Sustainable Tourism Level 4 Comprehensive Study Notes

Assessment and Institutional Information

  • College: ORBIT TVET COLLEGE
  • Campus: MANKWE
  • Instructional Offering: SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN SA
  • Instructional Programme: TOURISM
  • Level & Group: 4 TA & MP
  • Assessment Number: 04
  • Lecturer: MOKOKA LG
  • Assessment Date: 07/06/2020
  • Task Identification Code: ORBIT-3-SUSTAINABLE TOURISM L4 TASK 4 -LGM/Igm
  • Total Marks: 120

Tourism Terminology and Definitions

  • Embassy: The establishment where staff members provide assistance to travelers, particularly those encountering difficulties in a foreign country.
  • Bank holiday: The specific term used to refer to a British public holiday.
  • Icon: An attraction that is globally recognized and closely linked to a specific destination.
  • Foreign exchange: The process of converting the currency of one's home country into the currency of another country for holiday or travel purposes.
  • Climate: The average weather conditions that prevail in a specific geographical area over an extended period of time.
  • Additional Terms provided for selection:
    • Currency, customs, visa, passport, transit, temperature, getaway, latitude, longitude, bank, identity document.

Global Geography: Cities, Gateway Airports, and IATA Codes

  • Cape Town, South Africa:
    • Gateway Airport: Cape Town International
    • IATA Code: CPT
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina:
    • Gateway Airport: Ministro Pistarini International
    • IATA Code: EZE
  • Ottawa, Canada:
    • Gateway Airport: MacDonald-Cartier International
    • IATA Code: YOW
  • Cairo, Egypt:
    • Gateway Airport: Cairo International
    • IATA Code: CAI
  • Paris, France:
    • Gateway Airport: Charles de Gaulle
    • IATA Code: CDG
  • Delhi, India:
    • Gateway Airport: Indira Gandhi International
    • IATA Code: DEL

International Destinations: Capitals and Attractions

  • Brazil:
    • Capital City: Brasília
    • Major Tourist Attraction: Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro) or Amazon Rainforest.
  • France:
    • Capital City: Paris
    • Major Tourist Attraction: Eiffel Tower or Louvre Museum.
  • China:
    • Capital City: Beijing
    • Major Tourist Attraction: Great Wall of China or Forbidden City.
  • Thailand:
    • Capital City: Bangkok
    • Major Tourist Attraction: The Grand Palace or Wat Arun.
  • Italy:
    • Capital City: Rome
    • Major Tourist Attraction: Colosseum or Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Climatic Zones of the World

  • Travelers and tourism professionals must understand various climatic zones, including:
    • Tropical Zone: Characterized by high temperatures and significant rainfall throughout the year, located near the equator.
    • Arid/Desert Zone: Characterized by extremely low precipitation and high evaporation rates, often with extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.
    • Temperate Zone: Experiences moderate rainfall and distinct seasonal changes (spring, summer, autumn, winter).
    • Polar Zone: Defined by extremely cold temperatures and permanent ice or permafrost.

Health and Wellness in Travel: Jet Lag

  • Common Myths Regarding Jet Lag:
    • Many passengers erroneously believe jet lag is caused solely by a lack of sleep.
    • Some passengers believe consuming alcohol (e.g., a glass of wine) on a plane will cure or prevent jet lag.
    • Others believe that taking sleeping pills ensures one arrives fresh and overcomes jet lag symptoms.
  • Scientific Reality: Jet lag is not caused simply by lack of sleep but by the disruption of the body's internal biological clock (circadian rhythm) when crossing multiple time zones.
  • Effects of Jet Lag:
    • Fatigue and daytime sleepiness.
    • Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns.
    • Difficulty concentrating or cognitive "fog."
    • Digestive issues or upset stomach.
  • Reduction Strategies:
    • Staying hydrated by drinking water and avoiding alcohol.
    • Adjusting sleep schedules gradually to the destination's time zone before departure.
    • Seeking exposure to natural sunlight at the destination to help reset the circadian rhythm.
  • Daylight Saving Time (DST): Countries like Tunisia may set their clocks one hour ahead of local standard time during summer to maximize the use of natural daylight and accommodate seasonal light changes.

