Both positions have valid arguments regarding the impact of local events on travel planning, but the right balance is to recognize that their importance is conditional.
It is true that events can transform an experience, but for many travelers, budgetary and logistical constraints take precedence.
Take the example of a young Senegalese entrepreneur seeking business partners in Abidjan: he will first care about accommodation and transportation costs, not the jazz festival.
The impact of events is real, but it is often a secondary luxury when fundamentals are not yet secured, not an essential component universally.
Researching local manifestations is useful, but not always the primary criterion.