Creative Tourism, A Global Conversation [Paperback]

Rebecca Wurzburger (Editor), Tom Aageson (Editor), Alex Pattakos (Editor), Sabrina Pratt (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2009

This book tells how to provide unique creative experiences for travelers worldwide. But what is Creative Tourism, how is it different from other types of tourism, why is it needed, and how do you go about developing it? You'll find answers to these questions and more in this book which is based on and draws from the proceedings of the 2008 Santa Fe & UNESCO International Conference on Creative Tourism. Held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, from September 28 to October 2, 2008, this first-of-a-kind conference brought together delegates from 16 countries around the world to engage in a global conversation about how best to leverage the tourism sector for community and economic development. In other words, how can tourism be best organized and practiced to enhance economic benefits to cities, provinces, and countries globally?

Conceived, in large part, through the efforts of members of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, the conference upon which this book is based was designed to bridge theory and practice, as well as provide a forum for sharing ideas and best practices. Here you will find not only a collection of essays by some of the ''thought pioneers'' in the emerging and still evolving field of Creative Tourism, but also a wide array of resources, including many practical examples and illustrations of Creative Tourism in practice from around the world.

At a time when activities and initiatives aimed at promoting tourism in a competitive economy has become essential, the notion of Creative Tourism captured in this book offers a life line that cannot and should not be ignored. Indeed, Creative Tourism: A Global Conversation should be required reading for all tourism and community/economic/cultural development professionals, artists, elected and appointed public officials, and tourists who are seeking destinations that offer customized, creative, experiential, authentic, and meaningful experiences that are tied to the uniqueness and ''spirit'' of a place.

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Sunstone Press; Full-color First Edition edition (August 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865347247
• ISBN-13: 978-0865347243
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,613,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alex Pattakos, Ph.D., affectionately nicknamed "Dr. Meaning," is widely respected as a pioneer in transformational thinking. He is the founder of the OPA! Center for Meaning, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, and Rethymnon, Crete, Greece. Alex is passionate about helping people realize their highest potential and find deeper, authentic meaning in their everyday lives and work. His book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts, is based on the wisdom of his mentor, the world-renown psychiatrist, Dr. Viktor Frankl (author of the classic best-seller, Man's Search for Meaning), and includes a Foreword by Dr. Stephen Covey (author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). Prisoners of Our Thoughts is already available in 20 languages and multiple formats.

Alex is a former therapist and mental health administrator, political campaign organizer, community/economic development policy planner, and full-time professor of public and business administration. He's worked closely with several Presidential administrations in the USA on social and economic policy matters, and served as an adviser to the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He was also one of the initial faculty evaluators for the Innovations in American Government Awards Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and has been a faculty member at The Brookings Institution. He is a past president of Renaissance Business Associates (RBA), an international, nonprofit association of people committed to elevating the human spirit in the workplace. During his tenure as president, RBA was active in Australia, Canada, Europe, Nigeria, South Africa, and the USA.

Dr. Pattakos understands the challenges facing people in today's uncertain times. Through his public speaking, work with Fortune 500 companies, public and nonprofit organizations, and university teaching, Alex has helped people at all levels build their capacities for personal and organizational transformation with a focus on and authentic commitment to meaningful value and goals that make a positive difference in the world. A proud Greek-American (of Cretan heritage), Alex ("Aleko") is the co-founder of a new initiative and brand platform, The OPA! Way®--an approach to "Living & Working with Meaning" that is uniquely inspired by and based on Greek culture. Besides being in the process of co-authoring (with Dr. Elaine Dundon) a new book on The OPA! Way, Dr. Pattakos is scheduling client speaking engagements, workshops/seminars, and retreats to introduce and apply (with practical tools & techniques) the nine lessons of The OPA! Way for personal growth, leadership/executive development, and organizational transformation/performance improvement.

For information about this new paradigm and to join the OPA! Village, visit: http://www.theopaway.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Tourism benefits the artists, travelers, and the community., September 15, 2009

By 

Brent Hanifl (Santa Fe , NM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Creative Tourism, A Global Conversation (Paperback)

This is an excellent example of how tourism can effect a global community in a positive manner
-Brent
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