Tourism• Tourism refers to the temporary movement

of people primarily for leisure and recreational purposes

• It is characterised by the interaction(s) between tourists and tourism destinations

Tourist • A tourist is defined as a person who travels

and stays away from his/her normal place of residence for more than 24 hours but less than a year, regardless of travel purpose

Tourism Types • Tourism is place-specific, tourists travel to

a specific physical location • Different spaces/environments (both

physical and human) in tourism destinations create diverse tourism activities

• There are therefore the presence of different tourism types

Honeypot Tourism

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France Taj Mahal, Agra, India

• Tourism honeypots refers to particularly popular visitor attractions which attract tourists in large numbers

MICE• Requisite: Destinations which provide good

amenities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions

Melbourne Convention Hall, Australia Yeosu Expo, S. Korea

Medical/ Health Tourism• Requisites: Places with good medical

facilities or health facilities such as spas and hot springs

• Rise in medical tourism, especially in cosmetic procedures (S. Korea estimates 300 thousand medical tourists by 2015)

Film-induced Tourism• Tourism to destinations featured on

television, video, or cinema screen • Requisites: Physical or human landscape

which appears on television, video, or cinema screen (More prominent in popular/cult movies)

Heritage TourismTravelling to experience the authentic culture and history offered by a particular place and/or activity

The Ghats in Varanasi, IndiaKayan Culture, Burma

Religious Tourism• Travelling for religious purposes (e.g.

pilgrimage, missions, religious gatherings)• Requisite: Places with religious/holy sites

The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Israel

Dark TourismRequisite: Places with history of conflicts or history of mass deaths/ places which uses death as a theme of attraction

Catacombs of the Capuchins, Palermo, Italy- Over 8000 bodies hung on the walls like paintings!

New Types of Tourism• There are new types of tourism which are

constantly evolving or becoming more popular

• E.g. Adventure tourism /sustainable/space

Bungee Jumping, Queenstown, New Zealand

Learning Points • Tourism is place-specific• Different environments (both physical and

human) in tourism destinations create diverse opportunities for tourist activities

• Presence of requisites for each type of tourism

Definition • International

tourism refers to tourism outside of a tourist's own country

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• Domestic tourism refers to tourism within a tourist's own country

International Tourism trends

• Increasingly diverse in origins and destinations

• Asia pacific destinations becoming more popular

Domestic Tourism Trends• Grows along with international tourism• Especially in big countries like China and

Philippines

Changing Nature of TourismEvolution of mass tourism to niche tourism• Mass tourism- act of visiting a destination

with large amounts of people at one time• Dominated by Tour Operators offering low

cost, standardised package tours

• Niche tourism targets a specific market segment, usually with a well-defined product that can be tailored to meet the interests of the tourists

Tomatina, Bunyol, Spain Monkey Buffet, Lopburi, Thailand

Changing Nature of TourismFrom tour groups to independent travellers• Tourism moving towards independent

travel (e.g. backpacking) • Independent travel allows for more

flexibility in travel itinerary • Tourists are not bounded by restrictions

laid out by following tour groups

Changing Nature of TourismGrowth of long haul destinations • No standard definition of what is

considered long or short haul destinations• Some consider long haul destinations to be

more than 5 hours away by flight• Tourists moving away from regional

destinations to those which are further away (e.g. Singapore to Brazil/ USA)

Changing Nature of TourismDevelopment of package holidays Tour packages moving towards adopting niche tourism types (e.g. food and wine tourism)

Changing Nature of TourismDevelopment of short haul destinations• Short haul destinations have also tried to market

themselves to niche markets• For Singapore, rise in ecotourism and community-

based tourism in short haul destinations • E.g. Komodo national park, Orang Asli experience

Learning Points • The trend of global tourism is positive

seen from both rising tourist arrivals and tourism receipts

• Niche tourism types and independent travelling have become popular

• Package tours are adopting elements of niche tourism to attract the diverse market

