TOURISM CONCEPTS

Topic- Tourism

Concept-

Tourism in its modern form is not the same as travels of the early periods of human history. In

the language of Jews, the word ‘Torah’ means study or search and ‘tour’ seems to have been

derived from it. In ‘Latin’ the original word ‘Tornos’ stands close to it. ‘Tornos’ was a kind of

round wheel-like tool hinting at the idea of a travel circuit or a package tour. In Sanskrit,

‘Paryatan’ means leaving one’s residence to travel for the sake of rest and for seeking

knowledge. ‘Deshatan’ is another word which means travelling for economic benefits.

‘Tirthatan’ is the third equivalent which means travelling for religious purposes.

Definition-

First definition of tourism: It was given by Austrian economist Herman Van Scheullard in 1910.

According to him-

“The sum total of operation mainly of economic nature which is directly related to entry, stay

and movement of foreigner inside or outside a certain city or region is tourism.”

In order to prevent the disaccords to define "Tourism", UNWTO defined it as indicated below;

"Tourism comprises the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their

usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other

purposes."

This definition includes the word ‘staying’ and suggests that tourists stay at least one night.

Tourism is different from travel. In order for tourism to happen, there must be a displacement: an

individual has to travel, using any type of means of transportation (he might even travel on foot:

nowadays, it is often the case for poorer societies, and happens even in more developed ones,

and concerns pilgrims, hiking, etc.).

Any travel for holidaying, business or professional trip becomes a part of tourism if it is

temporary and is undertaken voluntarily, without an aim to earn any livelihood out of it.

But, all travel is not tourism; rather travel is one of the important components of tourism.

Three criteria are used simultaneously in order to characterize a trip as belonging to tourism. The

displacement must be such that;

It involves a displacement outside the usual environment: this term is of utmost

importance and will be discussed later on;

Type of purpose: the travel must occur for any purpose different from being remunerated

from within the place visited: the previous limits, where tourism was restricted to

recreation and visiting family and friends are now expanded to include a vast array of

purposes;

Duration: only a maximal duration is mentioned, not a minimal. Tourism displacement

can be with or without an overnight stay. We shall discuss the particularity of in transit

visits, from a conceptual and statistical point of view.

Tourism is beneficial for not only tourist but also for the country where tourism opportunities are

more. For example, the countries having hill stations and more historical places are very

attractive for tourists. When tourists visit any country, the economy of that country is benefited.

The value of that country increases and the world has a positive thinking about that region.

Tourism enhances the economic and social value of a country. So, if a country is full of natural

beauties and historical places, the government of that country must take steps to promote tourism

to serve the world and its people.

It is acknowledged by the World Tourism Organization that tourism is the fastest growing

economic sector, bringing foreign exchange earnings to countries and creating jobs. Jobs are not

only created directly in tourism but in related industries, for example in construction. Much

tourism development occurs in developing countries, bringing economic opportunities to local

communities.

Topic- Tourist

Definition-

UNWTO defined tourist as indicated below,

Tourists are persons who are "travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment

for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the

exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited".

The following are to be considered tourists:

Persons traveling for pleasure, for health, etc;

Persons traveling in a representative capacity of any kind;

Persons traveling for business reasons;

Persons arriving in the course of a sea cruise, even when they stay less than 24 hours;

The following are not to be regarded as tourists, and are considered traveler only:

Persons arriving to take up an accommodation or engage in any business activity in the

country;

Persons coming to establish a residence in the country;

Students and young persons in schools;

Any person domiciled in one country and working adjoining country;

Travelers passing though a country without stopping, even if the journey takes more than

24 hours.

Day Visitors

We have already noted in the tourism definition that, strictly, people are only tourists if they stay

in a place outside their usual environment. This means that people on day trips are not officially

tourists, which statistics count as those who stay at least one night in a place. A day-tripper is

also known as an excursionist. Day-trippers spend money in the tourism sector and boost the

economy, so it is important to measure the value of their spending.

However, we must acknowledge that day visitors make a huge contribution to the tourist

industry and some regions and organizations choose to include day visitors in statistics.

