How Did the UFO Festival Affect Tourism to Roswell - Assignment Example

EXAM by Course Professor Institution City and state Date Question One How did the UFO Festival affect tourism to Roswell? Why did some people have reservations about the proposal for a UFO Festival in Roswell? The UFO Festival is a festival that is held yearly to commemorate the UFO incident that occurred in 1947 when claims of aliens landing in New Mexico were made. It was claimed that an extra-terrestrial ship from space had landed in a ranch when in reality it was a state surveillance balloon that had found its way in the Roswell ranch. The incident sparked a lot of interest in the entire world and many controversies were built around the incident. The interest that the incident stirred gave rise to various controversy theories that continued to generate mass interest in the Roswell incident. Since the incident, a festival is held each year for the remembrance of the day when aliens landed on earth. The yearly UFO Festival has very positive effect on tourism in Roswell. Being an event that holds a lot of interest for many people, it attracts very many visitors to the area who would like to see the place where aliens purportedly landed on earth. In this way, every year thousands of visitors interested in extra-terrestrial things, controversies and stories throng Roswell to celebrate the event in a colourful and themed festival. Visitors to the event will be seen walking the streets of Roswell donning alien costumes in spirit of the alien background of the event. The festivals attract thousands every year and this is the time when Roswell experiences the largest number of visitors to the area. There is even an international museum dedicated to the UFO event which makes it a very positive thing for the tourism of the area. The museum attracts visitors and curious people the whole year but mostly during the UFO Festival. In this regard, the UFO Festival is the largest tourist attraction in Roswell, New Mexico. The event has worked to bring so much tourism money to the region. Reservations by some people about the proposal for a UFO Festival in Roswell are based on the controversy that surrounds the UFO event of 1947. They held the opinion that the UFO Festival is akin to selling a myth that never existed and as such they construed this as fraud on the part of the city. The proposal for the UFO Festival can thus be construed by those who hold reservations as an attempt at selling a lie and working to advance the lie for economic benefit. Question Two How is White Night being used to develop a new or changed image for cities? White Night festivals are nightly artistic events that are held in cities as a way of celebrating the culture and art of the city. The festivals around the cities are typically held at night and during summer when the nights are short and there never complete darkness. The White Night festivals are used to develop a new if not changed image for cities through the celebration of creativity, arts and culture predominant in the particular cities. The events typically include performances on the streets of the city, cultural exhibitions, art display, dances, music and fireworks displays among many other aspects. Through the White Night festival, cities are being developed and showcased as interactive places where there is a recognition and appreciation of predominant culture. It thus brings people together and provides the rare chance for the experience of a city’s culture. White Night festivals have become quite popular as they are now carried out in over twenty cities around the world. The events also contribute to the development of a city’s image through the numerous visitors they attract. Through the event, a city is given the opportunity to showcase its major attractions to the world. The events open up cities to the world in a way that has never been available before. The showcasing of the cultural and artistic elements of a city helps in developing the image of a city since the various events encompassed in the White Night portray what the city is to the world. The free nature of most of these events makes it easier for a multitude of people to attend which maximizes the city’s opportunity to communicate its culture to the world. The White Night festivals and associated events in various cities are always covered by the media which means the cities are able to use this avenue to develop a new and changed image by showing the world what they are about. It is like experiencing a city with all it has to offer in one night of celebrations. It also important to note that such festival as the White Night event have a major contribution to the economic and cultural development of a city’s wealth and image since they contribute to the advancement of cultural tourism of the particular city. They thus help in creating a cultural image for the city through the showcasing of the city’s culture. Question Three How have the exhibitions staged at the Bendigo Art Gallery changed that city’s image and encouraged tourism? The exhibitions staged at Bendigo Art Gallery include a presentation of diverse and dynamic programs which encompass vital international displays and expositions, national displays and individual exhibitions of artists in Australia. The exhibitions staged by the Bendigo Art Gallery have worked to change the image of the city as a hub for diverse art and as centre for art lovers. In this way, the exhibitions have had a positive effect on tourism in the city as they have attracted visitors from all over the world who are interested in various forms of art. The collection contained in the Bendigo gallery is mostly centred on continental art of the 19th century. The exhibitions of the Bendigo Art Gallery have helped to encourage more tourist into the city who have an interest in the history of art in addition to contemporary art. Since these exhibitions are themed and feature different aspects of art from fashion to paintings, it attracts a wide array of people who come to experience art that interests them. In this manner, the Bendigo Art Gallery through their exhibitions have managed to change the image of the city in addition to being a major contributor to the city’s