• Tourism is the way to go because of the economic benefits it brings

Factors Causing Global Tourism Growth

Demand Factors Destination Factors

1. Increase in

Disposable

Income

2. Increase in

leisure time

3. Changing

Lifestyles

1. Attractions

2. Investment in

Infrastructure and

Services

3. Access to Information/

Marketing

4. Political Stability

Technology

Demand Factors

Factors that influence people’s desire and capability to travel and purchase tourism related goods and services

Demand FactorsDisposable Income• Refers to the amount

of money left for an individual to spend, or to be set aside as savings, after taxes

Demand FactorsDisposable Income• Increase in disposable income enables

people to spend more on goods and activities which would improve their quality of life

• Accounts for growth in tourism as people can afford to travel more frequently and to more expensive destinations

Demand FactorsLeisure Time• Refers to time available outside of the

demands of work or duty• Increasing trend where people enjoy a

minimum of three weeks of paid annual leave

• Increase in leisure time allows people to travel more

Demand FactorsChanging Lifestyles• Refers to the way a person lives which

includes patterns of social relations, consumption and entertainment

• Higher education levels propels people to travel to know more about the world

• Education has also developed varied interests in people resulting in people attracted to various tourist destinations (e.g. nature lovers to ecotourism)

Demand FactorsChanging Lifestyles• Travelling also acts as a stress-reliever

for people who want respite from urban/ working life

• Longer life expectancy and increasing affluence results in more people travelling the world after retirement

Destination FactorsDestination Factors • Related to the infrastructure and services

offered in tourism destinations that allow for more convenient and comfortable stay for tourists

Burj Al Arab , Dubai, UAE

Destination FactorsAttractions• Refers to the range of attractions in a

tourist location• Presence of attractions which are varied

in type would encourage tourists to visit the destination

• Has Singapore been successful in this area?

Destination Factors

Investment in Infrastructure and Services• Refers to the presence of a range of large-

scale public systems, services, and facilities

• Includes tourist accommodation, medical facilities, transport infrastructure, recreational and entertainment facilities

• Destination with more investments in infrastructure and services likely to attract more tourists

Destination Factors

Access to Information• Refers to the ease in which tourists are

able to obtain information of the destination

• This could be in the form of internet or print sources (e.g. Lonely Planet Guidebooks)

• Tourists more inclined to visit destinations that has more information available

Destination FactorsMarketing• Potential visitors get access to information

through the marketing of the destination by their respective countries

• Prevalent use of the mass media to advertise on certain marketable traits of destinations

• Destination more likely to attract visitors if marketing is done well

Destination FactorsPolitical Stability• Countries which are in the midst of

conflicts or wars are deemed to be unsafe for tourists

• E.g. Syria and Iraq are not visited currently despite having attractions

Ruins of Palmyra, Syria Great Ziggurat of Ur, Iraq

Technology• The advent of technology and various Web

tools makes travelling to another country much easier

• Can you think of technology available now which aids in increasing tourism that was not available in the past?

Learning Points • The growth of tourism is due to a

combination of demand and destination factors

• The growth of tourism is also propelled by the rise of technology which allows tourists to access information, plan their travel itinerary and book for accommodation and transport

Fluctuations in Tourism

Tourism numbers decline because of ....

- Terrorism- Recession- Diseases- Disasters

Hong Kong (2003) SARS Epidemic• Tourist arrivals fell 63% (850,000) from

March to April 2003• Outbound bookings for the Easter

holiday period fell by 80%.

Iceland (2010) Eyjafjallajökull eruption• 107,000 flights cancelled during 8 day

period- 48% of total air traffic (10 million passengers)

• Airlines collectively losing £130m per day in lost revenues

• Tourism industry will lose money from tourists unable to make the trip

Recession -Global Financial Crisis(2007-2008)• Consumer spending lowered due to rising

unemployment (5.4 million jobs lost in USA in 2008)

• Assets have lowered due to the collapse of the stock and property markets

• There is less disposable income that can be used to finance holidays

Thailand (2008) Political Crisis Violent clashes day-long leave 2 dead and over 300 injured, including 20 policemen

Blockage of Suvarnabhumi International Airports, leaving thousands of tourists stranded and cutting off most of Thailand's international air connections. Several explosions and clashes occur in the following day.