Types of tourists

On the basis of their movement tourists can categorize as the following:

a. Domestic

b. International (Inbound and Outbound)

On the basis of nature of activity, they may be categorized as:

a. Eco-tourists

b. Adventure tourists

c. Pilgrimage tourists

d. Business tourists

e. Medical/Health tourists

f. Leisure tourists

g. Backpackers etc,

Plog's Tourist Classification

Plog in the year 1972 proposed a model, which classifies tourists on a scale of psychological

types, thus determining the destination that each type of tourist tends to choose. The five

categories are

1. Psychocentric

2. Near-Psychocentric

3. Mid-centric

4. Near-Allocentric

5. Allocentric

1. Psychocentric- 'Psychocentric' is a focus on one’s self, whereas 'allocentric' is a focus on other

people. Psychocentrics are characterized as being conservative, inhibited, and more safety

conscious when they travel. They usually spend less money and travel to familiar places.

Psychocentrics would prefer travel to well-known, can be a nearby destinations and theme parks.

2. Allocentric- ‘Allocentric’ are more outgoing, willing to take risks, open to new experiences,

and interested in travel to exotic places. Allocentric would more likely travel to Africa or Asia,

3. Mid-centric- tourists who go to places that have been popularized by the Allocentric, they are

not so adventurous, neither are they afraid.

HISTORY OF TOURISM

Topic- Ancient History

Travel as a wanderlust in some form or the other has attracted human beings from the earliest

periods in history. The sages in India travelled to the Himalaya, sea shores, views or lake side’s

and close to forests for meditation. People of all faiths have since been visiting shrines

established in every nook and corner of India.

2000 years Before Christ, in India and Mesopotamia

Travel for trade was an important feature since the beginning of civilisation. The port at Lothal

was an important centre of trade between the Indus valley civilisation and the Sumerian

civilisation.

600 BC and thereafter

The earliest form of leisure tourism can be traced as far back as the Babylonian and Egyptian

empires. A museum of historic antiquities was open to the public in Babylon. The Egyptians held

many religious festivals that attracted the devout and many people who thronged to cities to see

famous works of arts and buildings.

In India, as elsewhere, kings travelled for empire building. The Brahmins and the common

people travelled for religious purposes. Thousands of Brahmins and the common folk thronged

Sarnath and Sravasti to be greeted by the inscrutable smile of the Enlightened One- the Buddha.

500 BC, the Greek civilisation

The Greek tourists travelled to sites of healing gods. The Greeks also enjoyed their religious

festivals that increasingly became a pursuit of pleasure, and in particular, sport. Athens had

become an important site for travellers visiting the major sights such as the Parthenon. Inns were

established in large towns and seaports to provide for travellers' needs. Courtesans were the

principal entertainment offered.

This era also saw the birth of travel writing. Herodotus was the worlds' first travel writer.

Guidebooks also made their appearance in the fourth century covering destinations such as

Athens, Sparta, and Troy. Advertisements in the way of signs directing people to inns are also

known in this period.

The Roman Empire

With no foreign borders between England and Syria, and with safe seas from piracy due to

Roman patrols, the conditions favouring travel had arrived. First class roads coupled with staging

inns (precursors of modern motels) promoted the growth of travel. Romans travelled to Sicily,

Greece, Rhodes, Troy and Egypt. From 300 AD travel to the Holy Land also became very

popular. The Romans introduced their guidebooks (itineraria), listing hotels with symbols to

identify quality.

Second homes were built by the rich near Rome, occupied primarily during springtime social

season. The most fashionable resorts were found around Bay of Naples. Naples attracted the

retired and the intellectuals, Cumae attracted the fashionable while Baiae attracted the down

market tourist, becoming noted for its rowdiness, drunkenness and all- night singing.

Travel and Tourism were to never attain a similar status until the modern times.

Topic- Medival History

In the Middle Ages

Travel became difficult and dangerous as people travelled for business or for a sense of

obligation and duty.

Adventurers sought fame and fortune through travel. The Europeans tried to discover a sea route

to India for trade purposes and in this fashion discovered America and explored parts of Africa.

Strolling players and minstrels made their living by performing as they travelled. Missionaries,

saints, etc. travelled to spread the sacred word.

