UNIT 3

DIMENSIONS/ COMPONENTS/ ELEMENTS OF TOURISM

Tourism does not exist in isolation. It has certain basic constituents. In order to
understand tourism systematically, it is necessary to know the various
constituents of tourism industry. Major constituents of tourism industry
comprise of the providers of tourist service as under the five vital components of
tourism system are Attraction, Accessibility, Accommodation, Amenities and
Activities.

ATTRACTIONS
Tourism activity starts with the attractions. At a place or destination there has to
be some attraction only then people or tourists will visit that area. Attractions of
a particular area are the features and related activities of that area which draws
the tourist to visit the area. Attractions are believed to be the greatest influencers
of all the components. They can make or break a destination. The ultimate
motive of any tourist is to experience the attraction, though accessibility and
accommodation also partake in this phenomenon. But it can be said that without
attraction there shall be no tourism, however transport, hotels, activities and
amenities can also act as attraction.

 Attractions are at the first step of tourism supply chain.

 Attractions are one of the most important component and element that
attract people to travel from one place to another.
 Attractions consist of archaeological sites, cultural sites, historical
buildings and monuments or scenery like beach, flora and fauna,
mountains, resorts, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and zoological
parks.

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  Attractions also includes events like exhibitions, trade fairs, festivals,
sports events etc. Attractions are the preconditions of travel. It attracts
more and more people and offers pleasure.
 Attractions also attract and connect people to enjoy and involve in various
tourism activities.

Mainly there are two types of attractions:

 Natural Attraction: Natural attractions are places made by nature itself for
e.g. natural beauty, climate, mountains, landscape, flora and fauna, water
resources, beaches, wild life, caves, safari etc.
 Man-Made Attraction : Man made attractions are those Attraction made
or developed by humans for e.g. monuments, historical buildings,
festivals, music, churches, temples, Disney lands, leisure parks, museums,
casinos, discos club etc.
Natural attractions: attractions related to natural environment

Climate
o Generally tourists from the colder climate specially cold winter seek warm/
sunny, relatively dry climates
o People from hot / humid may seek cooler climate.
o In many countries, seasonality of climate determines seasonality of tourist.
o Some tourist seek different climate for health reasons.

Landscape beauty, unusual character, and unique feature

o Natural landscape beauty and characters such as mountains, valley, rivers,
lakes and deserts etc… related to activities such as sightseeing, trekking,
camping, rafting, boating and photography.
o Interesting landscape; agricultural landscape such as terraced rice fields,
flower beds related to sightseeing and photography.

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Beaches and shoreline:
o Many of the world’s famous resorts are located in beaches.
o E.g. Miami Beach (USA) world’s number one beach. Kovalum beach
(India) worlds number two beautiful beaches.
o Beach tourism is the activity such as sun bathing, swimming, surfing,
corals, and beach walking and shell collection.

Marine environment
o Includes oceans, lakes, rivers, under water coral and fish and activities
related to it are swimming, surfing, water skiing, all types of boating,
fishing, scuba diving, coral viewing.
o Tropical waters are especially important attractions for variety of coral
colonies and fishes.

Flora and fauna

o Are interesting representative and sometimes unusual vegetation and
animal life including birds
o Unique and endangered species to be preserved for scientific purposes
o Special feature types of development are zoo, including safari zoo and
botanical gardens.
o Related to activities such as animal and bird watching, sightseeing and
photography.

Parks and reserves (officially protected)

Conservation (preservation and protection) of important natural environment is
essential for both scientific and tourism reasons. Common approaches for
conservation are establishment of parks and reserves.

Manmade attractions: attractions related to culture, entertainment and special

manmade features.

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Cultural patterns and life style
 Especially interesting to many tourists as an experience of cultural
tourism.
 Includes traditional cultural patterns, life style and customs.
 Include modern life style, which is different than that of the tourist.

Archaeological and historic sites and monuments

Archeology is studies of the societies and peoples of the past; by examining the
remains of their buildings, tools and other art facts.
o All types or archeological or pre historic sites including marine
archeology and special features such as industrial archeology.
o All types of historic buildings, structures and areas including buildings
representing traditional and historic architecture and building
techniques.
o Sites of important historical events such as battle field.
o Monuments to important historical events or peoples.
o Unusual and striking manmade structures such as large dams and
bridges.

The art
 Includes visual art of paintings, carving etc… and performing arts of
dance, drama and music.
 May be related to either traditional or modern cultures.

Museums
 Art special features, which exhibit and explain aspects of history, culture,
arts and handicrafts technology, natural historical and other special areas
of interest.

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  Trends now towards museums, which offer educational, program
demonstration and assuming more active role in scientific and cultural
development.

Sports activities and events

 Many sport events are of local tourists interest and some of national and
international interest
 Includes both speculation and participatory sports.
 Participatory sports such as snow and water skiing, tennis, golf, skiing
and scuba diving are becoming increasingly popular although
popularity of some specific changes as current fashion.

