TourismAll About Geography, Human Elective, Chapter 1, p.2 - 91
How has tourism
become a global
phenomena?
By the end of this unit…• We will be able to answer the
following:− In what ways is tourism changing?− What influences tourism trends?− What are the factors that can affect
tourism?
In what way is tourism changing?(p.27)
In what way is tourism changing?
• Changes are seen globally and domestically.
• With advancements in travel services and technology, people can and want to travel to destinations once considered unreachable.
• With globalization and changing tastes among consumers, holiday packages are also becoming more varied.
Assignment 1
Trends in global tourismInternational tourism Domestic tourism
Top destinations:• Europe is still dominant• But Asia is catching up
Origins:• The bulk of tourists are
still from MEDCs such as Europe and North America
• But LEDCs are catching up, esp China, India and Brazil.
• Still the most popular form of tourism for most countries.
• E.g. Philippines and China• Q: Is there domestic
tourism for small countries such as Singapore?
What about the Quality of
Tourism? How has it changed?
Evolution of tourism:
Mass
• Involves large number of tourists• Usually arranged by a travel agent with transportation,
accommodation and meals included in a package.• Appeals to busy travellers who have little time to plan
out their trips.
Niche
• Special-interest tourism based on a particular area, interest or activity.
• Appeals to travellers who seek new and different experiences
• Usually younger, well-informed and more adventurous
Study the tour packagesand answer the following question:
•Who would go on a tour package like this? (Profile of tourist)
•Why would they go on a package like this?
•Who would not like to go on a tour package like this? Why?
If you could plan a tour anywhere…Where would you go? What would you do?
Evolution of tourism:
Mass
• Involves large number of tourists• Usually arranged by a travel agent with transportation,
accommodation and meals included in a package.• Appeals to busy travellers who have little time to plan out their trips.
Niche
• Special-interest tourism based on a particular area, interest or activity.
• Appeals to travellers who seek new and different experiences• Usually younger, well-informed and more adventurous
Eco
• Responsible tourism to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the locals.
• Appeals to travellers who are interested in social and environmental issues.
Ecotourism
•What have you heard about eco-tourism?
•LINK BACK: What is the difference between ecotourism and honeypot tourism?
•What type of tourists would be interested in ecotours?
Case Study: Eco Tourism in the
Philippines
What are the features of Eco Tourism?
Minimize negative impact on environment and people
Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
Why has it become popular?
•Change in perception:− Education = more environmentally
conscious touristso ‘Holidays’ are no longer just for relaxing
but a chance to support local communities
− More ppl living in urban areas = interaction with nature is a rare and precious opportunity
− Others you can think of?
Other forms of Tourism:• Short-haul destinations:
− Places that are reachable from one’s home country by no more than six hours.
• Long-haul destinations:− Places that require more than six hours
of travel to reach.
• With advancements in air travel, people are travelling further away from their country of origin.
Pit Stop 7
Trends in Global Tourism
Region
1995 2020 1995 2020
Tourist arrivals
(millions)
Tourist arrivals
(millions)
World market
share (%)
World market
share (%)
Africa 20 77 3.6 5
Americas 110 282 19.3 18.1
East Asia 81 397 14.4 25.4
Europe 336 717 59.8 45.9
Middle East 14 69 2.2 4.4
South Asia 4 19 0.7 1.2
Total 565 1561 100 100
Describe the growth of global tourism around the world.
What influences tourism trends?
• Global tourism has grown in the past few years thanks to a range of factors:− Technology− Societal changes− More exciting destinations
• At the same time, as the world becomes more connected, the risks of travelling has also grown.
What are the factors that can affect tourism?Both positively and negatively
Key questions:• How has technology changed the way we travel?
• How has the changing profile of tourists contributed to the growth of tourism?
• What are destinations doing to increase their appeal to tourists?
• What are some unforeseen events that can negatively impact the growth of tourism in a country/region?
Global tourism growth
•Developments in technology− Better, more affordable transport− More routes and agreements− Ease of access to information
•Demand factors (Social)
•Destination factors
Better and affordable transport
Refer to Fig. 1.42, p.37 in Textbook
Better and affordable transport
• In a nutshell…− Planes today are faster, fuel efficient
and can accommodate more passengers.o Thus, travelling abroad has also become
faster and cheaper as well.
− Most commercial airlines today use planes made by either Airbus or Boeing – the two most dominant and advanced aircraft manufacturers in the world.
− Q: What will future aircrafts will be like?
From Singapore to London,
1950s
• 4 days
• Small aircraft (e.g. Vickers Viscount)
• ~ 20 to 30 passengers
• Frequent stopovers
Today
• 14 hours
• Large aircraft (e.g. Airbus 360)
• ~ 800 passengers
• Direct flight
From London to Brisbane
1930s
• 11 days
• Small aircraft (e.g. Vickers Viscount)
• ~ 20 to 30 passengers
• Frequent stopovers
Today
• 22 hours
• Large aircraft (e.g. Airbus 360)
• ~ 800 passengers
• Direct flight
The Concorde(The fastest ever commercial
airliner)
A turbojet-powered supersonic passenger jet airliner that was
in service from 1976 to 2003. It could fly from London to New
York in just 3.5 hours!