Leisure travel in India was introduced by the Mughals. The Mughal kings built luxurious palaces

and enchanting gardens at places of natural and scenic beauty (for example Jehangir travelled to

Kashmir drawn by its beauty. Travel for empire building and pilgrimage was a regular feature.

The Grand Tour

From the early seventeenth century, a new form of tourism was developed as a direct outcome of

the Renaissance. Under the reign of Elizabeth 1, young men seeking positions at court were

encouraged to travel to the continent to finish their education. Later, it became customary for the

education of gentleman to be completed by a 'Grand Tour' accompanied by a tutor and lasting for

three or more years. While ostensibly educational, the pleasure-seeking men travelled to enjoy

life and culture of Paris, Venice or Florence. By the end of the eighteenth century, the custom

had become institutionalised in the gentry. Gradually pleasure travel displaced educational

travel. The advent of Napoleonic wars inhibited travel for around 30 years and led to the decline

of the custom of the Grand Tour.

The development of the spas

The spas grew in popularity in the seventeenth century in Britain and a little later in the

European Continent as awareness about the therapeutic qualities of mineral water increased.

Taking the cure in the spa rapidly acquired the nature of a status symbol. The resorts changed in

character as the pleasure became the motivation of visits. They became an important centre of

social life for the high society. In the nineteenth century, they were gradually replaced by the

seaside resort.

Topic- Modern History

The sun, sand and sea resorts

The sea water became associated with health benefits. The earliest visitors, therefore, drank it

and did not bathe in it. By the early eighteenth century, small fishing resorts sprung up in

England for visitors who drank and immersed themselves in sea water. With the overcrowding of

inland spas, the new seaside resorts grew in popularity. The introduction of steamboat services in

the 19th century introduced more resorts in the circuit. The seaside resort gradually became a

social meeting point

Role of the industrial revolution in promoting travel in the west

The rapid urbanization due to industrialization led to mass immigration in cities. These people

were lured into travel to escape their environment to places of natural beauty, often to the

countryside they had come from change of routine from a physically and psychologically

stressful jobs at a leisurely pace in countryside.

Highlights of travel in the nineteenth century

The advent of railway initially catalyzed business travel and later leisure travel.

Gradually special trains were chartered to only take leisure travel to their destinations.

Package tours organized by entrepreneurs such as Thomas Cook.

The European countries indulged in a lot of business travel often to their colonies to buy

raw material and sell finished goods.

The invention of photography acted as a status-enhancing tool and promoted overseas

travel.

The formation of first hotel chains; pioneered by the railway companies who established

great railway terminus hotels.

Seaside resorts began to develop different images as for day-trippers, elite, for gambling.

Other types of destinations-ski resorts, hill stations, mountaineering spots etc.

The technological development in steamships promoted travel between North America

and Europe.

The Suez Canal opened direct sea routes to India and the Far East.

Tourism in the Twentieth Century

The First World War gave first-hand experience of countries and aroused a sense of curiosity

about international travel among less well-off sector for the first time. The large scale of

migration to the US meant a lot of travel across the Atlantic. Private motoring began to

encourage domestic travel in Europe and the west. The seaside resort became an annual family

holiday destination in Britain and increased in popularity in other countries of the west. Hotels

proliferated in these destinations.

The birth of air travel and after

The wars increased interest in international travel. This interest was given the shape of mass

tourism by the aviation industry. The surplus of aircraft and growth of private airlines aided the

expansion of air travel. The aircraft had become comfortable, faster and steadily cheaper for

overseas travel. With the introduction of Boeing 707 jet in 1958, the age of air travel for the

masses had arrived. The beginning of chartered flights boosted the package tour market and led

to the establishment of organized mass tourism. The Boeing 747, a 400 seat craft, brought the

cost of travel down sharply. The seaside resorts in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the

Caribbean were the initial hot spots of mass tourism.

A corresponding growth in hotel industry led to the establishment of worldwide chains. Tourism

also began to diversify as people began to flock alternative destinations in the 70s. Nepal and

India received a throng of tourists lured by Hare Krishna movement and transcendental

meditation. The beginning of individual travel in a significant volume only occurred in the

80s. Air travel also led to a continuous growth in business travel especially with the emergence

of the MNCs.

