SANTA FE-
Representatives from nine places designated as “creative cities” by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization met in Santa Fe in late October to brainstorm about “creative tourism,” according to the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper.
Santa Fe, recognized as a folk art destination, is the only U.S. city on the UNESCO list.
Other cities on the list are Berlin, Montreal, Canada, and Buenos Aires, Argentina, recognized as cities of design; Aswan, Egypt, a folk art city; Edinburgh, Scotland, a city of literature; Seville, Spain, and Bologna, Italy, cities of music; and Popayan, Colombia, a city of gastronomy.
The concept of creative tourism as applied in Santa Fe would capitalize on its reputation as an arts destination while emphasizing what to do in the city–not just what there is to see or buy, said City Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger.
“It’s not passive tourism,” she told the paper. “You’re coming to engage in a community, to learn about its culture experientially. That’s been a very strong theme with every single one of these cities.”
