Tourism Overview PDF

Tourism: an overview Unit Two Geography Who are tourists? Tourists are people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours, but not for more than one consecutive year – United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) This travel may be for lei...

Tourism: an overview Unit Two Geography Who are tourists? Tourists are people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours, but not for more than one consecutive year – United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) This travel may be for leisure, business, visiting friends & relatives and other purposes Tourism includes associated activities and infrastructure such as airport and hotels Domestic tourism refers to tourism within one’s own country International tourism refers to tourism outside one’s own country If you go see a friend or attend a sporting event away from your usual environment and return home within 24 hours, you are considered a visitor The scale of tourism (domestic) Domestic tourism is the most common, accounting for around 83 per cent of all arrivals worldwide These tourist travel more frequently, over short distances, staying longer and more often with friends and relatives than international tourists In Australia, domestic tourists accounted for 117 million overnight stays in 2019, with the distribution of stays closely reflecting our population distribution – Sydney hosts 12.7 million overnight stays with Melbourne a close second at 11.4 million On a larger scale, China’s domestic tourist numbers were estimated at over 6 billion in 2019, up from 2 billion in 2017, and still rising, driven by growing affluence and increased leisure time The main annual movement in China is the twice annual movement of several hundred million urban dwellers to their home towns and villages (Spring and Moon Festivals)  The scale of tourism (international) In 2023, over 1.3 billion tourists crossed international boundaries, their origins and destinations unevenly distributed across the world Largest proportion of international tourists originates from more developed regions, particularly Europe and North America Number of international tourist arrivals worldwide from 1950 to 2023(in millions) Europe is the world’s most popular destination with 743 million visitors Large-scale movements of more than ten million people a year to and from Europe to North America and the Middle East Similar-sized flows occur from North America to Central and South America, South East Asia and Europe More and more international tourists are originating from the rapidly growing Asian and South American region including China, India, Brazil and Mexico In the future, the UNWTO believes that the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be the fastest growing region for international tourist arrivals  The scale of tourism (international) International tourist Rank Destination arrivals (2019) 1 France 90 million 2 Spain 83.5 million 3 79.3 million United States 4 China 65.7 million 5 Italy 64.5 million 6 Turkey 51.2 million Where do tourists go? The Earth’s very diverse natural and human environments give tourists a vast range of opportunities, which can be put into four broad categories: - natural environments, including coastal waters and mountain scenery - built facilities, including theme parks and conference, medical and health facilities - culture and history, including pilgrimage sites, the remains of past civilisations and shopping and food sites - dark locations, including memorials and sites of conflicts Many of the world’s most successful destinations offer multiple opportunities for different activities (e.g. Paris, London, Bali)  Includes mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, deserts, glaciers and rainforests, together with all the wildlife that inhabits these environment Examples are the Rockies of North America and the Himalayas of South Asia, which have unique combination of height, steepness, vegetation, wildlife and weather, providing tourists with opportunities for admiring the scenery, walking, mountaineering and skiing Natural Coastal locations such as Phuket in Thailand, Bali in Indonesia and Cancun in Mexico, provide access to environm beaches, as well as warmth for those escaping colder climates ents Wildlife sites such as game reserves in South Africa and Botswana give tourists a chance to see hippopotamuses and giraffes at close quarters These locations are serviced by access roads and accommodation facilities, which will likely include the development of souvenir outlets, restaurants and night entertainment (may reduce the value of the original natural environment)  These are frequently developed in close proximity to outstanding natural attractions Theme parks and viewing stations: Often the highlight of a visit and frequently the reason for travelling to a place. Typically, have a theme or subject such as water features, thrill rides, movies or fantasy. Require considerable investment to remain competitive. Key examples relate to the Walt Disney company Built with parks in the United States (2) and elsewhere in the world (3). facilities Medical health facilities: Most of these tourists travel from wealthier regions to avoid long waits and/or high costs. Medical tourism involves travelling to undergo medical procedures, whereas health tourists look to maintain, enhance and/or restore their minds and bodies at places such as thermal springs, mud pools, etc.  