CLASSIFICATION TOURISM

Tourism may be classified into the following types:

Inbound international tourism : Visits to a country by nonresident of that country

Outbound international tourism : Visits by residents of a country to another country

Internal tourism : Visits by residents of a country to their own

Domestic tourism : Inbound international tourism + internal tourism

National tourism : Internal tourists + outbound international tourism

Topic- Special forms of tourism

Cultural tourism:

It includes urban tourism, visiting historical or interesting cities, such as Berlin, London, Paris,

Delhi, Rome, Prague, Beijing, Kyoto, Warsaw, and experiencing their cultural heritages. This

type of tourism may also include specialized cultural experiences, such as art museum tourism

where the tourist visits many art museums during the tour, or opera tourism where the tourist

sees many operas or concerts during the tour.

Dark tourism: it is the travel to sites associated with death and suffering.

Ecotourism: sustainable tourism which has minimal impact on the environment, such as safaris

(Kenya), Rainforests (Belize) and hiking (Lapland), or national parks.

Educational tourism: may involve travelling to an education institution, a wooded retreat or

some other destination in order to take personal interest classes, such as cooking classes with a

famous chef or crafts classes.

Heritage tourism: visiting historical (Athens, Cracow) or industrial sites, such as old canals,

railways, battlegrounds, etc.

Health tourism: usually to escape from cities or relieve stress, perhaps for some 'fun in the sun',

etc. Often to "health spas". There are two different subforms of Health tourism-

Medical Tourism- It can be undertaken by a tourist Post ailment. It can also be

undertaken for what is illegal (in terms of medical practices) in one's own country, e.g.

abortion, euthanasia; for instance,euthanasia for non-citizens is provided by Dignitas in

Switzerland.

for advanced care that is not available in one's own country

in the case that there are long waiting lists in one's own country

for use of free or cheap health care organizations

Wellness Tourism- Wellness tourism is travel for the purpose of promoting health and

well-being through physical, psychological, or spiritual activities. Wellness tourism is

travel for the purpose of promoting health and well-being through physical,

psychological, or spiritual activities. It can be undertaken by a tourist in both Pre and Post

ailment.

Inclusive tourism: tourism marketed to those with functional limits or disabilities. Referred to as

"Tourism for All" in some regions. Destinations often employ Universal Design and Universal

Destination Development principles.

Perpetual tourism: wealthy individuals always on vacation; some of them, for tax purposes, to

avoid being resident in any country.

Adventure tourism: tourism involving travel in rugged regions, or adventurous sports such as

mountaineering and hiking (tramping).

Agritourism: It is a farm-based post harvesting tourism, helping to support the local agricultural

economy.

Ancestry tourism: (also known as genealogy tourism) is the travel with the aim of tracing one's

ancestry, visiting the birth places of these ancestors and sometimes getting to know distant

family.

Sport tourism: skiing, golf and scuba diving are popular ways to spend a vacation. Also in this

category is vacationing at the winter home of the tourist's favorite baseball team, and seeing

them play every day.

TOURISM SYSTEM

Topic- Leiper Model

Tourism happens only when people travel from their residence to the destinations to enjoy

the beautiful landscapes or the historical interests. Otherwise, tourism cannot be considered as

tourism and a tourist not as the tourist. For example, a person who visits the Forbidden City in

Beijing cannot be regarded as a tourist if he lives and works in Beijing. Therefore, a tourist has to

leave his residence for a certain destination by means of transport. The spatial movement from

his residence to the destination plays an important role in realizing his travel desire. What is

more, while traveling, a tourist will consume the tourism product. On the other hand, he also

helps to produce it in that he can choose his destination, route, and service freely according to his

own likes and dislikes. This can help improve the design and quality of the tourism product.

As mentioned above, the spatial movement is very important and worth our attention.

Moreover, it is necessary to provide an organizing framework in order to study tourism. To do

so, we have adopted Leiper’s model, which was suggested in 1979 and adapted in 1990 (Figure

1). In the model, he points out three aspects of the tourism- tourists, the tourism sectors, and the

geographical element.

