Introduction
During the last two decades, culture has gained significant importance for restructuring the
urban economy. Touristic activities are attracting more visitors and allowing cities to become
more competitive. One of the main reasons is the changing economic structures of the cities
in Europe and North America. Cities have been moving from manufacturing to
service-based activities (de-industrialization), while finance capital has become more
dominant in the global economy, reflecting neo-liberal trends. Furthermore, culture is
becoming more of a balanced tool for the conservation of heritage and the development of
new entertainment complexes (Smith, 2007). Many also consider culture to be a resource for
identity as well as an economic asset (Galdini, 2007). Thus, as Evans (2001) emphasizes,
‘‘place, culture and economy have become symbiotic categories in the post-fordist
economy’’.