Singapore Transit and City Tour Regulations

  • The Free Singapore City Tour: Offered by Singapore Tours for passengers in transit.
  • Eligibility Requirements:
    • Passengers must be in transit or transferring.
    • There must be at least 55 hours of connecting time available.
  • Registration Locations: Registration counters are located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
  • Required Documentation:
    • A valid passport.
    • A completed immigration embarkation/disembarkation card (available at the tour counter).
    • A valid air ticket or boarding pass for the connecting flight.
  • Prohibited Items on the Tour Coach:
    • Liquor.
    • Tobacco in cartons.
    • Bulky baggage.

Flight Logistics and Terminology

  • Route Planning (Example: Mpumalanga to Matsumoto via Abu Dhabi):
    • Route Breakdown (IATA): KMIA (Kruger Mpumalanga) → AUH (Abu Dhabi) → TYO (Tokyo) / MMJ (Matsumoto).
    • Transit City: Abu Dhabi (AUH).
  • Types of Flights:
    • Direct Flight: A flight between two points that may make one or more intermediate stops but maintains the same flight number.
    • Non-stop Flight: A flight that travels from the origin to the destination without any intermediate stops.
    • Connecting Flight: A journey that requires passengers to change aircraft and potentially flight numbers at an intermediate point (transit city).
  • Practical Implications for Connecting Flights:
    • Minimum Connection Time (MCT) requirements.
    • Luggage transfer responsibilities.
    • Transferring between different airport terminals.
    • Potential for delays affecting the second leg of the journey.
    • Visa requirements for the transit country (Transit Visas).
  • Passenger Responsibility for Luggage: Passengers must confirm at check-in that their baggage is "booked through" to the final destination to avoid having to reclaim and re-check it during transit.

Group Travel and Import Regulations

  • Disadvantages of Group Travel:
    • Lack of flexibility or spontaneity in the itinerary.
    • Compulsory adherence to fixed schedules.
    • Less privacy compared to solo or couple travel.
    • Potential for personality clashes within the group.
    • Waiting for slower group members at attractions or during transfers.
  • Prohibited Items for Importation into South Africa:
    • Narcotics and habit-forming drugs.
    • Fully automatic weapons.
    • Explosives and fireworks.
    • Poisonous substances.
    • Unprocessed meat, dairy products, or plant materials (unless specifically permitted).

Financial Aspects of Tourism: Taxes and Refunds

  • Airport/Departure Tax: A fee charged to passengers departing from an airport, often included in the ticket price, used for airport maintenance and security.
  • Determining Departure Tax: Tourists can find information regarding departure tax from their travel agent, airline, or the official airport website.
  • VAT Refund Claims:
    • Required Details on a Tax Invoice:
      1. The words "Tax Invoice."
      2. Registered name and address of the seller.
      3. VAT registration number of the seller.
      4. Date of the transaction.
      5. A full description of the goods or services.
      6. The total amount including VAT.
    • Eligibility: There is usually a minimum spend threshold (e.g., R 250 in South Africa) before a tourist can claim VAT back.
    • Timing: VAT must be claimed back at the point of departure (e.g., airport or border post) before leaving the country.

Travel-Related Diseases and Health Symptoms

  • Yellow Fever / Dengue Fever:
    • Transmission: Viral infection transmitted via mosquito bites.
    • Symptoms: High fever, headache, muscle pain, and nausea.
  • Malaria:
    • Transmission: Transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with a parasite.
    • Symptoms: Chills, fever, sweating, and fatigue.
  • COVID-19:
    • Transmission: Respiratory droplets and viral contact.
    • Symptoms: Fever, dry cough, tiredness, and loss of taste or smell.