Entertainment
 Includes dance/ drama/ films and music performance related to either
traditional or modern culture.
 Night life, especially night clubs and discos with dancing and music.
 Gambling like casino.
 Special entertainment includes amusement and recreation parks such as
Disneyland.
Shopping
 usually secondary attractions but in some areas may be primary
attractions e.g. Dubai shoppers paradise(important part of itineraries)
 important means of tourist area to make money from tourism
 It includes shopping for locally made clothing, arts and handicrafts,
furniture and locally processed items such as gems and stones.
 Duty free items such as cameras and electronic equipments.
 antiques
 High fashioned items designed and produced in area.

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  Concentrated in certain areas with control and quality and prices of
goods for locally made arts and artifacts, efficient marketing often needs
to be emphasized.

Dinning and cuisine:

o Most people/ tourists require good quality but no necessarily high priced
food. Many and some tourists like to try local food at least once and some
tourists consider good quality food as a major attraction. High quality
restaurants can become important attractions in some areas.

ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is one of the most crucial aspects of a destination. Any traveller
choosing to visit any destination would firstly look for accommodation suited to
his/her needs. It should provide him/her food and beverage services, resting
facilities, etc. up to his satisfaction level. Accommodation units itself act as tourist
attractions for a large number of people. There are few places, which are being
visited by tourists only for their hotels. Palace Hotel Chail, Umaid Bhawan
Palace, Jodhpur are some of the example of hotels, where tourists have to pay
just for visiting the hotel property. In this way there are several places
throughout the world where accommodation units are being treated as tourism
products.

 Accommodation includes food and lodging facilities to different types of

guest.
 Accommodation should be comfortable and Good quality of services &
facilities should be provided to the guest by the accommodation unit.

It is an essential element of tourism, given that any definition of tourism involves

a stay away from home. Accommodation had become a psychological base for
the tourist during his or her stay away from home.

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Any form of accommodation may be defined as an establishments whose
primary business is providing lodging, food and beverage services. Mainly there
are two types of accommodation:

 Serviced Accommodation: It refers to the services provided by the hotel,

resorts, guest houses, motels, lodges etc. Primary accommodation- hotels
and similar establishments
 high price
 high standard and quality service
 wide availability of facility and services

 Self-Catering or Supplementary Accommodation: It refers to the premises

which offer accommodation but not the services of hotel. It provides food
and accommodation in return of cash per day. E.g. Youth Hostel, Tourist
holiday villages, etc.
 low price of services
 limited facility

HOTELS

Hotels are traditionally an urban facility, which provides boarding and lodging.
There are different categories of hotels based on location, plan, clients, size and
services.

On the basis of location

 Downtown hotels or business hotels- located in the center of the town.

 Sub urban hotels – locate far from cities, neither in rural nor urban
area.
 Resort hotels- mostly locate near beaches, shorelines, rivers, lakes and
mountainous areas.

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  Motels - locate along the high ways. It offers overnight stay for local
motorists and foreign travelers by the road.
 Floaters (boatels) - these are floating hotels and situated on the surface
of the water in the form of boat with house or old ship or luxury cruise
liner.
 Transient hotel or airport hotel-these are situated near the airports.
These are generally dependent on airline passengers, airline crew, etc.

On the basis of plan

 American plan (AM) - full board; it contains three meal and room service.
 Modified American plan (MAP) - it contains two meals (break fast and
lunch or dinner) and lodging service.
 Continental plan (CP) - break fast and room service.
 European plan- contains only room service (bed)
 Bermuda plan- room rate and morning tea.

On the basis of clients

 Domestic & Foreigner  Business class
 Youngster & Adult  Budget class
 Couples  First class

Sizes of Hotel (number of rooms).

o A hotel with less than 25 rooms- small hotel

o A hotel with rooms between 25 to 99-medium hotel

o A hotel with rooms between 100 to 299-lagre hotel

o A hotel with more than 299 rooms-very large hotel

Based on types of service- no star to five star

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ACCESSIBILITY/TRANSPORTATION
Accessibility or otherwise said as transportation is an essential component of
tourism system as it creates linkage between market source and destination.
Transportation: - is the means to reach the destination and also the means of
movement at the destination.

If there are attractions then those has to be visited by the tourists. Transportation
is not a target usually but a mandate for the conduct of tour. But in some cases,
transport can also become an attraction, for example, tourist trains run by IRCTC
like Maharajas’ Express, Royal Rajasthan on wheels, etc.

This broad definition allows us to distinguish between the numerous types of

transportation services. Increasingly, as transport is viewed as a part of the
leisure, the quality of the journey is at least as important as act of movement
itself. For some categories of visitors, the trip is therefore seen as an attraction in
it self and certainly as apart of the tourist experience. The view from the coach or
the excitement of flying is both examples of utility of travel.

Transportation is a crucial/important key factor that has a huge impact on the

growth and development of tourism industry. Attraction may be manmade or
natural but without accessibility tourists cannot reach a destination from his
origin or place of being. There is different mode of transportation that helps a
tourist to reach his destination in any part of the world.