1. Geographical elements

Leiper outlines three geographical elements in his model:

(a) Traveller-generating region;

(b) Tourist destination region; and

(c) Transit route region.

The traveller-generating region (or home region), refers to the place where the tourists

come from. It is the generating market, which stimulates and motivates travel.

The transit route region includes both the short period of travel from their home region

to the destination and other places on the way that the tourists may stop to visit.

The tourist destination is one of the most important elements in the whole tourism

system. It emphasizes what the suppliers can do for the tourists. Of course, this includes

not only the physical equipments which are crucial to attract tourists, but also the

management and service which are helpful to enhance its images and motivate the visit.

In other words, the tourist destination functions as a ‘pull’ factor in the market and

provide an area for most of the tourism activity. It attracts different kinds of tourists with

such tourism products as attractions and the quality of management and service.

The tourist destination region is where the tourists can realize their temporary goal of

travel and go through a memorable tourism experience. It provides them with attractions

of various types and creates a stage on which planning and management strategies can be

carried out. So, it is the core of the tourism.

2. Tourists

After studying the geographical elements of the tourism system, students may understand that the

spatial movement from the traveler-generating region through the transit route to the destination

region is an essential and indispensable part of the tourism experience. The following are to be

considered tourists:

Persons traveling for pleasure, for health, etc;

Persons traveling in a representative capacity of any kind;

Persons traveling for business reasons;

Persons arriving in the course of a sea cruise, even when they stay less than 24 hours;

The following are not to be regarded as tourists, and are considered traveler only:

Persons arriving to take up an accommodation or engage in any business activity in the

country;

Persons coming to establish a residence in the country;

Students and young persons in schools;

Any person domiciled in one country and working adjoining country;

Travelers passing though a country without stopping, even if the journey takes more than

24 hours.

There are different types of tourism such as holiday tourism, business tourism and common

interest tourism. Business tourism can further be classified into incentive travel, conference

tourism and business travel.

According to the time the tourism takes, we also have day trips or excursions which do not

involve an overnight stay and tourism which often refers to journeys or stays at

destinations for at least 24 hours.

Now we are clear about what the distinct characteristics of tourism are and what a tourist is

expected to experience in order to travel. As a matter of fact, tourism is a complete and

comprehensive system in which the tourists play an important role. On the one hand, tourism can

enrich tourists’ experience, widen their horizon and increase their knowledge. On the other hand,

tourists can help to improve the tourism environment, to enhance the images of the destinations

to push the tourism industry forward and to energize the whole tourism system. In one word,

without tourists there would be no tourism. Therefore, it is worthwhile to attach great importance

to the study of the tourists. Besides, there are other factors which have an influence on the

tourism demand. They are economic, social and cultural factors.

3. Tourism Industry.

The tourism industry refers to the businesses and organizations that help to promote the tourism

product. According to Leiper, various industrial sectors can be located in different places. In the

traveler-generating region, we can find travel agents and tour operators. In the destination region,

we can find attractions and hospitality industry and in the transit route region, we have the

transport sector.

The tourism system is made up of three elements: the tourist, the destination and the tourism

intermediaries. Among them, the tourist is the most crucial one. It is the starting point of the

tourism and gives impetus to the development of it. The destination functions as the tourism

object. It is the area in which various kinds of tourism product are delivered, such as the

accommodations, restaurants, leisure facilities and other ancillary services. The tourism

intermediaries help to connect the traveler-generating region and the tourist destination. It mainly

includes the transport and the travel agents, tour operators, etc who help the tourists to realize

their travel desire and obtain a tourism experience worth memorizing.

The primary tourism industry is composed of travel trade, transport, accommodation and

catering, as well as catering facilities and tourist attractions, etc. Different sectors or companies

to suit all budgets and tastes provide these products and services. The hospitality industry

provides accommodation and entertainments for travelers. The tour wholesaler and travel agency

sell and promote the products and services of the other sectors to travelers.

Now students may have a clearer idea of the tourism system. But we also should keep in mind

that the tourism system is not an independent system. Its development relies on the support of

other external or environmental systems, such as sociocultural, economic, political, physical, etc.

