Digital networks and traditional event: the case study of festapedia

Abstract

Internet and new communication technologies are an excellent platform to disseminate the traditional events, becoming a key tool in a globalized world, where cities are considered actually like products where their identity and values have to be specifically designed and marketed. Traditional events are part of the territories heritage and together with the change in life style in ours societies, make a strong appeal for the new concept of a tourist, who is more responsible, better informed, require the particular, the surprising, and different experiences which each location offers. We are dealing with a “non-material” cultural heritage, with intangible elements given a differentiated and personalized identity to the territories. Many times, the traditional event is the introduction letter and part of the reputational value of cities, and consequently it has to become known for the prospective visitors interested in the uniqueness, culture and history of the territory. Thus, the web appears as a tool to access the global public that can be attracted to these events and at the same time serves to project the city where performed.

 In this case, the web Festapedia comes up to collect all the content relating to the festivities of the city of Castellón, promoting and demonstrating the value of that population. Thus, from the local perspective, a model of memory documentation with an universal application is presented. This model will help to improve the projection of the city, distinguishing it from other places and making possible that the city gets visibility and notoriety.