1.1-1.2 Travel and Tourism

1.1

Reasons people travel

The reasons people travel are changing as the number of people that are able to travel change.

Factors like increased transport availability, longer holidays from work or study, and increased affordability have led to a rise in the number of people willing to travel.

Pandemics, earthquakes, and other types of disasters can limit the number

Leisure is one of the reasons

known as leisure tourism

Relaxation and fun

Leisure involves activities people do when they are away from work or school. A beach holiday is an example that involves sunbathing, picnics, enjoying cool drinks, and walking along the shore.

Nature and adventure

Nature tourism involves visiting a destination due to the natural environment. This includes visiting mountains, lakes and forests, coral reefs. It can be active too: hiking, camping, and wildlife observation.

Adventure tourism refers to visiting destinations that are physically challenging and fun. basically, outdoor activities such as canoeing scuba diving, rock climbing and zip-lining.

Sport

involves visiting places to enjoy a sport as a participant, competitior or spectator. They enjoy sports like basketball, tennis, or football and may travel to attend events, tournaments, or matches.

Health and wellbeing

refers to travel experiences that promote physical and mental health, such as spa retreats, wellness resorts, and yoga retreats. These activities focus on relaxation, stress relief, and overall well-being.

culture and sightseeing

involves exploring destinations to experience local customs, traditions, and historical landmarks. This includes activities such as visiting museums, attending cultural festivals, and enjoying local cuisine.

Special interest

Some tourists may have a special interest, hobby, or pastime. Some may want to enjoy themselves through a special interest like painting or cooking.

2. Business/MICE

people who travel for work-related purposes are called business tourists. Business tourists help to increase low-season hotel occupancy rates and restaurant customers.

MICE (reasons that a business tourist travels to a destination)

Meetings with collegues or customers

Incentive rewards for excellent work performance

Conference or convention attendance

Exhibition or trade event visiting

Meetings

Business tourists often attend meetings with colleauges and customers or suppliers. Cities have special meeting rooms for business meetings like Great Wolf Lodge and provide package deals like accommodation and catering for those who live far away.

incentives

Incentives are just encouragements or rewards offered by businesses, typically employees. i.e. a bonus towards an employee for reaching a goal that benefits the company

Conferences

people hold conferences to exchange ideas by presentations, making speeches and taking part in question and answering sessions.

Exhibition

Exhibitions are held due to conferences, where travel and tourism organizations show or demonstrate their products and services.

Conferences and exhibitions

These are large scale gatherings, and those who attend a major conference stay overnight at a hotel and become evening meal customers of catering businesses.

3. VFR (Visiting friends and relatives)

people just want to spend time with friends and relatives.

Factors that lead to increased VFR tourism are

1. increased access to transport, more money to spend, more time away from work or near retirement, or more family and friends living farther away from home.

2. VFR tourists may stay with their friends and family members or in local accommodations like a hotel. They are also consumers of transport, accommodation, and catering providers.

Other reasons of travel

1. Can be medical tourism; like laser eye surgery or dental work. Medical is different than health and well being. You’re recieving treatment, H&W is to maintain beauty and well being (spas)

2. Religious tourism. They travel to show respect or to feel closer to whomever they worship. For example, the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca for Muslims.

Types of Tourism

Domestic, inbound and outbound

Mass, packaged, unpackaged and specalist tourism

short-haul and long haul

independent travel

Sustainable, ecotourism, and responsible tourism

Domestic

Domestic tourists visit destinations in the country they live in.

Outbound tourists is people traveling away from the country they live in. A person from Canada traveling abroad is an example.

inbound

Inbound tourists is when people who are not residents of a country visit that country. For example, a person from Canada going into England.

outbound

Outbound tourists is people traveling away from the country they live in. A person from Canada traveling abroad is an example.

Mass

Mass tourism involves large groups visiting popular destinations, often during peak seasons, leading to overcrowding and littering, noise and air pollution. For example, Universal Studios in Orlando, FL during the summer. Also, leads to more jobs, results of a successful destination brand, and more revenue.

packaged

Packaged tourism is pre-arranged travel with set itineraries. It is organized by tour operators.

unpackaged and specialist tourism

Specialist tourism focuses on particular interests like adventure or eco-tourism. The African National Parks involve many holidays and tours including safaris. This can be a form of unpackaged tourism that allows for personalized travel experience.

What are types of package holidays

1. Dynamic packages: components chosen by customers

2. All-inclusive: including travel, accommodation and all meals

3. Mass-market:Sold in bulk to many customers. (Mass market tour operators keep prices low by organizing many identical holidays. those customers stay in the same hotel or group of hotels in the same destination)

4. special interest

What do tour operators do?

They combine separate tourism components like transport and accommodation to make a single package product to sell and promote to many people.

