Tourism Systems and Development Notes

1.1 Tourism System

  • Tourists: People who travel to and stay in a place outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours but not more than 1 consecutive year, regardless of travel purpose.
  • Types of Tourism:
    • Domestic Tourism: Tourism within a tourist’s own country.
    • International Tourism: Tourism outside of a tourist’s own country.
  • Tourism System:
    • The tourism boom transforms places into tourist destination regions, attracting tourists with different personality characteristics at different stages of their life cycle.

Components of the Tourism System

  • Key components: tourist generating regions, tourist destination regions, and transit routes.
  • Interconnected components influence the volume and direction of travel.
  • Tourist generating regions send people to tourist destination regions via transit routes.
  • Example: A 40-year-old executive from Singapore flies to Manchester, England, to watch a football match.
    • Tourist: 40-year-old executive.
    • Tourist generating region: Singapore.
    • Tourist destination region: Manchester, England.
    • Transit route: Air travel.

Influence of Transit Routes

  • The volume and direction of travel are influenced by transit routes.
  • More transit routes increase travel options, potentially shortening travel time and offering more direct routes.
  • Example: An Indian resident from New Delhi travels to Singapore.
    • Singapore is a popular destination with 1.4 million tourists from India in 2018.
    • Transit routes: Direct air travel or with a stopover in Bangkok, Thailand.

Availability of Transit Routes

  • Volume: The number of tourists traveling.
  • Direction of travel: The specific route taken.
  • Example: Few direct flights from Singapore to Brazil result in fewer tourists traveling between these locations.
  • Example: A tourist traveling from Singapore to New York City can take a direct flight or fly via Japan or Dubai.

Tourism Regions Definitions

  • Tourism generating regions: Source of tourists; location of significant sectors of the tourism production system.
  • Tourism destination regions: Attracts tourists; experiences consequences of tourism development; location of primary elements of the production system.
  • Transit routes: Routes tourists travel to reach destinations.

Relationship Between Generating and Destination Regions

  • Push factors at tourist generating regions.
  • Pull factors at tourist destination regions.
  • Movement of tourists results from a combination of push-pull factors.
  • Interdependence of tourists, businesses, and organizations.

Push and Pull Factors

  • Push Factors (Generating Regions):
    • Stressful work environment.
    • Unpleasant living environments (overcrowding, pollution).
    • Lack of recreational and entertainment options.
  • Pull Factors (Destination Regions):
    • Scenic beauty.
    • Special events (concerts, festivals).
    • Attractions, facilities, and amenities that provide positive experiences.
  • Interplay between push and pull factors creates the need and motivation to travel.

Push and Pull Examples

  • People in fast-paced urban environments like Singapore seek nature for relaxation.
  • Driven by a hectic lifestyle, they travel to scenic spots like Cameron Highlands in Malaysia for a relaxed environment, cooler weather, and mountainous views.

Interdependence in Tourism

  • Tourists, businesses, and organizations in tourist generating and destination regions are mutually dependent.
  • Tourists need services such as hotels, and businesses depend on tourists for revenue.
  • Tour agencies rely on tourists for revenue and benefit hotels by making reservations.
  • Tourist organizations recommend businesses to potential tourists, benefiting the businesses.
  • Example: The British Hospitality Association (BHA) accredits accommodations, influencing tourist choices and benefiting accredited businesses.
  • Interdependence: Each depends on the other.

Tourism Interaction with Environment, Communities, and Economies

  • Tourism activity interacts with nature, communities, and economies locally and beyond.
  • Businesses build tourism-related structures in nature areas (lodgings, lookouts, restaurants).

Positive Impacts

  • Tourists require services, giving local communities opportunities and benefiting local economies.
  • Example: Visiting Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, tourists interact with nature and local communities, contributing to the local economy.
    • Natural limestone formations attract tourists.
    • Community-based tourism involves locals.
    • Tourists visit floating villages, immersing in local life.
    • Local communities gain employment and increase incomes.

Positive Impacts on the Environment

  • Tourists minimize their footprint, reducing harm to wildlife and pollution in Antarctica.
  • Raise awareness about the fragility of Antarctica’s environment, inspiring conservation efforts.
  • Tourist activities can fund scientific research and conservation projects.

Negative Impacts

  • Degradation of natural environments, resulting in fewer tourists, affecting locals' livelihoods.
  • Decreased incomes and job losses.
  • Example: Boracay, Philippines, closed due to waste management and environmental concerns.
  • Economic downturns in tourist generating regions affect tourist destination regions.
  • Example: In the Maldives, the 2009 global economic crisis decreased visitor arrivals by 4% and tourism receipts by 8.3%.

Impact on Local Economy

  • Businesses directly related to tourism are negatively impacted.
  • Fishermen supplying fish to hotels and construction companies building tourist infrastructure face slowdowns.

1.2 Motivation to Travel and Growth of Tourism

  • Motivation to travel: Needs that are satisfied by traveling (push and pull factors).
  • International tourist arrivals increased from 25 million in 1950 to 1.5 billion per year in 2019 (UNWTO).
  • Motivations include seeking relaxation, personal growth, self-fulfillment, and unique experiences.

