Transportation and Travel Evolution

The Transportation Sector

• The rapid advancement of transportation and technology helps tourists reach global destinations.
• Transportation is key to tourism and hospitality

Transportation and Travel Evolution

• Transportation/travel has evolved through distinct eras

Pre-Industrial Travel System Era

• Before widespread industrialization in Europe and North America
• Limited common carriers, almost no scheduled transport.
• Travelers arranged with multiple suppliers; travel was limited to the wealthy few with a reason.

Early-Industrial Travel System Era

• Innovations such as railways, canals, and steamships due to transportation tech advances
• Increased travel due to increased wealth allowed common carriers to offer scheduled services

Mature-Railway System Era

• Thomas Cook started his company's activities in the UK in 1840.
• Railways marketed aggressively, forming travel agencies, tour companies, expanded with hotels and services.

Express-Travel System Era

• Trains stopped only at major stations/terminals.
• Increased travel speed, encouraging more travel.

Automobile-Based Travel System Era

• Private cars became prominent in North America/Europe from the 1920s.
• Motorways and interstate highways developed from 1920-1974.
• Cars were the top travel mode from 1920-1945.

Modern-Tourism Travel System Era

• From 1945-1974, car ownership rose, decreasing long-distance rail travel.
• Post WWII mass air travel and 1970s wide-bodied jets increased air travel
• Mass tourism philosophy/marketing arose from 1950-1960s.

Post-Mobility Adjustment Era

• Began in 1973-1974 because OPEC caused an oil embargo and increased fuel prices.
• The energy crisis shifted travel patterns; travelers sought group-oriented transport.

Selection of Transportation Mode

• The mode and frequency enrich travel experiences of tourists
• Transportation is a tourist attraction, like cruises, orient express trains, and boat trips

Air Transportation

• A key transport mode in tourism
• Significant influence on perceptions of time and distance
• Airlines invest billions, innovate to meet demand.
• The industry grew rapidly playing a huge role in long-distance travel
• Includes airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and gliders.

Automobile Transportation

• For short distances, cars, vans, and buses become more important.
• Allows tourists to experience local cultures, flexible compared to other options
• Offers low prices compared to other transportation

Railway Transportation

• Oldest transportation form, frequently used in the 19th century
• Used to transport loads, but tourists prefer air or auto transport
• Application of tech led to fast trains to compete with air/auto

Sea Transportation

• Includes cruise, boat, yachting, and ferry travel.
• Cruise ships offer travel opportunities, allowing tourists to see multiple countries
• Maritime vessels and cargo ships are other sea transportations.

Recreations and Attractions: Meaning of Recreation and Leisure

• Recreation involves visiting relaxing places to relax, such as parks, museums, historic sites, theaters
• Leisure is using free time productively

Varied Views of Recreation and Leisure

• Some define recreation as public agencies providing parks, pools, and community centers.
• Others see it in senior centers, workshops for the disabled, or rehab centers.
• Environmentalists see it as the impact of outdoor activities on natural environments

Recreational Participation

• Encompasses various leisure activities, travel, tourism, cultural entertainment, arts, hobbies, and social groups.
• Can be enjoyed by thousands or alone, intense or relaxing.
• Can be a lifelong interest or a one time experience

Attractions

• Can be labeled in a number of ways

Natural Attractions

• Natural attractions drive travel
• These include national parks, forests, and zoos.

Purpose Built Attractions

• Developed for tourism
• Examples: theme parks, zoos, and art galleries.

Heritage Attractions

• Appeal to those learning about contemporary and ancient civilizations.
• Examples: Great Wall of China, Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.

Recreation Attractions

• Maintain/provide indoor and outdoor facilities for sports and recreation
• Examples: bowling, camping, fishing, and golfing.

Commercial Attractions

• Retail shops attract tourists with gifts, arts and crafts, and souvenirs.
• Examples: shopping centers and boutiques.

Industrial Attractions

• Growing in popularity, offer factory tours, manufacturers cater to tourists.
• Examples: wineries and breweries.

Challenges Faced by the Recreation and Leisure Service Field in the 21st Century

• Serving diverse populations
• Emphasizing social purposes like youth work, disability services, and community development.
• Increasing public understanding of recreation and leisure's value.
• Upgrading recreation programs/facilities, especially in inner cities and for minority groups.
• Adopting benefits-based approaches, proving positive recreation outcomes.
• Promoting recreation as health-related.
• Partnering to protect/restore wildlands.
• Improving family programs.
• Promoting ethics in youth sports.
• Mainstreaming persons with disabilities.
• Planning for recreation's role in a job-scarce economy.
• Raising professionalism with standards/accreditation
• Unifying recreation/leisure fields in common projects.

Definitions of Gaming Entertainment

• The gaming industry includes casinos, card games, lotteries, and race betting.
• Gaming entertainment is within the gaming industry
• Includes casino gaming, hotel operations, entertainment, retail, recreation, other operations
• Offers entertainment and leisure activities, catering to "social gamblers”.

Games and Facilities Inside the Casino

• Gaming facilities found inside casinos

Table Games

• Wagering between casino and customers
• Examples: dice/craps, roulette, Big 6 wheel, pai-gow.

Card Games

• Players gamble against each other; casino provides/deals games.
• Examples: blackjack, baccarat, poker.

Slot Machine/Video Games

• Use simulated/actual spinning reels activated by a handle/button.
• Payoffs based on random number generator program/aligned graphics/symbols.
• Examples: video poker, keno, bingo, lottery.

Keno and Bingo

• Based on a random number

Race and Sports Books

• Racebooks: wagering on horse track betting
• Sportsbooks: wagering on professional/collegiate events

Casino Cage

• Financial transactions/accounting on the casino floor

Surveillance

• Uses high-tech cameras/video recording devices ("eye in the sky")

Ancillary Departments

• Support departments include restaurants, bars, entertainment, lounges, showrooms, lodging

Reasons for Visiting Casinos

• Reasons why many visit casinos

The Lure of Gambling

• Many enjoy games of chance or skill

Recreation and Entertainment

• Casinos offer excitement and mental escape

Social

• Attract senior citizens/retirees for social interaction

Economic

• Some casinos offer low rates to attract gamblers

Curiosity

• Mega resorts with must-see facilities attract visitors

Amenity Offerings

• Hotels/casinos attract via health spas, salons, barbershops, amusement centers, theme parks.