How can specialist tourism can turn into a form of unpackaged tourism

Independent travelers may organize different elements of a trip, like travel, accommodation and special interest activities, separately.

Short Haul and long haul

They just differ in length. Short haul flights are merely less than 3 hours, long haul is more than 6 hours. Medium haul is between 3-6 hours.

Some airlines use different definitions

Virgin Austrailia Airlines classifies any flight short haul if it is within Austrailia and Southeast Asia. However, American Airlines uses distance to classify long-haul flights as of 3000 miles.

Independent Travel

The term "independent travel" refers to travelers who plan and organize their own trips without relying on package tours or group itineraries. They have the flexibility to choose their destinations, accommodations, and activities based on personal preferences and interests, often leading to a more personalized travel experience.

Sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism refers to responsible travel practices that aim to minimize negative impacts on the environment, society, and economy, while promoting conservation and respecting local communities.

How can tourism providers like hotels be sustainable

reduce the use of natural resources like water, re-use plastic and recycling paper, glass and metal.

What is socially sustainable tourism

Tourism that prioritizes well-being and equity for local communities, ensuring respect for cultural heritage and local involvement in decision-making.

How can economically sustainable tourism help destinations

helps bring jobs and money to destinations that may be used to protect the future economy.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism focuses on responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, respect local cultures, and promotes sustainability.

Responsible tourism

1) tourists behaving responsibly towards the destination and its people

2)T&T providers and authorities behaving responsibly by managing or developing tourism so that the environment and local people are treated respectfully.

how does sustainable development helps the destination

promoting responsible resource use, ensuring economic growth while protecting the environment, and supporting local communities. It encourages long-term benefits, including job creation and conservation of natural and cultural heritage, which can enhance the destination's attractiveness.

The Changing structure of the travel and tourism industry

The different types of companies that make up the travel and tourism industry are the components of the industry.

components of the industry.

it includes business that provide a wide range of products and services.

Accommodation

where tourists stay overnight

Examples of accommodations

Hotels, motels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, resorts, and camping sites.

Catering businesses

they provide food and drink products

Examples of catering businesses

Restaurants, cafés, food trucks and takeaways (takeouts)

Travel agents

Professionals who assist individuals and groups with travel planning, booking transportation and accommodations, and providing travel advice.

What can travel agents be?

Retail shops, online travel agents using the interest by websites or social media, or specialists in one type of tourism like business tourism.

What do travel agencies mostly specialize in

Leisure, but some like the American Express Global Business Travel cater to the corporate or business tourists.

What is the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent?

A tour operator is a company that creates and packages travel itineraries, including booking accommodations, transportation, and activities, while a travel agent acts as a middleman, selling those pre-designed packages from various tour operators to customers

Transport Providers

travel and tourism businesses that provide different types of transport

Examples of different types of transport and provider organizations

air: low cost flights, long haul and short haul

Water: ferry service operators, cruise ship operators, water taxi companies

Rail transport:Train companies, tram operators, mass rapid transit and underground railway operators

Road: Taxi, car hire, buses

Visitor attractions

there are various types of those

Natural attractions

waterfalls, volcanoes, mountain valleys, beautiful lakes. Those appeal tourists because of scenery.

Built attractions

they are a building or monument that appeals to tourists like a museum or theme park.

Ancillary services

additional services that support the travel and tourism industry, but are not directly involved in the industry itself

examples of ancillary services

tour agents/guided tours

Currency exchange: Tourists may need to exchange their home country’s currency from another destination.

Car hire/bike hire: they may be provided as an extra, ancillary service for customers.

Change

the structure of the travel and tourism industry is constantly changing. Components are becoming more integrated and less separated.

Ways that the industry structure is changing

1. Vertical and horizontal integration

2. The rise of dynamic packaging and independent travel

3. increasing sustainability awareness

4. online travel and tourism booking

Vertical integration

happens when travel and tourism businesses from different components join together to form a single business.

horizontal integration

when different business of the same travel and tourism industry component join together to make a single business.

examples of companies that use vertical integration

McDonald's

Owns some plants and has created its own manufacturing businesses to ensure the consistency of its products

Yes, Walmart is considered a prime example of a company that utilizes vertical integration, as they own and operate various stages of their supply chain, including retail stores, distribution centers, and even transportation fleets,

examples of horizontal integration

Facebook and Instagram. A real-world example of horizontal integration is the acquisition of Instagram by Facebook in 2012. (acquisition means purchased)

A third example of horizontal mergers is the 2012 acquisition of Porsche automobiles by Volkswagen

The rise of independent travel and dynamic packaging

T&T providers have become more flexible. Tourism operators arrange the tour and independent travel customers can package their own holiday.

what is dynamic packaging

Dynamic packaging is a method used in package holiday bookings to enable consumers to build their own package of flights, accommodation, and car rental. Therefore a combination of independent travel and tour operations.

increasing sustainability awareness

T&T businesses are increasingly satisfying customer needs and wants.