The Need for Relaxation

  • Increasingly hectic lifestyles drive people to seek relaxation through travel.
  • Travel provides a means to “get away from it all,” rest, and rejuvenate.
  • Example: People from England visit Phuket, Thailand, for its coastal tranquility.
  • Theme parks provide a different routine, enabling escape from stress.
  • Example: Universal Studios Singapore offers immersive experiences.

The Need for Personal Growth and Self-Fulfillment

  • Travelers seek personal growth, leading to learning new skills.
  • Example: Cooking schools in Bali cater to tourists wanting to learn Balinese cuisine.
  • Spiritual growth is sought through pilgrimage tourism.
  • Example: Over two million Muslims travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for pilgrimage.
  • Challenging activities such as mountain climbing or sky diving fulfill potential.
  • Example: Increasing numbers of tourists climb Mount Everest.

The Need to Discover Unique Travel Experiences

  • Travelers seek environments and cultures different from their own.
  • Activities include hiking in remote forests or sailing to glacial landscapes.
  • Social media raises interest in unique destinations.

Accessibility Enhancements

  • Globalization and vast transport networks connect remote areas to major cities.
  • Remote and unique places experience a rise in tourism numbers.

Popularity of Lesser-Known Destinations

  • Travelers desire adventure and exclusivity, away from crowded destinations.
  • Pristine nature in places like Antarctica attracts tourists.
  • Increased awareness of environmental conservation promotes eco-tourism and sustainability.
  • Social media inspires visits to remote locations.

2. Ability to Travel

  • Increased ability to travel leads to tourism growth.
  • Factors: growth in disposable income, increased leisure time, business innovations, lower transport costs, and lower accommodation costs.

Growth in Disposable Income

  • Travel is a luxury pursued when basic needs are met.
  • Increased individual incomes improve the quality of life.
  • Example: The number of outbound tourists from China reached nearly 155 million in 2019, due to increasing income.

Business Innovations

  • Business innovations and lower transport and accommodation costs facilitate travel.
  • People spend increased incomes on travel, resulting in tourism growth.
  • Example: GDP per capita in China grew from 3,4303,430 in 1999 to 17,10017,100 in 2019, leading to increased tourist departures.

Increase in Leisure Time

  • Paid vacation leave, public holidays, and shorter work weeks increase leisure time.
  • Paid time off from work enhances the financial ability to travel.
  • Example: In 2015, the Chinese government encouraged employers to give workers a half-day paid off on Fridays to encourage domestic tourism.

Business Innovations in Tourism-Related Industry

  • Developments in transport and communications lower travel costs.
  • Fuel-efficient transport and increased carrying capacity lower travel costs.
  • Businesses offer affordable travel options, increasing demand for tourism.
  • Websites and applications provide personalized and value-for-money travel experiences.
  • Example: Websites like Expedia and Trivago allow comparison of accommodation options and direct bookings.

Lower Transport Costs

  • International tourism relies on increasingly affordable air transport.
  • Increased carrying capacity of transport modes lowers costs.
  • Example: Airbus A-380 can carry up to 853 passengers, lowering transport costs for travelers.
  • Innovations in communications, such as the internet, lower travel costs.
  • Decreasing airfares, especially with budget airlines, lower transport costs.
  • Example: Budget airlines like AirAsia offer significantly lower prices for travel within Southeast Asia.

Lower Accommodation Costs

  • Increased variety of accommodation types, from rented properties to hotels and bed and breakfast stays, caters to different budgets.
  • Business innovations like AirBnB enable property owners to rent properties to tourists.
  • Example: AirBnB connects tourists needing accommodation with those who want to provide their homes at competitive prices.

3. Mobility to Travel

  • Increased mobility leads to the growth of tourism.
  • Expansion of public transport services and infrastructure.
  • Introduction of new modes of travel.
  • Increase in private car ownership.

Expansion of Public Transport

  • Construction of roads, railways, and airports increases connectivity.
  • Tourists can travel to more places in shorter times.
  • Example: The opening of Changi Airport’s Terminal 4 means more flights from Asia to Singapore, making travel more convenient.
  • Expanded public transport services within destination regions facilitate tourist mobility.
  • Example: Public transport in Singapore has expanded, including the Downtown MRT line to increase accessibility to tourist attractions like Gardens by the Bay.

Introduction of New Modes of Travel

  • Rapid development of transportation technology.
  • Tourists can travel faster and further via land, sea, and air transport.
  • Example: The introduction of bullet trains (Shinkansen) shortened travel time from Tokyo to Osaka.
  • Commercial air travel has greatly boosted tourism.
  • Technological developments since the 1950s enabled faster, more fuel-efficient aircraft, reducing travel time and costs.
  • Example: In the early 1950s, a flight from Singapore to London took two to four days. Today, it takes 14 hours without stopovers.

Increased Private Car Ownership

  • Private car ownership improves travel convenience to locations within the country.
  • More people use personal vehicles for leisure travel, increasing mobility.
  • Example: Increased car ownership in Srinagar City in India allows people to enjoy mountain scenery and visit holy sites.

