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 UNIT 1: Key concepts of Travel and Toursim

Tourism: the business of providing services such as transport, places to stay or

entertainment for people who temporarily leave the place where they normally
live, work or study tourism demand how much desire there is to travel
to destinations tourist a person who travels temporarily from one place
to another
Positive Impacts:
• Generates wealth and jobs.
• Preserves the environment and cultural heritage.
• Promotes well-being and cultural exchange.
Negative Impacts:
• Harms fragile ecosystems and landscapes.
• Exploits local cultures if poorly managed.
1.1 Types of tourism
● Domestic tourism: Involves residents of a given country traveling only within their own country
Benefits
● Outbound tourism: Involves residents of a given country traveling to another country
● Inbound tourism: Involves non-residents travelling to another country
international Tourism: Refers to travel between different countries, encompassing both inbound
and outbound tourism

Types of Tourism

Inbound
Tourism

Outbound Tourism

Domestic Tourism

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1.2 Main reasons why people travel

Leisure travel: Travelling to relax and enjoy yourself, outside of work hours.
 Day trips, visiting an attraction and returning home in one day.
 Short breaks, less than 4 nights away from home.
 Holidays, a period of rest and pleasure away from work, usually 1 week but could be
longer, usually during school holidays.
 Staycations, a holiday spent at home or in your hometown doing activities or going on
trips that there isn’t normally time for because of work.
 Special Events, a one-off or repeated event that people travel to specifically attend;
such as concerts, festivals, football matches.

Business travel: (MICE) Travel for work or professional purposes.

 Meetings - People travelling to get together with others for a specific purpose e
 Incentive – a trip offered as a reward for work done
 Conference – a meeting event that involves speakers, discussion and have at least 100
people attending
 Events – a place people gather to show off products and services

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Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR): the primary purpose of the trip is to visit
friends or family members

Special interest tourism: Travel which offers the kind of experience the customer
wants.

 Adventure Tourism – Travel involves visiting destination for excitement

where participants engage in physical activity such as mountain biking, rock
climbing, hiking, etc.

•Religious Tourism: Travel to religious sites or for pilgrimage (e.g., Hajj to

Mecca).

 Cultural Heritage Travel to places which represent stories of people and

events of the past and present. They are historical and educational as the
tourist is learning and experiencing different cultures relevant to the place.

 Health and well-being Travel - Travelling to improve health and well-

being. Common examples include spa weekend retreats, yoga or meditation
breaks

 Education -Travel for educational purposes. The purpose of the trip can
be specific, such as field trips or data collection or for more general purposes.
Individuals also travel for the chance to learn new skills abroad

 Volunteer Work - It often involves working for a charity in a developing

country. Activities can include teaching English in schools, Wildlife conservation
and community development projects.

•Dark Tourism - Linked to heritage tourism but is related to places that are
connected with death, tragedy and the macabre (horribly gruesome).

• Eco Tourism – is type of sustainable tourism focused on visiting natural

environment.

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1.3 Sustainability
● Principles: The main principles of sustainable tourism can be understood in terms of their
impact on the economy, environment and communities.
Sustainability is classified into 3 types

Environmental  Reduce: Minimizing resource usage, such as energy and water.

Factors (Planet)  Reuse: Reusing materials or products instead of discarding
them.
 Recycle: Sorting and processing waste to make new products.
 Protect the environment and natural heritage and wildlife
Social/cultural  Engaging respectfully with the local people.
Factors (people)  Protecting living cultural heritage and traditions.
 Minimizing overcrowding or over-tourism, which can disrupt
locals ‘daily lives
Economic Factors  Supporting local businesses
(Money)  Making jobs for local people.
 Improving the development infrastructure and economic
development of a region.

● Benefits:
 It helps to protect the environment,
 It reduces the amount of energy used, e.g. electricity, petrol,
 It reduces the amount of waste created.
 It creates links with the local community
 It makes businesses more competitive
 It improves the image of businesses
 It saves business money

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 1.4 Characteristics of travel and tourism
The characteristics of travel and tourism refer to the unique features that define the
nature of this industry and how tourism products and services operate.

Products: product in travel and tourism refers to any offering designed to

meet the needs of travellers, which can be either a good (tangible item)
or a service (intangible experience).

• Example of a Good: A physical souvenir, a travel guidebook,

or a flight ticket.

• Example of a Service: Hotel accommodation, guided tours,

or dining at a restaurant.

3. Intangibility:

Travel and tourism experiences are intangible because they cannot be touched or

stored. Travelers can experience a place, service, or activity, but the product itself

(e.g., a flight or hotel stay) cannot be physically owned. The value is in the

experience, memories, and satisfaction derived from it.