How are T&T businesses are increasingly satisfying customer needs and wants?

providing more sustainable tourism products and services.

Examples of how are T&T businesses are increasingly satisfying customer needs and wants

restaurants provide locally sourced organic food options, reduce plastic usage, and re-use recycled paper napkins and table cloths to set tables in the dining room.

online travel and tourism booking

More online travel and tourism booking opportunities have become available on the internet and social media. It allows easier access towards accommodation websites and provider apps through downloading

Key Concept 1, change and development

T&T is changing. Numbers of tourists and reasons for travel are changing. People have more time and money availiable for time and money for travel. Diseases and threats affect tourists’ freedom and confidence to travel.

Tip 1

Classification systems have limitations: for example the medical and health and well-being overlap.

1.2

Travel and Tourism Destinations

Types of destinations

1. Resort Towns

2. Country-side areas

3. City-destinations

4. Coastal and island destinations

5. Purpose-built resorts

Resort Towns

A resort town is a place where tourism is the main part of the local economy and culture, and often has resorts nearby.

How are resort towns important for the destination

Resort towns depend on tourists for jobs and money. For example, a seaside town may be a resort town if leisure tourism is a very important part of the town’s economy.

Examples of resort towns

Clearwater, Cancun in Mexico, Whistler in Canada that is a ski resort for those who are sport/adeventure tourists

City destination

They are cities that attract tourists. VFRs, Leisure and Businesss, as well as medical or religous tourists. i.e. Hong Kong.

Country-side area

destinations that tourists visit. they include national/nature parks and nature reserves.

What and why are countryside areas protected?

They are protected by governments to conserve the natural envrionment.

Coastal and island destinations

They may also be beach destinations, hence why tourists visit there.

Purpose built resorts

examples are: Theme parks, all inclusive resorts, and purpose built resorts.

Theme parks

they are visitor attractions that provide catering, accommodations and activities all in one, large facility.

All-inclusive resorts

large hotels that have sites with many facilities and services at a single price.

The changing appeal of destinations to different external customer types

Tourists choose destinations that appeal to them

How may tourists be limited

factors like cost and affordability, availability, restrictions, and border control like from the pandemic.

The appeal of a destination has several elements.

Different tourists are attracted by different elements that appeal them on the destination

i.e. how might a leisure tourist seeking summer fun may find a beach destination attractive

1. the weather is nice and warm

   2. they have leisure activites like jetskiis

2. accommodation and catering are available,

3. easily accessible

4. there are sustainable practices like sustainable transportation

Examples of sustainable tourism

walking and cycling, carpooling, electric vehicles

How does that help the environment

• Reduced emissions: Sustainable transportation can help reduce carbon emissions and air pollution. 

• Cost savings: Sustainable transportation can save money on fuel and vehicles, and can also save time by eliminating the need to find a parking spot. 

• Improved health: Sustainable transportation can improve your physical fitness. 

• Job creation: The manufacturing of vehicles, batteries, and fuel can create jobs. 

• Energy security: Sustainable transportation can reduce reliance on foreign sources of materials and fuels

Elements of destination appeal

1. Accessibility

2. Built and natural attractions

3. Sustainable practices and provisions

4. Weather and climate

5. Historical and cultural attractions

6. Others

Accessibility

It is an important element of destination appeal for persons with reduced mobility (PRMs). Increasingly, accessibility provision is made for people who have specific mobility needs

What can increase a destinations accessibility

Transport infrastructure (including public transport), roads, airports and ports

Why are some destinations like Orlando, FL are easier to reach than others

They have transport links. Orlando International Airport is a gateway airport and a hub airport.

why are transport links important

Transportation links, or transportation networks, are the infrastructure that allows for the movement of people and goods. They have characteristics like speed and capacity for roadways; Poor transport links can make it difficult for people to get to work, especially those on low or minimum wage, as they may have to travel further, pay more, or use less frequent public transport. 

Built and natural attractions

It adds appeal towards tourists in its surrounding area.

Nature features like mountains, rivers and lakes add to a destinations appeal towards who?

adventure and sightseeing tourists

What can adventure and sightseeing tourists do?

From spring to autumn, tourists can mountain bike, hike, fish, paddleboard, photograph the scenery, etc.

What allows more awareness at destinations and for people to become actual customers?

Increasing access to the internet and social media

Demand for sustainable tourism

ease of booking independent travel

Weather and climate

Tourists can use websites and weather apps to research temperature, rainfall and snow data. They can make informed choices on where they can go.

Why has there been an increase in the number of bookings of accommodation and catering in ski resorts, most short notice?

Online weather information tells ski tourists when in real time there will be enough snow.

Historical and cultural attractions

Local traditions, arts, and music adds to the appeal of the destinations such as Marrakesh, Morocco to cultural tourists.