Destination Geography

Travel & Tourism - Standard 1 Objective 2 - Part I

Travel and Tourism Questions

•Where is it?•What does the destination look like?

•How does it relate to other destinations?

Travel Questions cont.•When is the best time to go?

•What are the local customs?

•How do I find information?•What’s happening?

WHERE IS IT?

Place Names Describe• Geographic Features• Historical Events• An event in the background of the Original Inhabitants

Basic Tools MAPMAP Geographer’s traditional and most valued tool.

ATLAS ATLAS An atlas is a collection of flat maps bound together for ease of use.

What is on a Map?

• Title• Date• Author• Legend

• Scale• Index• Grid• Surrounding Places

Who designs a map?

A CARTOGRAPHER is a MAPMAKER

EgocentrismPutting one’s own country in the center of a map!

GPS

Global Positioning System (GPS) uses radio signals broadcast by satellites to know where you are. It was developed for the military.

What Does the Destination Look Like?

H2O - Water 70% of the earth’s surface is water.

Oceans in size order:•Pacific•Atlantic• Indian•Artic

Waterfalls Waterfalls attract millions

of people each year. Some of the most popular are:

Angel Falls – VenezuelaNiagara Falls –

Canada/U.S.Waterfalls in:

Yosemite National ParkYellowstone National Park

IslandsThe five types of Islands:• Barrier Islands• Continental Islands• Coral Islands• Tectonically formed Islands• Volcanic Islands

Deserts•Deserts cover 1/5 of the earth

•The largest desert in the world is The Sahara

How does it relate to other destinations?

Tools of Measurement•The United States uses the English system of measurement.

•The rest of the world uses the metric system.

WHAT TIME IS IT??? The invention of the telegraph and the

need to produce train schedules nudged the world into standardizing time.

Systems of Time•24-hour Clock•Military

•A.M./P.M. System•To turn into the 24-hour clock simply add 12 to the number.

Example: If it is 4:00 p.m. it would be 1600 hours.

International Date Line

The International Date Line is located in the Pacific Ocean

Today is…•There are 12 time zones West of Greenwich and 12 to the East.

•There always 2 calendar days in the world.

•The date to the west of the International Date Line is one day later than the date to the east of the line.

When is the best time to go?

Climate vs. Weather•Climate is the sum of weather over a period of time.

•Weather is what is happening now.

Weather•Temperature•Atmospheric Pressure

•Wind

•Humidity•Precipitation•Clouds

Variables Affecting Climate

•Latitude•Elevation•Proximity to Water

•Ocean Currents•Topography•Prevailing Winds

Mountain Sickness•Mountain Sickness is caused when you ascend to an elevation higher than 8,000 feet.

•Symptoms are headaches, nausea, sleeplessness

Equator•Marks the boundary line between North and South Hemispheres

•Marks reversal of the seasons

Seasonality The peaks and valleys of demand for a destination and its facilities

Peak Season•High demand

•Prices go up

Shoulder Season

•Low demand▫Few People Travel

•Low prices

Something to remember…

Price and Accessibility do not always correlate with physical distance between destinations.

Marketer’s JobEven out seasonality…

Ideas: Lowering Rates Schedule Special EventsEncourage Conventions

World Events•Positive•Negative•Affects travel and tourism