Was forced to retire as it was too expensive to
maintain.
Budget Airlines
Refer to p.37 in Textbook
Rise of the Budget Airlines(NOTE: this is a very condensed overview)
• Around the late 1990s/early 2000s there was a rising demand for cheap short-haul flights.
• Several businessmen took advantage of this demand and started low-cost carriers using second-hand aircrafts that had been stripped to its bare essentials.− No food / reclining chairs / TV etc
− Single class (i.e. all economical)
− Minimal legroom
Rise of the Budget Airlines• This was made possible as advancements in
aircrafts meant that every time richer airlines (e.g. SQ) upgraded their fleets, they would sell off their ‘older’ ones to second-hand buyers (e.g. Tiger Air).
• This led to a surplus of older but still functional second-hand aircrafts that could be used for simple short-haul flights
• Also opened up travel to previously inaccessible destinations.− E.g. Lombok, Indonesia
Case Study for impact of budget airlines:
Lombok
Increasing Tourism: The airport currently serves 8 different airlines, 5 of which are local, low-cost domestic carriers (e.g. Lion Air).
Example:Direct flights to Bangkok from SG
Once again, this helped to make air travel cheaper which in turn, helped to boost domestic and regional tourism in many countries.
More routes & agreements (p.38)
Open Skies Agreement
• An agreement under which contracting countries allow unrestricted overflight and landing rights to airlines from each others’ countries.
• Allows the airlines to decide their routes, capacity and price of flights w/o interference from govt.
• BENEFIT: Resulted in more flights and increased connectivity between countries.
Deregulation
• The removal of govt. control over fares, routes and new market entries on commercial airlines.
• Allow air fares to rise and fall according to market demand.
• BENEFIT: Resulted in cheaper flights due to increased competition.
Open Skies Agreement
2007 EU–US Open Skies Agreement helped to open up more flights between Europe and the U.S.A
ASEAN Open Skies policy came into effect in 2015 and is expected to increase tourism to the region
Part of the reason for Africa’s under-served status is that many African countries still restrict their air services to state-owned air carriers.
Ease of access to information
• Internet = online booking and research:− E.g. Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet,
Expedia− More freedom of choice
•Tighter surveillance and electronic checks− E.g. stricter rules, scanners− Makes travellers feel safer
Global tourism growth
•Developments in technology − Better, more affordable transport − More routes and agreements − Ease of access to information
•Demand factors (Social)
•Destination factors
Global tourism growth
•Developments in technology
•Demand factors (Social)− Increase in disposable income− Education− More leisure time− Changing lifestyle
•Destination factors
Disposable income• Amount of money left to
an individual after taxes have been paid.
• As a country develops, people tend to move onto better paying jobs, resulting in an increase in their disposable income.
• Examples: China, India and Brazil. All three have experienced high rates of economic growth over the past decade.
Education (1930)
Education (1992)
Education (impact)• Leads to better paying jobs = higher
disposable income = more money to travel
• Increases desire to experience different cultures− E.g. more Westerners are learning Chinese
and going to China for work/leisure− Similarly, more Chinese are learning English
and travelling to Europe/USA for study/work/leisure
− Hence, increase in tourism to Europe/USA and Asia Pacific Region
Leisure Time• Many companies offer opportunities
for workers to travel overseas for business.
• In order to attract the best talents, companies also offer attractive annual leave & travel packages to employees as part of its perks− Airbnb gives all of its employees $2,000 a
year to travel anywhere in the world they want to.
Leisure Time• NOTE: Every country has a minimum no. of
annual paid leave (but it varies by country)− E.g. Most European countries have 20 – 30
days!− Singapore: 7 days (min) + 11 days of public
holidays
• People also tend to travel over long weekends and during special holidays− E.g. CNY, Christmas, National Day etc.− Hence, flights tend to be more expensive
during those periods.
Changing lifestyle (p.41)
• Rising appeal of ‘backpacking’− Easy to stay connected = people not so afraid of
being alone− Especially from Europe and North America
• More able-bodied retirees− People are living healthier lifestyles− Retirees also tend have the most money to spend− Tend to go for package tours with fellow like-minded
retirees− But some are becoming more adventurouso Example: the ‘grey nomads’ in Australiao a growing cohort of older Australians who have swapped
the comfort and familiarity of the suburbs for a life on the road
Global tourism growth
•Developments in technology
•Demand factors (Social) − Disposable income − Education − Leisure time − Changing lifestyle
•Destination factors
Global tourism growth
•Developments in technology
•Demand factors (Social)
•Destination factors(improvements in infrastructure)
− Attractions− Investment in infrastructure and
services− Access to information
More Destinations• The economic opportunities that can
arise from tourism has resulted in increased competition between countries for tourist dollars.
