Contemporary Architecture and its Significance for Cultural Tourism

Abstract

One of the most prominent trends in 21st-century tourism is the growing interest of travelers in contemporary architecture, with modern buildings increasingly becoming distinctive tourist attractions. Landmarks such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai are icons of these cities and essential stops for tourists. The term architourism has emerged in the academic discourse to describe travels motivated by a desire to experience modern architecture, and it is generally regarded as a form of cultural tourism. This paper aims to present a culturally significant phenomenon: the relationship between contemporary architecture and tourism. It presents examples of buildings from both Poland and around the world that have gained notable popularity among tourists. Based on these examples, the paper identifies key attributes of contemporary architecture that enhance its appeal to mass tourism, such as the renown of the architect, the uniqueness of the design, the scale of the structure, and the interplay between architectural form and function. The final section of the paper considers whether the growing popula­rity of contemporary architecture might diminish the prominence of historical monuments as leading tourist attractions, or whether modern structures will instead complement the traditional offerings of historic cities such as Krakow.