Educational facilities: Seeking a learning experience by joining a study tour to increase understanding of a particular place/culture or enrolling in an educational program to acquire specialist skills such as a foreign language. In 2014, over 4 million students studied outside their home country. In 2017, around 200,000 overseas students spent $6 billion in tuition fees and general spending throughout Victoria, this is dropped slightly to Built 182,000 in 2021 (no new data 2022/23) – may be at risk in future due to rising competition facilities Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE) facilities: Attracts over 20 million international business people and professionals to move across national boundaries – there is considerable competition between the larger cities to attract this growing, lucrative market, with the more successful being spatially associated with locations on international air routes and at sites interconnected with other attractions such as coastal resorts, entertainment and shopping  Heritage tourism: Refers to visiting sites of past events and the structures that remain today, for example, going to museums and historical remains, as well as participating in re-enactments and festivals. National and local governments have the opportunity to present their history to a wider audience and promote a sense of pride in achievements (whether relating to a few generations ago, e.g. Victoria’s goldfields, or developed over hundreds/ thousands of years, e.g. Cultural ancient civilisations of China, India, Egypt and Greece). Many heritage sites are protected by local/national laws, as well as by UNESCO. tourism Media tourism: The beauty and drama of scenery, different cultures and historic locations featured on film and on television influence people to visit places not otherwise considered e.g. New Zealand has been advertising itself as the home of the Middle Earth (a reference to the Lord of the Rings films made there). Additionally, concert tours of contemporary and classical music have dedicated followers from city to city and country to country.  Food and shopping: At one extreme, people visit places simply to shop for bargains or the latest styles in clothing or music e.g. to destinations like London, Paris, New York and Hong Kong. There are also those who organise their travel primarily to enjoy food and wine of another culture, participating in tours, often involving cooking lessons, (popular through Italy, France, India, Vietnam and Hong Kong) Sport tourism: People travel to play or watch sport, which Cultural may combine with other activities such as sightseeing or visiting friends - sporting activity may not be provided locally or can be provided better elsewhere such as skiing tourism in Japan, Europe or North America. Large-scale sporting events such as the Olympic Games and international cricket, football, tennis and golf tournaments attract hundreds of thousands of spectators Pilgrimage tourism: Often this is a visit to a sacred place or shrine that is part of a person’s beliefs and faith, like the Fatima Masumeh Shrine in Iran’s holy city of Qom. Annually, the major sites attract more than 300 million people to places such as Mecca (Muslim) and Jerusalem (Jewish, Christian and Muslim), Rome (Christian) and Varanasi (Hindu)  Tourists often visit places that have experienced or are linked to conflict, death and tragedy, which includes battlefields, fortifications, museums and memorials. Table below summarises some key dark tourism sites across the ages: Site and location Event Western Front, Battlefields and cemeteries of World War I Northern France and II Dark Quang Tri and Cu Chi tunnels, Southern Tunnels dug and used in the 1960s and 1970s by the Vietcong to escape American tourism Vietnam Ground Zero, New York and South Vietnam forces Terrorist attack in New York City resulting in the destruction of the World trade Centre, 11 September 2001 Australian War Commemorates the loss of life by Memorial, Canberra Australians in war Tuol Sleng Genocide A security prison for interrogation and Museum, Pnom Penh, torture by the Pol Pot government, 1975-79 Cambodia Okawa and Sendai, Two of dozens of memorials to the Japan thousands of victims of the 11 March 2011 tsunami that hit coastal towns and villages Different forms of tourism Some tourists prefer to travel alone or with family/a few friends, making their own arrangements or perhaps using an agent or the internet Others may seek a “package” tour, where travel, accommodation and activities are paid for in advance to the organising company There are contrasting trends in tourism: Ecotourism: involves travel to and experience of natural environments without having a negative impact (on the environment or local population), and ensures the sustainability of the site e.g. Antarctica and Great Barrier Reef Cruising: this mode of travel attracts more than 20 million people a year, particularly from North America and Europe (mainly higher income groups - they spend over $30 billion a year on fares and port activities), with the most popular regions being the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas. Vessels can be large, usually over 100,000 tonnes, with multi-storeys of cabins with balconies, shopping arcades, casinos, theatres, health centres and child care facilities. Major environmental shortcomings are high fuel usage and the dumping of considerable wastes overboard. Factors influencing tourism Many factors influence the destinations of tourists, the number travelling and how they travel. Most of these factor interconnect with each other. As a result, a change in one factor can have impacts on other factors, and in turn, impact on still more factors.  