There are mainly three type/modes of transportation:

 Surface Transportation: Surface Transportation includes both roadways

and railways through land. It is one of the cheapest means of
transportation as compared to other modes of transportation.
 Air Transportation: Air Transportation is one of the fastest and costliest
means of transportation; air transport is mainly used for travelling to

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 long distance destination/places. It has helped a lot; as people can travel
long journey as well as they can travel through high mountains.
 Water Transportation: Water Transportation is one of the oldest modes of
transportation through water. It made important contribution to travel in
19th century after the innovation of shipping technology.

Choice of the modes of transportation

In general the choice of visitor for the mode of transportation is affected by:-
 Distance and time factor
 Status and comfort
 Comparative prices of services offered
 Geographical position and isolation
 Range of services offered
 Level of competition between services
 Flexibility
 availability

Elements of transportation

The four basic elements are the way, the terminal, the carrying unit and the
motive power. These elements vary for each transportation mode and vehicle.

The way: - is the medium of travel used by a transportation mode. It may be

purely artificial, such as roads and railways, or natural, such as air or water.

In considering transportation modes, the availability of way is very important in

the case of roads, railways and inland waterways, where substantial investment
would be needed to provide them. In the case of water and air, this is not an
issue except for air traffic control procedures.

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The terminal:- it represent the second important element of transport mode,
giving access to the way for the users , or acting as an interchange between types
of way. It is the furthest point to which a transport system extends, literarily the
end of line. Probably, the simplest terminal is parking for private cars, while the
most complex one is an airport. In fact, most terminals are becoming integrated
transportation points as they can act as interchanges where travelers can transfer
between vehicle modes. Airports, for example can be used as transfer points
between two air crafts, or between other modes of traveling, such as the car or
train.

Carrying unit: - It is the actual transportation media: the vehicle, which

facilitates the movement. Each way demands a distinct carrying unit: aircraft for
the sky, ship for the sea, vehicles for the roads and train for rails. The nature of
the carrying unit has been influenced by numerous factors, which includes travel
demand and the technology employed as well as the other elements of the mode
(motive power). Flexibility is also important, as vehicles increasingly need to be
altered easily and quickly, in order to accommodate changing tourist demand.
Executive style coaches with on board services are an example of the same.

The motive power: - Motive power is perhaps the key element in transportation
development. The natural power of horse drawn carriage and sailing vessels
provide the initial energy for transportation. The exploration of steam power
provided the opportunity for the introduction of steam ship and rail ways, while
the internal combustion engine stimulated the development of road and air
transportation. Finally the jet propulsion enables air transportation to be
competitively priced and gave air craft both the speed and range. Motive power
is closely related to a number of issues, such as the capacity and type of the
carrying unit, demand, and the desired speed and range of the vehicle. As coasts
of operation have been modified, the engine has had to become more fuel
efficient and for safety reasons more reliable.

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AMENITIES/FACILITIES
Every tourist travelling to a new destination desires for world class facilities and
services. In order to fulfill their demand huge efforts are made by the industry.
High quality facilities are important aid to every tourist destination or center.
Amenities are the services and facilities added with attraction, accommodation
and accessibility to create tourism. It is the facilities available at the destination
which help in meeting the needs and also the wants of tourist.

Tourist amenities include food and beverage facilities, local transport, a good
communication network, automatic teller machine (ATMs) drinking water,
medical facilities, etc. For a coastal resort, services like swimming, boating,
yachting, surf-riding and other amenities like recreation, dancing and other
entertainment and amusement services are very essential for each and every
tourist destination.

It is the soul of tourism which gives life to tourism. Without amenities, a

destination will be a place, accommodation will be a local hotel, a transport will
be local transport etc.

Amenities include various extra services and facilities required to the guest while
travelling to different destination. Amenities are those Facilities that complement
to the attraction. Amenities also include facilities like providing visa, flight ticket,
train ticket etc.

Mainly there are two types of amenities:

a) Natural: Seashores, sea bath, fishing, rock climbing, trekking,

sightseeing, river, sunrise etc.

b) Man-made: Dance, Music, Drama, Cinema, Swimming Pool, Fair and

Festivals, and Internet etc.

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ACTIVITIES
Attractions are often assisted by various activities that enhance tourist
experience. It includes those activities that a destination offers. For example,
boating, spas, etc.

AFFORDABILITY
Affordability is not typically counted in the 5As but is sometimes substituted in.
it is a very important component of tourism. Tourists want to find affordable
options when it comes to all of the above. Whether it be transport,
accommodation, activities or amenities. Finding great deals and sometimes even
discounts can help make holidays more affordable and remove stress – making
them more enjoyable too. This is the sixth ‘A’ but nonetheless very important to
attract tourists to the destination. Tourists should be able to afford the trip in
terms of transport costs, accommodation charges, entrance fees at attractions and
the number of days, which need to be spent on travel and stay; i.e. they should
be able to afford the holiday in terms of time and money.

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