Tourism Topic 1.2 (reasons that led to the growth of tourism)

tourism growth (3 broad categories)

1. motivation to travel

2. ability to travel

3. mobility to travel

motivation to travel (sub points)

1. need for relaxation

2. need to achieve personal growth and fulfillment

3. need to discover unique travel experiences

ability to travel (sub points)

1. increase in disposable incomes

2. increase in leisure time

3. business innovations in the tourism related industry

4. lower transport costs

5. lower accommodation costs

mobility to travel (sub points)

1. expansion of public transport services and infrastructure\

2. introduction of new modes of travel

3. increase private car ownerships

motivation to travel : need for relaxation

• increasing pressure of work and hectic lifestyles have increased people’s motivation to travel to relieve stress

• travel is a way to rest and rejuvenate

• people travel to seek nature and escape urban environment or prefer recreational activities like visiting theme parks

example :

• a survey found that one of the main reasons British tourists visit Phuket, Thailand, an island famous for its scenic beaches is to rest and relax

• USS is a theme park that features rides, shows and attractions, immersing visitors in a completely different settings from their usual lives. In 2019, the theme park welcomed more than 18 million visitors.

motivation to travel : the need to achieve personal growth and self fulfilment

• travelling allows tourists to develop themselves further by learning something new or improving their existing knowledge and skills

• making them choose a travel destination where they can pick up new skills eg cooking

• some also participate in activities that are challenging or adventurous such as bungee jumping or skydiving

example :

• Many cooking schools have sprung up in Bali to cater to tourists’ desire to learn more about the Balinese cuisine

• In pilgrimage tourism, tourists travel to sacred sites to learn more about their faiths and grow spiritually. Every year, more than two million Muslims travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, where they perform a series of rituals for spiritual growth.

• In the last few decades, the number of tourists climbing Mount Everest has increased steadily, as they are motivated to challenge themselves and achieve their fullest potential

motivation to travel : the need to discover unique travel experiences

• travelling allows people to explore different environments and cultures that are not widely known

• often seek places that are less travelled to and participate in special or uncommon activities

• with globalization, social media has raised interest in unique destinations and activities and vast transport networks are connecting remote places to major cities, making them more accessible

example :

• tourism numbers in Antarctica have increased significantly in the last 2 decades. Many of these tourists seek to satisfy their curiosity about one of the world’s last uninhabited regions

ability to travel : increase in disposable income

• disposable income - refers to the amount of income left to an individual after taxes have been paid which then can be used for savings and spendings

• in todays rapidly developing countries ( eg China, India), there is a fast growing middle class with increased disposable incomes which causes a large demand for tourism

example :

• In China, as GDP quadrupled, international tourism grew from about 9 million departures in 1999 to 154 million departures in 2019

ability to travel : increase in leisure times

• leisure time - time when people are free from work responsibilities

• come in the form or paid leaves, public holidays and shorter working weeks (increased paid leaves and public holidays since 1950s, and shorter working weeks)

example

• In 2015, the Chinese government encouraged employers to give workers half a day of paid leave on Fridays during the summer months to help boost domestic tourism.

ability to travel : business innovations in the tourism related industry

• business innovations provide value for money experiences - making travelling more affordable , increasing tourism demand

• a variety of websites and applications (eg trip.com) which allows travelers to compare reviews, prices and book more affordably through it

example :

• Thomas cook invented tour packages during the industrial revolution and was credited with bringing tourism to the masses. Such tour packages made travel affordable for many people in the UK as tour companies purchase transport and accommodation in bulk, often at discounted prices and then self them off through tour packages at competitive rates

• Websites such as Expedia and Trivago have search engines specifically for travelers to compare prices and reviews, and boon their trips directly off the website, often offering promotional prices

ability to travel : lower transport costs

• air transport (which is heavily relied on by international tourism) has become increasingly affordable

• air fares have significantly dropped over the years, especially due to the emergence of budget airlines - which offer air tickets at lower prices

example :

• Budget airlines sch as AirAsia, which offer significantly lower prices, have become increasingly popular for travel within Southeast Asia.

ability to travel : lower accommodation costs

• variety of accommodations has increased from rented properties to hotels and bed and breakfast stays

• business innovations such as Airbnb made it possible for property owners to rent their properties to tourist at different prices

• wide variety caters to a range of different budgets and needs, making travelling more affordable

example :

• Airbnb is a business innovation that offers options for accommodation, often at competitive prices. It connects people who want to rent heir homes out to tourists, increasing the variety of accommodation that tourists can stay in. In 2019, it was estimated that more than 2 million people stayed in an Airbnb property everyday.

mobility to travel : expansion of public transport services and infrastructure

• construction of infrastructures such as new roads, railways etc increases connectivity within different parts of the country as well as btw countries ( eg : sg to jb, shenzhen to hongkong) - allowing tourists to travel to more places in a shorter amount of time

• expansion of public transport services by increasing the number of bus and train routes makes it more convenient for tourist - leading to tourism growth

example :

• the opening of Changi Airport T4 means that there can be more flights form other parts of Asia to Sg or vice versa, making travel within the region more convenient

• Public transport services and infrastructure in Sg have greatly expanded in recent decades. Like the Downtown line which was developed to increase accessibility of some tourist destinations like Gardens by the Bay. There are also clear maps and signages available in many languages in MRT stations, helping tourists navigate.

mobility to travel : introduction of new modes of travel

• tourists can travel faster and further via land, sea and air transport

• commercial air travel has greatly boosted tourism through reduce travelling time, increased convenience of travelling long distance and lower travelling costs

example :

• In 1965, a conventional train would take 6h40min to travel from Tokyo to Osaka. with the introduction of the Shinkansen or bullet train, the trip has been shortened to 3h10min, increasing tourism in cities that are served by this network

• In the early 1950s, a commercial flight from Singapore to London would take 2 to 4 days with may stopovers. Now, air travel would take 14h without stopovers.

mobility to travel : increased private car ownerships

• allows families to travel comfortably and conveniently in their own vehicles to nearby attractions for leisure

• allows more freedom in the number of destinations one can visit and the time spent at each destination

• boosted domestic travel

example :

• In the 1950s, private car ownership in the US increased significantly, resulting in an increase in domestic tourism, which also expanded the hotel and motel businesses

• Car ownership in India has increased exponentially, causing Srinagar city which is known for its holy sites and snow clad mountain peaks to experience an influx of people visiting it by car in summer