1.3 Development of Tourist Destination Regions Over Time

  • Tourist destinations evolve through six stages.
  • Popularity grows when investors, tourists, and tour operators move into a newly discovered location.
  • Destinations may lose popularity and decline, but can regain it through rejuvenation measures.

Stages of Tourism Development

  • Not all destinations go through all six stages linearly.

1. Exploration Stage

  • Small number of tourists undertaking individual travel.
  • Irregular visits, not throughout the year.
  • Minimal contributions to the local economy.
  • Natural attractions or features offering scenic views or unspoiled environments.
  • Lack of facilities like carparks, roads, and toilets.
  • Example: Jaco Island in Timor Leste.

2. Involvement Stage

  • Increase in tourist arrivals due to advertisements and publicity.
  • Tourist arrivals vary by season (peak and non-peak).
  • Growing contributions to the local economy.
  • Rise in goods, services, and facilities for tourists (provided by locals).
  • Amenities and facilities built and maintained by local authorities.
  • Example: Kuang Si waterfalls in Luang Prabang, Laos.

3. Development Stage

  • Rapid increase in tourist numbers, with man-made attractions, advertisements, and foreign labor.
  • Significant employment in the tourism sector.
  • Labor from other parts of the country and other countries.
  • Rapid growth in attractions and facilities, heavy advertising.
  • Example: Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island.

4. Consolidation Stage

  • Annual tourist arrivals outnumber the local population.
  • Slowing growth in annual tourist arrivals.
  • Tourism industry dominates the local economy.
  • Tourist facilities and hotels are often owned by large multinational companies.
  • Example: Goa in India.

5. Stagnation Stage

  • Tourist arrivals peak, exceeding carrying capacity and causing negative impacts.
  • Contributions to the economy start to stagnate.
  • Facilities and attractions may decline.
  • Tourists feel the location no longer offers unique experiences.
  • Local businesses may close.
  • Example: Hawaii, USA (1990s to 2000s).

6. Decline Stage

  • Tourist arrivals decline significantly if no action is taken.
  • Contributions to the economy decline significantly.
  • Local businesses are affected and may close, negatively affecting the economy and livelihoods.
  • Less money available to maintain and improve facilities.
  • Facilities deteriorate further, leading to fewer tourists.
  • Example: Blackpool, UK (1990s).

7. Rejuvenation Stage

  • Destination becomes more attractive with new investments to develop attractions and facilities.
  • Re-branding leading to increased tourist arrivals.
  • Contribution to the economy increases again.
  • Funding is provided to redevelop buildings, facilities, and attractions.
  • Advertise the revamped tourist destination.
  • Example: Blackpool, UK (present).

4. Personality Types of Tourists

  • Spectrum of personality characteristics influence travel decisions.
  • Dependables and Venturers are the two broad types.
  • Most tourists fall between these extremes.
  • Small group of tourists belong to these extreme ends with about 2% to 4% of the population is classified either as pure Venturers or pure Dependables.
  • A larger number fit into the near-venturer or near-dependable categories, about 16%, in each case.

Characteristics of Tourist Types

Dependables

  • Cautious about spending money.
  • Guided by authority figures in making travel decisions.
  • Prefer structure and routine.
  • Travel in groups for comfort and security.
  • Visit popular and familiar destinations with well-developed facilities.
  • Prefer mass tourism due to predictability.

Venturers

  • Spend money more readily.
  • Follow travel trends set by other Venturers and public personalities.
  • Guided by personal judgment rather than authority figures in making travel decisions.
  • Prefer spontaneous and diverse activities.
  • Travel alone.
  • Explore less-developed, unique places.
  • Prefer niche tourism.

Influence of Personality Characteristics

  • Personality characteristics determine travel preferences and patterns.
  • The features of a tourist destination may appeal more to specific personalities, may only be found in certain destinations.
  • Example: Mongolia attracts Venturer-type tourists comfortable with fewer amenities.
  • Dependable-type tourists in Mongolia visit urban attractions.
  • Venturer-type tourists visit undeveloped areas.

Influence on Tourist Destination Development

  • Tourist destinations evolve and change over time, with personality characteristics influencing this development.
  • Venturer-type tourists often set travel trends, influencing Dependable-type tourists.
  • Planners can develop destinations to attract certain personality types.
  • To attract Dependable-type tourists, develop more facilities and structured tours.

Relationship Between Personality and Destination Evolution

  • Early stages of tourism development attract Venturer-type tourists.
  • As destinations develop, they provide more facilities and attract Dependable-type tourists.
  • Later stages attract more Dependable-type tourists due to increased commercialization.

How Venturer-Type Tourists Influence Dependable-Type Tourists

  • Venturer-type tourists discover places, which are then developed to cater to Dependable-type tourists.
  • Example: Costa Rica initially attracted Venturer-type tourists with natural environments.
  • As tourism developed, it began to attract more Dependable-type tourists, with more facilities being built.
  • Costa Rica was advised to protect its natural environments and promote adventurous activities to attract Venturer-type tourists.
  • Planning authorities can promote and develop tourist destinations by recognizing tourist personality characteristics.