the Berg attracts more than a million visitors, far fewer foreign tourists attend the Erlangen festival than the Munich event, which means it has much more in the way of local ambiance (Atkinson, 2008; Cage, 2006; The Associated Press, 2006; The Gold Coast Bulletin, 2006).
Summary of Chapters
A) Introduction: This chapter introduces the significance of German beer culture, noting its history and emotional importance, while establishing the context for comparing major beer festivals.
B) Review of topic: This section provides a detailed overview of the two chosen case studies, the Oktoberfest and the Bergkirchweih, highlighting their origins, scale, and atmosphere.
C) Findings: This chapter explores the theoretical framework of cultural tourism and identity, defining key terms and discussing the challenges of maintaining authenticity in tourism development.
D) Implications and relevance to the events industry: This section analyzes how the two festivals differ in their impact on host cultural identity, concluding that one has evolved into a global spectacle while the other maintains a stronger, local focus.
E) Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the importance of choosing appropriate management strategies—growth versus consolidation—to balance visitor numbers with the preservation of cultural significance.
F) References: A comprehensive list of academic and journalistic sources cited throughout the research.
Keywords
Cultural Tourism, Cultural Identity, Oktoberfest, Bergkirchweih, Beer Culture, Event Management, Bavaria, Authenticity, Tourism Development, Heritage, Traditional Customs, Growth Strategy, Consolidation Strategy, Host Population, Special Interest Tourism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper examines how events contribute to cultural tourism and their role in reaffirming or altering the cultural identity of the host population, using German beer festivals as a case study.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the evolution of cultural tourism, the impact of commercialization on authenticity, the preservation of indigenous traditions, and the strategic choices faced by event managers.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to critically evaluate the value of events to cultural tourism from a cultural values perspective and to determine how they can best celebrate cultural identity without sacrificing it to tourism growth.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this research?
The paper utilizes a qualitative comparative case study approach, analyzing secondary literature and event data to contrast the development paths of the Munich Oktoberfest and the Erlangen Bergkirchweih.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the history of German beer culture, definitions of cultural identity in tourism, detailed descriptions of the two case studies, and an analysis of the implications for the event industry.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Cultural Tourism, Cultural Identity, Authenticity, Event Management, and Sustainable Development.
How does the author define "cultural tourism" in this context?
The author defines it broadly as the commercialized manifestation of a human desire to experience how others live, involving an engagement with the authentic environment and manifestations of local life.
Why is the Bergkirchweih considered more 'authentic' than the Oktoberfest?
The paper suggests the Bergkirchweih retains its cultural focus by targeting local residents and maintaining family-oriented traditions, whereas the Oktoberfest has largely shifted toward a high-volume, international tourist attraction model.
What is the key takeaway for event managers?
Event managers must balance growth strategies with the preservation of a local, authentic environment, as prioritizing visitor numbers can lead to a long-term decline in the festival's cultural significance.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bachelor of Arts Mona Carolina Frank (Autor:in), 2012, Event Planning and Management. Oktoberfest & Bergkirchweih, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/288912