4. Perishability:

Tourism products and services are perishable because they cannot

be stored for future use. For example, an unsold airline seat or a hotel

room for a specific night is lost, it expired

5. Dynamic:

The tourism industry is constantly changing and adapting to new trends,

technology, consumer preferences, and external factors like economic conditions

or global events.

6. Resilient:The travel and tourism industry are resilient, meaning it has the ability to
recover from challenges such as economic downturns, pandemics, natural disasters,

or political instability. Despite these challenges, tourism typically rebounds

as people continue to have a desire to travel, explore, and experience new places.
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7. Increasingly Sustainable:

As awareness of environmental and social issues grows, the tourism

industry is becoming more focused on sustainability. This includes reducing

carbon emissions, minimizing waste, preserving cultural heritage, and

supporting local economies.

8. Seasonality:

the way in which tourism demand fluctuates throughout a year

Certain destinations experience high tourist numbers during peak seasons

(e.g., beach resorts in summer) and fewer visitors during off-peak times (e.g., winter

months).

Seasonality is major disadvantage of tourism and often leads to negative economic effects
on destination

Causes of seasonality

Location

Weather (Sun & Snow)

school and national holidays

Festive holidays

Social / fashionable

Media influence

Solutions to overcome seasonality

provide discount codes through social media during the low season.

Develop other products that appeal to different types of tourists

Special offers to encourage tourists to stay longer, e.g. two nights instead of one in the
low season,

High prices in peak season.

Host an event/festival or introduce other activities in the low season

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1.5 Types of Tourists
1. Business Tourists: Travel for work-related reasons. Their trips are usually short
and focused on business activities.
Tailored services: pre-order menu / high speed internet access, etc
2. Couples: Travel together for romantic getaways, honeymoons, or anniversaries.
They prefer destinations with privacy and romantic activities.
Tailored services: exclusive tables /Romantic settings, e.g. music and lights, etc
3. Ecotourists: Seek destinations focused on nature and conservation. They prioritize
sustainability and enjoy activities like wildlife observation and hiking.
Tailored services: glass bottled water/ information about the local flora and fauna/
recycling of food waste, etc
4. Families: Travel together, often with children. Their trips focus on family-friendly
destinations like theme parks and resorts.
Tailored services: children's menu/Easy accessibility, e.g. for buggies/strollers
Highchairs for children/Children's activities, e.g. crayons and paper, etc
5. Groups: Travel in organized groups, usually led by a guide or tour operator.
Activities, accommodation, and transport are pre-arranged.
Tailored services: large tables, to allow them to sit together Group discounts
Option to hire the whole restaurant for the group, etc
6. Independent Tourists: Prefer to plan and organize their own trips, seeking
flexibility and freedom in their itinerary.
Tailored services: website booking option/menu on website
7. Individuals: Solo travellers who enjoy exploring at their own pace, whether for
leisure, business, or personal reasons.
Tailored services: welcoming staff/ buffet meals, etc
8. Leisure Tourists: Travel for relaxation and enjoyment, often engaging in
sightseeing, beach vacations, and cultural experiences.
Tailored services: special offers/Souvenirs of the restaurant
Option to hire the whole restaurant for a party/entertainment/music to add to the
experience/Friendly staff, etc
9. Responsible Tourists: Travel with an awareness of their impact on the environment
and local cultures. They make ethical choices in destinations and services.
Tailored services: guided eco-tours that focus on biodiversity and conservation
efforts/ volunteering opportunities
10. Special Interest Tourists: Travel with a specific focus, such as adventure,
wildlife, culinary experiences, or history.
Tailored services: information on the local area and/or culture, etc
11. Specific Needs Tourists: Have special requirements due to health conditions,
disabilities, age, or dietary needs. The industry offers specialized services like
accessible accommodations or dietary options.
Tailored services: disabled access/braille menus/multilingual staff/allergy options
on the menu, etc

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 1.6 Types of Destinations

Destination is the final place a journey ends, where tourists typically explore and enjoy
various activities.

Types of Destinations:

•Beach/Coastal Destinations: Located along coastlines, these offer sandy beaches and
water activities like sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. Examples include the Maldives,
Hawaii, and the Mediterranean coast.

•Island Destinations: Standalone land masses surrounded by water, offering unique

ecosystems, cultural experiences, and activities such as snorkeling and hiking. Examples
include Bali, the Seychelles, and the Greek Islands.

