Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/35148

The purpose of this paper is to examine the basic concepts of "International Regional Culture Studies", structure them and consider adequate methods of new "Community Development", which contribute to the promotion of tourism at the same time. It is indispensable first to construct conceptual systems in order to understand what "culture" is because it is "an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols" (Geertz) and therefore can hardly be recognized by external observations alone. The "culture" of a human group reflects the value of its members. Furthermore, we can formulate that the term "international" means the relationship between or among larger regions and can be characterized by the interrelationship of regional cultures and therefore of different values. The construction of "conceptual systems" is also required as part of activity of new "Community Development" because it means a sustainable revitalization based on the internalized common values of participants, and these values arise from self-recognition based on the conceptualization of their own culture. The further task of new "Community Development" is to somehow transform the concepts of their own "culture" into a tangible reality.