Tourism impacts

Developing tourism at what cost?

44

Positive :) Negative :(

Socio-culturalimpacts

- Preserve culture and local customs

- Dilution of culture and local customs

- Increased crime- False representation of local

cultureEnvironmentalimpacts

- Conservation of natural environments

- Increased carbon footprints- Destruction of natural

habitats- Pollution and littering- Vandalism - Increased congestion

Economic impacts

- Growth in income - Employment

opportunities - Increase in foreign

exchange- Infrastructure

development

- Seasonal unemployment- Underuse of facilities- Shortage of services- Leakage of tourism revenue

Economic Impact (+)

1. Tourism is an important source of revenue for many countries

• Accounts for 9.2% of global GDP• Many LDCs such as Thailand are reliant

on their tourism industry

Economic Impact (+)2. Tourism creates more employment

opportunities for the locals • The unskilled local population can also

hone a skill in the service sector• E.g. 56.7% of Maldives’ population

involved in tourism industry

Economic Impact (+)

3.Propel development of Infrastructure• Tourists expect a certain level of

infrastructural standards in a destination• Governments would invest in upgrading

infrastructure to attract tourists• E.g. $42 billion invested for infrastructure

prior to Beijing Olympics

Economic Impact (+)

• Money earned from other countries in exchange for goods and services

• Tourism also receive business investments from other countries eg hotel chains

• Tourism brings in revenue for government eg taxes/visa

4. Increase in foreign exchange

Economic Impact (-)1. Leakage of Tourism Revenue• Thailand -70% of all money spent by

tourists ended up with foreign-owned tour operators, airlines, hotels, imported drinks and food, etc.

• Estimates for other Third World countries range from 80% in the Caribbean to 40% in India.

• Host country may be exploited for its natural/ human resources but getting marginally in return

Economic Impact (-)

2. Price Inflation for Locals• Tourism can lead to an increase in the

prices of goods and services, causing inflation in the host country

• Local residents would then experience a higher cost of living and a decreasing real income

Economic Impact (-)

3.Over-reliance on Tourism Revenue• Tourism suffers from both regional

fluctuations and seasonal fluctuations• Seasonal fluctuation refers that there are

peak and non-peak seasons within a year for tourism

• Revenues may be affected due to such fluctuations leading to livelihood problems

Socio-Cultural Impact (+)1. Preservation and

Promotion of Local Culture and Heritage

• Important sites of heritage and culture are also preserved and restored to their former glory due to tourism

• E.g. Korean palaces (e.g. Gyeongbokgung)

Socio-Cultural Impact (+)

2. Positive Exchanges and Interaction• Tourism increases the interaction between

local residents and tourists• Increasing number of volunteer tourism

where tourists help to improve infrastructure or social well-being of local residents

Socio-Cultural Impact (-)1. Dilution/ False Representation of Local

Culture• Tourism may dilute or misrepresent local

culture through focusing on visual spectacles to attract tourists

• Culture is being manipulated by tour operators to maximise economic benefits

Socio-Cultural Impact (-)2. Disrespect of local cultures

and customs • “Zooification” of local tribes

where they are treated and looked upon as “savages” and “exhibits”

• E.g. Padaung women of Burma and Mursi women of Ethiopia often objectified because of their unique accessories

Socio-Cultural Impact (-)3. Increased Crime and Social Problems• The influx of wealthy travelers may

increase instances of petty crime • Criminals often see tourists as an easy

target because they:– typically carry large sums of money and other

valuables– Are more likely to be relaxed and off guard while

on vacation– Are less likely to report crimes or to testify against

suspects, wishing to avoid problems

Environmental Impact (+)

1. Increased Awareness on Environmental Protection

• More emphasis has been put into conserving natural areas and lowering carbon footprint

• Carbon footprint refers to the total Greenhouse Gas emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person

Environmental Impact (-)

1. Destruction of Natural Habitat• Pristine environments are destroyed by

human development to build tourism facilities

• E.g. Tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands have unknowingly brought with them invasive species which threaten to destroy native species

Environmental Impact (-)