•Resort Destinations:

 Purpose-built Resorts: Designed specifically for tourism, offering

accommodations and activities in one location (e.g., Disneyland).
 Integrated Resorts: Combine multiple attractions like casinos, entertainment,
and hotels (e.g., Marina Bay Sands in Singapore).
 Ski Resorts: Located in mountainous areas, attracting tourists for skiing and
snowboarding (e.g., Aspen, USA; Zermatt, Switzerland).
 Eco Resorts: Focus on sustainability and nature conservation, offering nature-
based activities and minimal-impact accommodations (e.g., Chumbe Island in
Tanzania).

•Rural Destinations (Countryside, Mountains, Lakes): Located in natural landscapes,

these destinations attract tourists seeking peace and outdoor activities like hiking, fishing,
and birdwatching. Examples include the Lake District (UK), the Swiss Alps, and the Canadian
Rockies.

•Urban Destinations (Town, City): Found in towns and cities, offering cultural,
historical, and entertainment experiences like museums, shopping, and city tours. Major
examples include Paris, New York, Tokyo, and London.

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 Visitor Attractions:

Type of Definition Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

attractions
Natural A geographic or National Dorset coast Amazon
attraction geological feature that Park rainforest
attracts tourists e.g.
mountains, forests,
lakes, coasts

Purpose A man-made attraction London Eye Alton Towers Chester zoo

built that has been built to
attract tourists
attraction

Heritage Attractions associated Windsor Castle Manchester Stone Henge

with history and/or
attractions museum
culture.
These can include:
1. Historic buildings or
historic coastlines
that were NOT built
for tourists in the
past however, they do
attract tourists due
to their history.
2. Places that contain
pieces of history. E.g.
museum.

Purpose of Visitor Attractions:

Entertainment – many purpose built visitor attractions are designed to give people a fun experience
Education – some purpose built visitor attractions are there to educate people about the past, present or
future.
Leisure and recreation – the natural environment creates a place for outdoor activities e.g. climbing. Some
leisure places are built for relaxation or healthy activities e.g. spa
Conservation – these are attractions designed to protect the natural environment. They can also provide
education and enjoyment

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 UNIT 2: Global Tourism
1.1 Factors affecting Tourism Demand
1.Economic Factors:

•Disposable Income: People with more money to spend are more likely to travel.

•Government Investment: When governments invest in tourism infrastructure and promote

tourism, it can attract more visitors.

2. Social Factors:

•Demographics: Older people with higher incomes tend to travel more.

•Health Awareness: As more people focus on their health, wellness tourism (like spa
vacations) becomes more popular.

•Social Consciousness: More tourists are choosing eco-friendly and socially responsible
destinations.

•Fashion and Trends: Places can become popular because of current trends, such as eco-
tourism.

3. Technological Factors:

•Transportation Innovations: Faster trains, more flights, and better transport systems make
it easier to travel to different places.

•Technology: Online booking systems help tourists plan their trips easily.

4. Political Factors:

Stability: Safe and politically stable countries attract more tourists.

•Safety and Security: Political unrest or events like terrorism can discourage tourists from
visiting.

•Travel Limitations: In times of crisis (e.g., pandemics like COVID-19), governments may
restrict travel.

5. Environmental Factors:

• Extreme weather and natural disasters reduce demand for affected destinations.
Additionally, tourists are increasingly choosing environmentally sustainable options.

6. Health Factors:

• Health concerns, especially pandemics like COVID-19, significantly reduce tourism.

It led to a major drop in international tourist arrivals.

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1.2 Factors influencing Tourism Demand and the Rise of Sustainable Tourism

2. How does media (including social media) influence consumer attitudes towards
sustainable tourism?
Traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines) and social media platforms play a significant
role in spreading information about green tourism. Influencers and consumers share tips, reviews, and
information that positively influence attitudes toward sustainable tourism, making consumers more
likely to support it.

3. How has the availability and promotion of sustainable tourism products

increased?
As consumer demand for sustainable tourism grows, travel and tourism providers have responded by
making sustainable products and services more widely available. They also promote these products as
a way to attract customers, meeting the demand for eco-friendly options.

4. How do government policies support the growth of sustainable tourism?

Governments encourage sustainable tourism to protect local environments and cultures while also
boosting tourism-related jobs and revenues. For example, Mauritius promotes sustainable tourism to
safeguard its natural resources and local ways of life.

5. What are the main reasons for the growth of sustainable tourism?
The main drivers for sustainable tourism growth include increased awareness of environmental issues,
changing consumer attitudes towards more eco-friendly travel, media influence, and supportive
government policies. These factors combine to promote a tourism industry that conserves natural
resources and preserves local cultures.

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