The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Protection of Tourism Industry

Tourism is the third largest generator of jobs and investment industry after oil and automotive industries. Tourism industry is among new domains which is being supported through the body of intellectual property rights in terms of literary and artistic property as well as industrial property. Nowadays, various issues relating to intellectual property in the tourism industry can develop this sector and attract more tourists. Therefore, considering these issues as traditional cultural expression (folklore), architecture works, geographical indications and trademarks has been very common and popular. Like other industries, tourism has related goods and services. It also has a lot of major and various factors influencing this industry. These factors might be based on attractiveness and competitiveness. (Such as brands tourist destinations). This paper attempts to answer these questions: What is the role of intellectual property rights in protection and competitiveness of the tourism industry? Can this legal regime provide opportunities and adequate protection measures to increase productivity and fair competition for stakeholders in the industry? To answer these questions, this article analyses the capacities of the existing intellectual property system in the framework of folklore, architecture works, geographical indication, and collective marks in order to protecting artistic and cultural tourism, agricultural (rural) tourism and health tourism as well as development of tourism destination brand