2. Pollution • Water pollution when

resorts dump untreated waste into water bodies

• Land pollution when tourists dispose their litter in pristine environments

• E.g. Trekkers in Himalayas leave behind their gas cylinders and plastic bottles during their trek, polluting the environment

Land Pollution in the Himalayas

Stakeholders

• Individuals or groups with multiple stakes or interests in an organisation or decision

• Any group or individual who can affect or is affected by the achievement of an organisation’s objectives

Stakeholders in Tourism

Which group should be responsibility for tourism developments?Strengths Weakness

Local communities

-Involves locals in decision-making-Increase tourism jobs for locals

-Difficulty in obtaining funding-Shortage of skilled labour

Visitors/tourists

-Provide funds through spendings-Share experience and raise awareness

-Damage tourist attractions-Dilute local culture and customs

Tour operators

-Provide feedback about attractions-Regulate tourist behaviour

-Need to generate profits

Non governmental organisations

-Facilitate communication between various stakeholders-Support with manpower or campaigns

-Difficulty in obtaining external funding

Planningauthorities

-Develop and maintain infrastructure and attractions-Draft laws and policies-Work I it's other agencies

-Opposing stakeholders

Local communities

• Definition: Group of people living in the same territory

• Community based tourism- benefits local communities Examples: home stays,local handicrafts

Visitors

• Tourists should visit without damage or offence• Respect the environment and local population• Conservation efforts eg reduce carbon foot print

Tour operators

• To conserve and protect environments so that tourists would return

• Operate in an environmental sustainable way• Enhance the natural environment• Create awareness of environmental conservation

Non governmental organizations • Non profit organizations that operates without

the governor meant• Concern with tourism impact on natural and

human environment • Creates guidelines , trainings, research papers

Planning authorities

• Singapore tourism board: attract tourist and also conserve national heritage eg Chinatown, kampong glam and little India

• Enforce rules, regulations, values and principles for sustainable tourism

Sustainable Tourism

• It refers to :– Tourism that respects both local people and

the traveller, cultural heritage and the environment. (UNESCO)

– tourism activity that can be maintained over the long term because it results in a net benefit for the social, economic, natural and cultural environments of the area in which it takes place.

Establish Laws and Regulations

• Refers to the setting up of guidelines or restrictions by planning authorities

• This is to deter tourists from irresponsible behaviour

• Environmental damage would be minimised and local cultures and traditions would be respected through such law enforcements

Establish Laws and Regulations

• Law of wildlife conservation in Costa Rica

• Tourists prohibited from taking plants and flowers

• Tourists also prohibited from feeding wild animals to prevent them from being dependent on humans for food

Establish Laws and Regulations

Problems• Not all tourists conform to the

environmentally-friendly guidelines as many feel the use or overuse of resources is justifiable with payment

• Tourists may also feel self-important and show little respect for local cultures and traditions, hence creating disharmony among the local society

Promoting Ecotourism

• Ecotourism refers to environmentally responsible travel to relatively undisturbed natural areas that promotes conservation and improves the well-being of locals

• Practicing ecotourism will allow tourists to enjoy the experience of being in natural environments, promote conservation and ensure that the locals benefit economically

Promoting Ecotourism

• Sea-Canoe eco-tourism Company (Phuket) limits tourist numbers to 64 per day in consideration of the carrying capacity of the ecologically sensitive region

Promoting Ecotourism

Problems•Tour operators driven by profits may fail to conduct tourist activities following ecotourism guidelines hence end up degrading the environment

Promoting Community Based Tourism

• Refers to the development and management of tourism that includes, consults and benefits the local community, especially in the context of rural villages and indigenous people

• Giving the locals control over tourist activities will allow the local community to contribute their intimate knowledge of the local environment to tourism projects and help manage the negative impact of tourism

Promoting Community Based Tourism

• National Tourism Authority of Laos consults the communities of the Phou Khao Khouay nature reserves in Laos before making decisions on various tourist projects

Promoting Community Based Tourism

Problems• Many community-based tourism projects

have also failed due to improper management and poor accessibility.

• A survey of 200 CBT projects in Latin America reflected only 5% occupancy for most accommodations.