The paper explores how the understanding of culture evolved through history and how this evolution led to the theoretical and practical development of cultural tourism as a selective tourist form. First part of the paper discusses etymological and conceptual evolution of culture, originally derived from Latin terms meaning “cultivation of the land.” Over time, this concept expanded metaphorically to include the “cultivation of the mind and spirit.” During the Enlightenment, culture was perceived as a rational and civilizing force that distinguished humanity from nature. However, the Romantic period reversed this rationalist approach by elevating imagination, creativity, and emotion as higher forms of human expression. Later, with industrialization and mass society, culture became commodified, a process that led to the rise of mass culture and eventually the cultural industries that shape much of modern tourism. Building on this theoretical foundation, the paper explores interdependency between culture and tourism, where tourism is discussed as a cultural act in itself, where travelers engage with different social norms, artistic expressions, and ways of life through their journeys. This part is followed by discussion on definitions of cultural tourism, where differences between conceptual and technical definitions are presented, pointing to importance of postmodern understanding of tourism as an experiential and interpretive process. Conclusion of the paper argues that cultural tourism aligns with postmodern sensibilities that privilege individuality, authenticity, and experiential engagement, suggesting a dynamic arena in which encounters with other cultures may contribute to ongoing processes of exchange and identity formation.
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