This short article is a set of observations and reflections on the role of Culture, Heritage and Tourism in the development and promotion of Commerce and the factors which might influential the future development of urban retail.

1. Commerce, Culture, Heritage and Tourism in an OMNI World
Thisshort article isa setof observationsandreflectionsonthe role of Culture,Heritage andTourism
inthe developmentandpromotionof Commerce andthe factorswhichmightinfluential the future
developmentof urbanretail.
Retail Images from Kuala Lumpur
Judgingbythe videopromotionof KualaLumpur’sretail offering,the conceptof linkingtourismto
retail iswell understoodinMalaysiaandreflectedinthe substantial investmentbeingmade in
centreslike PavilionandKLCCcoveredinmore detail inmySlideshare paperat
http://www.slideshare.net/dwortley/kuala-lumpur-iormaworld-retail-and-leisure
My observationsinKLgave me an insightintothe importance of transportinfrastructure andfood
courts ingeneratingtraffictodrive commerce anditwas alsoclearthat regularspecial eventssuch
as the MalaysianGrand Prix and the RedBull Air Race providedregularshorttermbooststovisitors.
OverrecentweeksIwasfortunate enoughtovisitdifferentlocationsinAsiaandEurope,not
connectedwithanyretail analysisbutprovidingme withanopportunitytocompare andcontrast
differenturbanretail environmentsindifferentlocations.

2. Bangkok Retail and the newly Opened Central World
Bangkokcitycentre and the areas aroundChitLom, Siamand National Stadiumare well established
focal pointsforretail tourismandwithinacompact and easilynavigatedspace,there isamassive
spectrumof choice fromwell-establishedmore traditionalstorestoverymodernandnew stores
that combine elementsfromthe tourismandhospitalityindustrywithcommerce.
Bangkokstruck me as verysimilartoKL but betterplannedandeasiertonavigate withagood
monorail andpedestrianaccessbetweenlocations.Like KL,theireventsprogrammeandfoodcourts
are a bigfactor witha major Motor Bike Show heldinCentral Worldand the ComicCon Conference
heldat the nearbySiamParagonCentre.
All of the major retail brandsseemtobe representedandthe whole areaspawnsmicroenterprise
activitiessuchasthe many small foodstallsand“Put-Put”taxisthrivingfromthe onlyreal barrierin
Bangkok – gridlocked trafficjams.

3. Maastricht City Centre and Andre Rieu Concert
Maastricht inthe Netherlandsisamuch smallercitybutmakinggooduse of its cultural heritage and
eventstoattract touristsand boostcommerce.Much of the charm of thisEuropeancityremains
undisturbedandthe majorbrandsblendintoexistingbuildingsorthe modestnew developments
that nestle amongstthe narrowstreets.MyvisittoMaastricht was to see Andre Rieuinconcertand
the thousandsof people he attractsto hishome cityfor these concertsisan invaluable boosttoboth
commerce andthe brandidentityof the city.

4. Cologne City Centre
Cologne alsoreliesonculture,heritage,tourismandagoodtram networktobringintourists.The
difference betweenCologneandMaastrichtwas verymarkedand modernretail developmentsin
pedestrianisedareasdominatedthe citycentre withthe more cultural andfoodofferingsonthe
peripheryof the centre.The Worldcupfinal featuringGermanywasbeingheldthatweekendand
the city shopping areaswere more denselypackedthanIhadeverseenanywhere.
The Sundaywhenthe above imageswere takenwasmuchquieterbutthe eventattractionof a city
half marathonagain providedincentivestoattractlarge numbersof people intothe city.

5. Liverpool City Centre
Liverpool asa formercultural capital of Europe has seenmassive investmentinthe regenerationof
itsdock areas andthe retail developmentandpedestrianizedareasblende the cultural heritage of
the city more seamlesslythanCologne. The influenceof cultural iconslike the BeatlesandLiverpool
football clubare still majorattractorsto the city.
Reflections
Visitstoall of these citiesprovide richbutdifferentexperienceswiththe commonelementsof
culture,heritage andtourism tostimulate commerce andcreate astrongbrand identity.Itisclear
that consumerslike the combinationof the familiarityof global brandnameswiththe noveltyof
newcultural andsocial experiences.
Keyto the successof anyurban area seekingtoleverageculture,heritageandtourismare
 Attractiveness(brands,identity,culture,food,events)
 Accessibility(pedestrianisation,transportinfrastructure)
 Affordability (value formoneyandtime effcicient)
DavidWortley
July2014