Understanding Different Types of Tourism

• Tourism involves activities, services, and industries that provide travel experiences.

Types of Tourism

• Domestic Tourism means traveling within one's own country for short breaks, holidays, or long trips.
• Regional Tourism means traveling within a specific region of one's home country.
• International Tourism means traveling outside one's country of residence.

Definition of a Tourist

• A tourist travels away from home for leisure, business, or other purposes for longer than a day.

Reasons for Traveling

• Business and professional reasons
• Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR)
• Gap year or educational purposes

Categories of Tourists

• Business Tourist: Travels solely for business purposes like meetings, exhibitions, and special events (MEDE).
• Educational Tourist: Travels to attend a university or college.
• Incentive Tourist: Receives a paid holiday as a reward from their company.
• Medical Tourist: Travels for medical treatments unavailable in their home country.
• Adventure Tourist: Participates in exciting and potentially dangerous activities.
• Cultural Tourist: Seeks to experience different cultures.
• Eco-Tourist: Travels to experience nature and culture sustainably.
• Religious Tourist: Travels to visit places of religious significance.
• Special Interest Tourist (SIT): Travels for specific interests like wildlife, sports, or history.
• Backpacking Tourist: Travels on a budget, carries little luggage, and prefers adventure and independence.

Tourist Profile Elements

• Key information includes name, nationality, age, contact details, and occupation.
• Other factors of note are needs and preferences, specific requirements, and length of trip.

Modes of Transport

• Road: Buses follow timetables and fixed routes.
• Road: Shuttle Buses transport guests between airports, bus terminals, or hotels.
• Road: Metered Taxis are available in cities and costs depend on distance traveled.
• Road: Minibus Taxis run frequently, but often without timetables or fixed stops.
• Air: Airplanes are the fastest but can be expensive.
• Air: Helicopters can fly from smaller airfields and be chartered for private trips.
• Rail: Gautrain is a rapid transit rail system linking Johannesburg, Pretoria, and OR Tambo International Airport.
• Rail: The Blue Train is a luxury train running weekly between Cape Town and Pretoria.
• Rail: Rovos Rail is a luxury private train service operating within South Africa and neighboring countries.
• Rail: Bullet Trains are high-speed trains reaching up to 350 km/h.
• Water: Cruise Liners travel along the South African coast and to Indian Ocean islands.
• Water: Boats can be chartered based on budget and requirements.
• Water: Yachts are used by private travelers or those who hire a sailing crew.
• Extraordinary: Other options are camel rides, donkey cart rides, hot air ballooning, and bicycles.

Factors for Choosing Transport

• Availability on the required route
• Cost
• Safety and reliability
• Number of travelers
• Personal preferences
• Comfort level

Advantages & Disadvantages of Different Transport Modes

• Car: Convenient, flexible, cost-effective for groups, but long journeys can be tiring with road congestion and high maintenance costs.
• Bus/Coach: Affordable, high capacity, and comfortable, but with fixed schedules and potential delays due to congestion.
• Minibus Taxi: Affordable, flexible routes covering more areas, but may involve overcrowding, waiting times, and poor maintenance.
• Airplane: Fast, safe with in-flight services, but expensive with fixed schedules, luggage restrictions, and jet lag.
• Train: Fast, inexpensive, and energy-efficient, but with fixed schedules and overcrowding during peak hours.
• Cruise Liner: Safe, relaxing, and includes meals & accommodation, but time-consuming, causes sea sickness, and requires additional transport to/from ports.

Hospitality Sector

• This sector provides accommodation and meals for tourists, employing about 80% of tourism workers.
• Accommodation choice depends on type, quality, location, availability, and budget

Main Categories of Accommodation (TGCSA)

• Formal Service Accommodation: Includes hotels, lodges, and game lodges, requires an on-site manager, and offers services like room service, laundry, shuttle, gym, parking, and security.
• Guest Accommodation: Family-oriented, often owner-run, providing reception, daily room service, and security, and includes guest houses, country houses, and B&Bs.
• Self-Catering Accommodation: Includes chalets, cottages, houses, and apartments where guests prepare their own food.
• Camping & Caravan Sites: Outdoor accommodation for nature lovers.
• Backpackers & Hostels: Budget-friendly with shared facilities.

Technology in Tourism

• Information access, interactive maps, news, emails, and housekeeping requests are often managed via tech.
• Comfort is improved via heated towel rails, bathroom extractor fans, and hand drying machines.
• Security is improved via electronic safes, keycard locks, and sensor systems.
• Entertainment includes interactive TV guides, satellite channels, games, music, and on-demand movies.
• Environmental responsibility is aided by digital keys, low-flow shower heads, and energy-saving night-lights.
• Work amenities are WiFi and multi-power points.

Food & Beverage Establishments

• Full-Service Restaurants (Fine dining)
• Coffee Shops (Malls & urban areas)
• Pubs & Bars
• Ice Cream Stores
• Fast Food & Quick Service
• Taverns & Shebeens
• Street Stalls & Markets

Technology for Payment

• Internet Payments allow tourists to book and pay online
• ATM Payments allow banking at any time.
• Speed Point Machines are widely used by retailers and restaurants.