Who benefits from this narration that local events are the cornerstone of travel planning?
It's an incentive for agencies or tourism offices, not the reality experienced by the majority of travelers who are limited by financial imperatives and family commitments.
Here in Spain, if the budget does not allow, the event doesn't matter.
For example, wanting to attend the Feria de Abril in Seville without a well-stocked account is more of a fantasy than destination validation.