Tourism Topic 1: Tourism Activity

It is a person who makes a trip outside his/her usual environment for leisure or personal purpose. The trip may be completed within the same day or may last several days, requiring overnight stays.

Tourists who travel within their own country vs those who travel abroad to another country respectively

The region where tourists come from, and where people and businesses that offer tourism products and experiences (such as tour operators) may be based

The region which attracts tourists. Attractions, amenities and facilities which cater to the needs of tourists are located here. It is also the region that experiences the consequences of tourism development.

The region or route a tourist travels to reach their destination This route links the tourist destination regions to the tourist generating regions. They might also include stopover points for convenience or visiting attractions

The more transit routes, the higher the volume of travel between the regions. The direction of travel depends on the availability of convenient or attractive routes, and personal preferences of travellers (which may trump direct routes)

Stressful work environments, unpleasant living environments including overcrowding and pollution & lack of recreational and entertainment options

Places of scenic beauty, special events such as concerts or festivals as well as attractions, facilities, and amenities that provide positive experiences

Tourists require the services of tour operators in tourist destination regions to plan their trips. Tour operators depend on tourists to book their services so that they have the funds to carry out the activities

Tour Operators depend on hotels in tourist destination regions in order to plan the accomodation for tourists. Hotels depend on tour operators to direct tourists to them in order to earn profits

An economic downturn in tourist generating regions results in less demand for travel. This means fewer tourists pass through transit routes. Incomes in the tourist destination region and transit routes decrease and environmental damage is redcuced

New attraction opens at a tourist destination region. Returning tourists share their positive experiences at the new attraction. There is an increase in motivation to travel to the destination region. The number of travellers increases and greater incomes are generated on both transit routes and destination regions

Increasing pressures of work, hectic lifestyles & long work hours have created a need for relieving stress, resting, seeking nature to escape an urban environment & get a different routine from their daily lives

Travelling allows people to develop themselves by learning something new or improving their existing knowledge and skills e.g. cooking local cuisines or farming by learning methods from the locals

Some participate in adventurous and challenging activities like skydiving to fulfill their potential and stretch themselves physically and emotionally. Some also explore different environments and cultures less widely known and participate in uncommon activities like trekking on slopes of a volcano

Individuals have varying needs and hence, their motivation to travel is unique. Some travel for relaxation and others travel to fulfill their curiosity about places that are less commonly visited. Some may also want to have a tourism activity that fulfills multiple needs

A higher disposable income gives greater spending power which gives increased demand for travel resulting in a growth in tourism

Leisure time refers to when people are free from work and responsibilities. Since the 1950s, both developed and developing countries’ companies and governments have given people more leisure time, granting them more time to travel in the form of more paid leave, public holidays and shorter working weeks

Traditionally, tour companies purchase transport and accommodation in bulk, often at discounted prices allowing sales of competitively priced tour packages giving a rise of value of money for services. Now, websites and applications provide more personalised and value-for-money experiences, replacing tour operators

International tourism is heavilty reliant on air transport, which is increasingly more affordable. The emergence of budget airlines has also led to drops in air fares, doing so by using fuel-efficient airplanes and flying to airports with cheaper fees.

More countries are constructing transport infrastructure such as roads, railways and airports, increasing connectivity between differerent parts of the country as well as between countries so that tourists enjoy shorter travel times

It allows families to travel comfortably and conveniently in their own vehicles to attractions for leisure giving more freedom in the number of destinations one can visit and time spent on the road boosting travel, especially domestically

Exploration, Involvement, Development, Consolidation, Stagnation & Decline/Rejuvenation

Small number of group of adventurous tourists travel individually, irregular visits throughout the year contributing minimal to the economy with natural & cultural attractions, with historical and heritage value with few/lack of facilities for tourists.

Increase in tourists due to to advertising and publicity with growing contribution to the local economy. More public facilities such as car parks, toilets, roads, bridges are built. Locals also begin requesting for more amenities like restaurants and wifi for comfort and pleasure made and maintained by the authorities

Tourists arrivals increase rapidly. The tourism sector employs a significant number of workers, comprising locals and foregin labour, contributing significantly to the local economy. There is faster pace in the development of tourist facilities, infrastructure (airports and ports), amenities and attractions like museums and amusement parks

Total annual tourist arrivals to the destination outnumber the local population with growth slowing down. The tourism industry dominates the local economy and continues to employ a significant number of workers and contributes significantly to the local economy. There is a slowing down in number of attractions and facilities built

Total numbers have peaked and begin to decline because the destination has reached or exceeded its carrying capacity resulting in negative effects. Tourists’ contributions to the local economy will start to stagnate. Tourist facilities and attractions may decline as they become old and run down

Tourists arrivals decline significantly if no steps are taken to revive the destination with tourists seeking other new and exciting destinations. Tourists’ contributions to the local economy will decline significantly. There is less moneyd available to maintain and improve facilities resulting in further deterioration reducing attractiveness and fewer tourists

Tourists arrivals increase as the destination becomes more attractive again due to investments and funding to develop new attractions and facilities and rebranding of the destination. Tourists’ contributions to the local economy increase again. With funding for redevelopment of the area for new facilities, amenities, infrastructure and attractions, attractiveness increases and advertisements are pumped out

More cautious in spending money, guided by authority figures in making travel decisions e.g. government-issued travel advisories, follow the travel trends by other venturers and travel bloggers. They prefer structure and routine, travelling in groups for comfort. They like to visit popular and familiar destinations with which have well-developed tourist facilities and amenities

Spend more money readily, guided by their personal judgement rather than authority figures in making travel decisions. They prefer to be spontaneous and have a diversity of activities and travel alone. They like to explore less-developed unique places where the can participate in new experiences and activities.

They can determine travel perferences and patterns such as the choice of destinations and tourist activities with some features of destinations appealing to one personality type more than the other.

Tourism destinations can develop in a way that caters to a specific type of tourist personality. Yet, it can evolve as venturer type tourists set travel trends that influence the destinations dependable type tourists travel to resulting in more development and changong features for catering for those types over venturer type tourists