Physical factors Include climate, topography and distance, as well as natural hazards and disasters Many tourists travel to enjoy better weather than they experience at home Places with wet or cool seasons may experience an off-season period for visitors, e.g. Mediterranean between November and February or monsoon period in South Asia (between June and October) Some venues close because of lack of snow or the risk of tropical storms Places that can be accessed from population centres, airports and other transport nodes have an increased advantage for developing into successful tourist locations – whereas the remoteness of certain locations (as well as cost and time involved) act as deterrents Outbreak of disease can result in the rapid fall of tourist numbers The annual occurrence of cyclones and typhoons may result in damage to infrastructure with rebuilding taking time, affecting tourist numbers  Political factors Government policies promoting tourism may include: Targeted advertising (e.g. to particular age groups) Agreements with airlines to extend services or granting budget airlines landing rights Simplifying visa procedures Financing of infrastructure, e.g. airports, roads, etc. Rezoning of land On the other hand, political unrest such as riots, civil war and terrorism may result in governments strongly advising their citizens against entering certain countries e.g. Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq  Technology has changed transport methods, increased the availability of information and modified ways of organising travel Journeys are now safer, quicker and less costly e.g. by air transport Tourists are now more easily able to access less Technolo traditionally visited destinations, as well as more remote ones too e.g. Antarctica gical Car ownership is almost universal in Australia and North America – this has allowed people to travel factors frequently over long distances (also, for many, off road) Online research and booking of flights, accommodation and sightseeing are common practice for tourists e.g. online reviews and use of smart phones while travelling Safer travel checks through surveillance and electronic checks, particularly at airports Lifestyle factors The combination of rising disposable income and increases in leisure time (shorter working hours, more public holidays and more paid annual leave) has greatly influenced the nature and level of domestic and international travel For example, China – rapid expansion of the economy (household incomes have risen) and government policy now allowing travel outside of the country Getting away for a few days or a few weeks has become an important way for people to relax and recuperate from a busy working and home life Just over half of all international tourists travel for leisure and recreation (another 27% to visit friends and family) Travelling, in many forms, has become a way of life for young people as well as retirees – backpacking, working holidays, ocean cruises, ‘grey nomading’ in mobile homes Information factors Media reports on television, in newspapers and on the internet cover travel programs, advice and advertisement, and create demand for tourist destinations (may be sponsored by tourist companies) Internet sites such as Wikitravel and TripAdvisor have become important information sources, whereby positive and negative reports could influence one’s decision to visit Smart phones can deliver travel guides, translations, imminent weather conditions and hotel vacancies  The nature of tourism is quite complex, therefore it is no surprise that the impacts of tourists on people and environments reflect this complexity The One way to help categorise the range impacts of impacts is to look at a model of tourism of Butler’s model of evolution of tourist tourism areas summarises the processes of tourist growth from early development through to mass tourism, as well as possible decline or further growth of tourist destinations Stage Stage 1: Exploration The natural beauty or culture attracts a limited number of tourists; few tourist facilities exist Stage 2: Involvement Some of the local population provide accommodation for the tourists; a distinct tourist season begins to emerge Stage 3: Development Extensive facilities are built for the many tourists who want now to visit; external investment now dominates the economy; some tension between the locals, developer and tourists may emerge Stage 4: Consolidation The local economy becomes dependent on tourism; number of tourist arrivals begin to stagnate as competition from newer destinations develops Stage 5: Stagnation The resorts and destination begin to lose their attractiveness as facilities age; some business may close Stage 6: Decline or Decline is evidenced by a drop in numbers and/or Rejuvenation shorter stays by visitors unless local authorities and organisations take steps to modernise the destination Stage Stage 1: Exploration The natural beauty or culture attracts a limited number of tourists; few tourist facilities exist e.g. Antarctica Stage 2: Involvement Some of the local population provide accommodation for the tourists; a distinct tourist season begins to emerge e.g. Borneo and Daintree region Stage 3: Development Extensive facilities are built for the many tourists who want now to visit; external investment now dominates the economy; some tension between the locals, developer and tourists may emerge e.g. Port Fairy and Great Barrier Reef Stage 4: Consolidation The local economy becomes dependent on tourism; number of tourist arrivals begins to stagnate as competition from newer destinations develops e.g. Cinque Terre, Fiji and Mykonos Stage 5: Stagnation The resorts and destination begin to lose their attractiveness as facilities age; some business may close e.g. Cairns in the 1990s and 2000s Stage 6: Decline or Decline is evidenced by a drop in numbers