• This has driven many countries to invest in tourism by:− Building new and exciting attractions− Improving existing infrastructure in the
country− Increasing access to information and
awareness about their country
Landmarks (p.42)• Features or qualities that make the place interesting.
• Puts the location on the world map.
• Examples:− The Burj Al Arab, Dubai− The London Eye, London, UK
• Q: What are some examplesof man-made attractionsin Singapore?
Research!• How did Singapore and Dubai become a hub for tourism in their respective regions?− Both started out as small
regional port cities.− Since the start of the new
millennium however, they both have vastly overhauled their image and become a major hub for tourism.
− How did they do it???
Infrastructure and Services (p.43)
• Infrastructure: transport systems, communication networks, accommodation etc− E.g. airports, hotels, trains etc
• Services: provision of assistance to customers or clients− E.g. hotel staff, airport security, drivers
etc
Case Study: Singapore
The country’s reputation as a safe, clean and efficient city has made it a popular stopover destination for many
tourists to the region
Access to information (p.44)• The ease at which information about the
place can be obtained.
• Most countries have an official tourism website for tourists− Makes it easier for them to plan trips− E.g. www.visitbritain.com,
www.yoursingapore.com, www.discoveramerica.com
• The more convenient it is for touriststo plan their trips ,the morelikely they are to visit.
Global tourism growth
•Developments in technology
•Demand factors (Social)
•Destination factors
Pit Stop 8 (p.45)
Factors that can negatively impact tourism (p.45)
Tourism is a volatile industry
•Regional fluctuations refer to rapid changes in a region that can adversely affect tourism.
•Examples:− Disasters− Recession− Political instability− Disease outbreak
Disasters (p.46)• Case study: Japan
− In March 2011, an earthquake and Tsunami hit the eastern coast of Japan
− Caused a nuclear reactor meltdown in Fukushima, spreading fears of nuclear contamination throughout the country
− Tourist arrivals declined by 28% that year.− Neighbouring countries (e.g. South Korea)
were also affected.
Disasters (p.46)
Disasters (p.46)
•Case study: United States− In September 2001, a terrorist attacked
the world trade centre in New York by crashing two commercial planes into the building.
− Total death toll: about 3,000.− Impact: tourism in New York City
plummeted. In the week following the attack, hotel occupancy fell below 40%, and 3,000 employees were laid off.
Global Financial Crisis Explainedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zPyZZIvwCc
Regional and global recessions
• Refers to a general slowdown in economic activities
• Varies in scale (p.47)− Regional: e.g. the Eurozone crisis (since
2009)− Global: e.g. 2007 – 2008 Global
Financial Crisis.o The U.S. unemployment rate increased to
over 10% by October 2009, the highest rate since 1983
o Cost the US trillions of dollars
Regional and global recessions
• Effects on tourism? (see Fig. 1.60, p.48)− Decrease in international tourism− Reduced spending by tourists− Increased unemployment− But, domestic travel in some countries
may increaseo People still need a break!
Question:
•Between a disaster and an economic meltdown, which do you think has a more negative impact on tourism?
•Compare in terms of ‘scale’.
Political InstabilityAll About Geography, Human Geog, Page 49
Political Instability Index:
Unfavourable Political Situations
• Case study: the ongoing Arab Spring uprisings− a term for the revolutionary wave of
demonstrations, protests, and civil wars in the Arab world that began on 18 December 2010.
− Rulers have been forced from power in Tunisia, Egypt (twice), Libya, and Yemen; civil uprisings have erupted in Bahrain and Syria
− Tourism in these countries have been badly affected.o See case studies on p.49 on Libya and Egypt
Documentary: Tourism on Trial - Egypthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Smj4euxnw
Unfavourable Political Situations
•However, more people are getting interested in alternative forms of tourism which may at times be dangerous.− For example: dark tourism, war
tourism, disaster tourism etc.
•However this area is very niche. Unlikely that it will become a trend
Outbreak of diseases• The sudden and widespread
occurrence of a new disease
• Notable outbreaks− H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009o Caused about 17,000 deaths worldwide by the
start of 2010
− SARS outbreak in 2002o Killed over 700 people in Southern China and
spread to over 37 countries in a matter of weeks
Tourism is a volatile industry
•Regional fluctuations refer to rapid changes in a region that can adversely affect tourism.
•Examples:− Disasters − Recession − Political instability − Disease outbreak
Pit Stop 9
(p.51)
Recap
•Give an example of a holiday that is ‘niched’.
•What are the factors that have encouraged the growth of tourism?
•What is the difference between long-haul and short-haul vacations?
•How has tourism changed over the past 50 years?