chaper 2 - Methods of Tourist Travel

Importance of Air Travel:
- Air travel has made it feasible to establish luxury resorts on remote islands.
- Enabled multinational enterprises and enhanced the travel opportunities for millions.
- Most resort destinations would be virtually impossible to build without airlines.
Impact on Travel and Tourism Industry:
- Airlines make travel more convenient and accessible, increasing international travelers significantly.
- Air transport is a crucial element for the profitability of hotels, car rental agencies, and cruise lines.
- Lower airfares lead to increased passenger numbers which enhances hotel occupancy.
- Local economies benefit from tourism tax revenues, which improve public services and facilities.

Airplane Fleet and Passengers:
- Approximately 5,000 airplanes in the United States during peak times.
- In 2015, 895,500,000 passengers traveled system-wide.
Industry Growth Trends:
- The airline industry saw rapid growth in the 1990s, continuing into the present with trends towards cheaper flights due to lower fuel costs.
- Future industry growth is anticipated alongside enhanced security measures in airports and onboard.

The advent of jet aircraft has made previously remote destinations like Bali, Boracay, and Bangkok reachable at reasonable costs.
U.S. airlines have formed strategic alliances with international carriers to simplify ticketing and broaden route access.
A feeder market is defined as a market providing consumers for a specific airline.

Companies like Southwest Airlines have achieved success through a low-cost, high customer satisfaction model with unionized workforces.
Airlines such as TED (United's subsidiary), Song, Delta, and JetBlue operate with lower costs by having standardized fleets and offering no-frills services.
Measures of airline performance:
- Load Factor: Calculated as $rac{ ext{Number of Passengers}}{ ext{Number of Seats}}$ .
- Cost per Available Seat Mile (CASM): $rac{ ext{Operating Expenses}}{ ext{Total Available Seat Miles}}$ .
- Total Revenue per Available Seat Mile (TRASM): $rac{ ext{Total Operating Revenue}}{ ext{Available Seat Miles}}$ .
To counteract losses from deregulation and rising fuel costs, airlines have eliminated unprofitable routes, often those serving smaller cities.

Definition:
- A hub and spoke system allows passengers to travel between smaller cities via one or more centralized hubs.
Benefits:
- Cost-effective for airlines by servicing more cities.
- Maximizes passenger loads from small cities, thereby saving fuel.

Changing travel technologies have reshaped societal travel patterns.
Rail Influence:
- Rail travel led to the growth of towns, hotels near rail depots, and opened the West for expansion.
Auto Travel:
- The automobile has become the dominant form of short-distance transportation, offering flexibility and convenience.
- It generates significant revenue for local economies due to car tourism.
Travel Preferences:
- Costs, preferences, and travel purposes (business or pleasure) heavily influence mode of transport selection.

Historically, trains were vital for moving goods and people; however, bus and car dominance began in the 1920s.
Passenger rail travel continues to face challenges from automobiles and budget constraints.
Amtrak Development:
- Established to sustain rail services amid declining ridership, creating a semi-nationalized rail system.

European and Asian rail systems operate high-speed trains efficiently, minimizing air travel's dominance.
Examples include:
- Eurostar: Connects the UK with mainland Europe via a channel tunnel.
- TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse): Operates at speeds reaching 201 mph, known for efficiency and comfort.
- Shinkansen in Japan: Connects Tokyo and Osaka in under three and a half hours.
- Eurail Pass: Offers unlimited first-class travel across Europe to tourists.

Maglev Train Technology:
- Definition: Trains that use magnetic levitation to achieve high speeds (over 300 mph).
- Currently implemented in Shanghai with potential for a line connecting to Beijing.

The automobile revolutionized American life, serving as the predominant form of transport.
Advantages of car travel include access to previously hard-to-reach locations, generating substantial economic benefits.
Automobile Associations:
- Organizations such as AAA and CAA provide essential roadside services and advocate for improved automobile regulations related to safety.

Approximately 5,000 rental car companies operate in the U.S. with large percentages of business coming from airport operations.
Major companies include Hertz, Avis, and Budget, primarily catering to business travelers who need short-term rentals.

While less competitive versus airlines, bus travel remains significant for charter and tour services.
It offers affordable options, especially for passengers with time flexibility, such as students and seniors.
Gray Line:
- A prominent company that organizes sightseeing tours globally, providing a critical service in the tourism sector.

Governments play crucial roles in regulating tourism and fostering growth through strategic policies.
International Organizations:
- United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO): Facilitates global tourism development.
- International Air Transport Association (IATA): Regulates airline operations and ensures fare stability.

State Offices of Tourism: Develop tourism strategy at state levels, promoting local attractions.
City-Level Bureau: Includes Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) which attract tourism, funded by hotel taxes.

National Tour Association (NTA): Acts as a central body for tour operators within North America.
Travel Agents:
- Serve as intermediaries, offering personalized travel arrangements through various channels like cruise lines and airlines.
- Commission revenues have declined, leading many agents to focus on niche markets like cruises.

Corporate travel managers optimize travel policies for organizations, yielding significant savings.
Online booking trends are rising, prompting companies to adapt corporate strategies to manage travel more effectively.

Cultural tourism is driven by interest in historical and artistic experiences that enhance the travel experience through engagement with local customs and heritage.
Tourism influences local arts positively by creating markets for traditional crafts and encouraging cultural exchanges.

Sustainable Tourism: Focuses on harmonizing tourism expansion with environmental conservation.
Ecotourism: Emphasizes responsible travel in natural areas while benefiting local communities economically.
Ethical Travel: Aims for fairness in tourism, improving local economies and ecological practices.

The ongoing development of travel modes through improvements in technology, increasing demand, and market adaptations will shape the future of the travel and tourism industry.
Responsible practices in tourism are essential to ensure that both tourists and local populations derive benefits from travel experiences.