and/or Rejuvenation shorter stays by visitors unless local authorities and organisations take steps to modernise the destination e.g. Cairns 2010 onwards Economic impacts Employment – Tourism is labour intensive - many people are needed to work in services such as hotels, transport and tours This is particularly important for less developed countries to absorb large numbers of low-skilled labour Intensive training is raising the number of semi-skilled and skilled workers, e.g. managers, planners and multilingual guides However, employment at tourist sites may be seasonal – workers may temporarily move until next tourist season Economic impact Income growth - In 2019, international tourism generated $10 trillion USD in revenue – mostly spent on accommodation, food and drink, entertainment, shopping and local transport – ($7.7 and $9.5 Trillion in 2021 and 2022 respectively) Tourism’s contribution to a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) varies considerably - any downturn in tourist numbers could significantly affect the wellbeing of a population (particularly less economically developed countries) Not all income generated from tourism remains in the region where it is spent – leakage, where revenue is paid to other countries for imported goods and services to operate tourism, is widespread E.g. It has been estimated that for every tourist dollar spent in Phuket, Thailand, 70 cents is lost to the global economy (airline tickets, imported food and drink, tours booked in own country, etc.). Another 24 cents goes to the national economy (for transport, worker’s incomes, food and drink and souvenirs made elsewhere in Thailand). This leaves just 6 cents for the local Phuket economy. Reducing leakages by encouraging stays with local families and buying locally made goods has become a policy for many local tourist authorities around the world Economic impacts Infrastructure development Helps move a tourist destination from Stage 2 to Stage 3 of Butler’s model Tourism requires transport and communication networks, energy, water supply as well as waste disposal and treatment – construction employs local workers and the associated infrastructure can benefit the community A disadvantage to this though is that money spent on infrastructure is not being used for people’s education, health and housing needs Tourist infrastructure can also occupy considerable tracts of land, such as for airports and resorts, which may replace traditional land uses such as farming or coastal mangroves High water use for tourist activities can result in conflict with other users, e.g. farmers and manufacturers Social and cultural impacts Entry fees to cultural and historical sites, e.g. Egypt’s pyramids, Angkor Wat, etc. can help fund preservation and conservation efforts, as well as pay the costs of guides and tourist police However, the development of these sites with souvenir shops, parking areas for cars and buses, together with pathways and signposts, food outlets and restrooms, can degrade the ambience Many places throughout the world have become dominated by tourists, which has had a negative impact on local populations For example, in Amsterdam, while tourism has brought prosperity, locals have seen the neighbourhood chemist, doctor, butcher, etc. being replaced with late-night bars, money changers and trip booking offices. Additionally, apartments rented out at inflated prices, make it difficult for locals to rent/buy. However, to maintain cultural history and community values, authorities are raising taxes on tourist rooms, restricting new hotels and banning excessive tourist shops Social and cultural impact Tourist values and customs may clash with those of the host community e.g. dress codes in temples and churches, consumption of alcohol Local populations may lose their customs and identity as they adapt to tourism, e.g. staged ceremonies, local people ‘on display’ for photographs There is also the potential for higher crime levels, with poorer local people stealing from wealthier tourists, which can in turn deter tourists Environmental impacts and sustainability Tourism is a significant contributor to the Earth’s greenhouse gas emissions, from the energy used by planes, buses and cars together with electricity that runs hotels and entertainment venues E.g. Over 7% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are produced by tourism activities However, increasingly, tourists are selecting destinations on the basis of limiting their “footprint”, by reducing plane and car journeys, as well as water and electricity use The process of careful conservation and restoration of environments mean maintaining heritage that can continue attracting tourists as well as satisfying local populations (derived from entrance fees) However, the needs of tourists may be met at the expense of the local population and environment Environmental impacts and sustainability Natural environments can generate considerable value from tourist spending, e.g. more than $1 billion a year is spent by foreign tourists to see koalas, an African elephant can generate more than $1 million in its lifetime, etc. Unfortunately, some environments can be “loved to death” e.g. the Mediterranean Sea’s coastal areas (300 million visitors a year) has seen loss of, and damage to, natural habitats, with picturesque villages being converted into tourist shopping centres Waste, litter, vandalism and congestion also become common unfavourable effects of tourism, with local authorities often imploring tourist to be respectful the environment and relics There is potential for the associated detrimental impacts to lead to a tourist destination becoming unsustainable