tourism faction. Through exhibiting a varied array of work, the exhibitions have contributed to the development of the city’s image as they work to enhance the cultural life of the people of Australia. The depiction of art history makes the city a centre for Australian art which means that tourists and visitors to the city come to the city knowing that they are in the centre of a place rich in art and its history. The inclusion of art from various regions in the world also makes Bendigo a one-stop city for art lovers. In this way, the exhibition by the gallery have potentially generated a huge flow of tourists as they have ensured that they cater to the needs of global art lovers as well as Australian population. The inclusion of contemporary art in the exhibitions also ensures that they keep up with the times through the transition of art over the years. The exhibitions are not tailored to suit only a specific kind of tourist but an entire realm of potential visitors. Therefore, the Bendigo Art Gallery through their exhibitions have played a central role in advancing the city’s tourism and image. Question Four Contrast the cases of film-related festivals at Lone Pine and Jamestown. How did these contribute (or not) to sustainable tourism in these towns? The film-related festival at Lone Pine is a yearly event in California in which the celebrations are centred on appreciating hundreds of film productions that used the region as a location for the shooting and production of the films. The Lone Pine region has been a prime location for the shooting of many films as it is a presentation of the West part of America. Major films in the history of filmmaking have used the region widely. In this way, the festival is one of the most central celebrations that appreciate the American West with its ranges, mountains and other attractive features that make it a prime choice for film location. The festival has contributed majorly to the tourism of the region through the activities carried out during the celebrations. The festival includes film screenings, which show the beauty and distinctive nature of the region. There are also tours through the Alabama Hills in which visitors are taken to the various locations used by films. The festival also has speakers who talk about the beauty of the region and its representation of American West. Other events in the festival include poetry, shows that highlight the Wild West, rodeo shows, celebrity parades and photographic tours with a campfire as the conclusion of the festival. The festival has contributed positively to the tourism of the region through the activities that are conducted. It gives visitors the Wild West experience in one package making it an attractive festival for visitors interested in the culture of the west. The festival has contributed to sustainable tourism in the region since the history of the west is something that attracts many visitors to the west. The festival plays a significant role in highlighting the attractiveness of the area. It also aids in the preservation of a culture that many people would like to experience. Therefore, the festival is a cultural tourism experience. The Jamestown festival is focused on a multi-disciplinary showcase of the region’s art, music, theatre and film events. The festival has evolved over time to become a centre for culture and arts in the region where there is a showcasing of talent and creativity. The film-related festival at Jamestown has contributed to the sustainability of tourism in the region through their depiction of the region’s talent making it a tourist attraction for visitors from all over the world. Question Five In what sense might we see rural festivals as more authentic than those staged in cities? Illustrate your answer with an example. Rural festivals might be construed as more authentic than those staged in cities due to various cultural and social factors. First, the authenticity of rural festivals can be tied to the cultural richness of rural areas where life, culture, and practices are still undiluted by cultures found in the cities. For instance, the culture in rural areas has not been subjected to the influences of technology, therefore, the practices are raw and undisturbed. People in rural setting are the embodiment of an area’s culture and as such festivals held in rural settings are deemed more authentic in nature. Rural festivals can also be viewed as more authentic since there is little diversity in rural regions. The city is subject to a diverse mix of cultures as urban regions have an interaction of people from various backgrounds. Therefore, festivals set in cities have a mix of culture from all the diverse people and practices present in the city. The authenticity of a festival such as the ones staged in cities comes into question as it is difficult to denote one specific culture that the festival is based on. It is an inclusion of so many aspects that make it difficult to call authentic. Rural festivals have no set food, modes of dressing, history or unified norms which makes such festivals seem weak and unstructured. They have also not experienced much change making festivals held in rural regions more authentic as they are consistent with history. City festivals are subject to changes as urban regions are known to be experiencing continuous changes over time. The fast paced nature of city life affects every realm of culture making festivals held in cities appear as less authentic compared to the slow pace of rural life that centres on the preservation of the region’s roots. In respect to attractiveness, rural festivals hold the promise of so much learning for people interested in learning about a region and its practices while city festivals hold no promise for learning. Comparatively, the complex nature of cities robs festivals of their authenticity thus making rural festivals more authentic. Additionally, festivals staged in cities are subject to technological influences such the availability of conveniences that have been advanced by technology which lacks the element of realness. For instance, the use of cars for transport in contrast to walking through nature in rural festivals makes rural festivals feel more authentic. Read More