These systems are interdependent. For example, without agriculture, no one can supply food for

the restaurant; without the oil industry, no vehicle can move and help tourists realize their spatial

movement. And the tourism system, in turn, is also important to the development of other

systems.

NATURE OF WORLD TOURISM

Topic Tourism Now-a-Days

World Tourism Industry is an industry which is flourishing all over the world. The scenario of

the World tourism industry is always in a state of flux, ever changing. It is reckoned that end of

2007 will see the World tourism industry generating as many as 234 million job opportunities for

the people. It is also assumed that the contribution towards the GDP by the World tourism

industry will be approximately 10.3%. People can afford overseas travel. However, in order to

meet the requirements, constant changes in the travel and tourism policies need to be reframed

and restructured.

World tourism industry and the environment: The impact of the World tourism industry on

our environment cannot be overlooked. While global tourism industry is expanding manifold,

every effort is being made to protect the heritage of historically significant places. With every

passing year, world tourism industry is experiencing new changes to adapt to the needs of time.

Increase in the world tourism activities mean more consumption of energy and the natural

resources. Alternative sources of energy are being worked out. Global warming, rise in sea levels

pose to be a great threat to all the nations worldwide. Concepts of Eco tourism is fast catching up

with the common people.

World tourism industry and economy: In order to find out the contribution of the travel and

tourism industry to a particular country, the Travel And Tourism Account or the TSA(Tourism

Satellite Accounting) is an important tools to determine the economics in detail. The TTSA

throws light on matters related to travel, tourism job opportunities, comparing related tourism

industries including hotels, transport etc.,TSA furnishes information about global travel, tourism

pertaining to growth, demand, export, GDP, employment opportunities, capital investment etc.,.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM INDUSTRY/SECTOR

Topic- Characteristics of tourism

Tourism have several unique characteristics as follows;

1. Intangible nature of services- The essential difference between goods and services is that

goods are produced but services are performed.

2. Inseparability- This means that the act of production and consumption is simultaneous and

takes place in the same environment, not in the consumer’s home environment. It also means

that most of the staff of the service companies have some consumer contact and are seen by

the customer.

3. Perishability- Products can be stored for future sale; services cannot. Services are

perishable “like a running tap in a sink with no plug”. The sale of an empty hotel room,

airline seat is lost forever. Services, more importantly, the time available to experience them,

cannot be stored. For example, there is only one chance to enjoy a summer vacation in 1990.

4. No possibility of creating and holding stocks- Linked with the inseparability and

perishability that it is not possible for a service producer to create a stock of products to be

used to satisfy daily fluctuations in demand.

5. Heterogeneity- This means that every service performance is unique to each customer.

6. Particular Characteristics of Travel and Tourism Services- Besides the basic

characteristics common to all services, there are three further features that are particularly

relevant to travel and tourism services. These are;

7. Seasonality and demand fluctuations- It is a characteristic of most leisure tourism markets

that demand fluctuates greatly between seasons of the year. As a result, the occupancies in

many tourism businesses increase to 90 to 100 per cent in the high season but drops to 30 per

cent or less in the low season. In addition, seasonal closure of many leisure tourism

businesses is common as well. These demand variations in tourism is more important

because of perishability. That is why, generating demand when there is less demand, is

always the major preoccupation for marketing managers.

8. Interdependence of tourism products- The fortunes of tourism attractions in a destination

are linked. Since a vacationer chooses attractions at a destination together with the products

of accommodation, transport, catering etc., all organizations should function in coordination.

9. High fixed costs of service operations- In the travel and tourism industry, it is generally the

case that the operations have high fixed costs and relatively low variable costs. This fact

focuses all service operators’ attention on the need to generate extra demand. Since most

large scale businesses are obliged to operate on a very narrow margin between total cost and

total revenue because of intense competition, plus or minus one percentage point in average

load factors makes the difference between profit or loss.

COMPONENTS OF TOURISM

Topic- Elements of Tourism

1. Natural Environment

a. Tourist

b. Physiographic

c. Climate

2. Built Environment

a. Infrastructure

b. Tourism Superstructure (Infrastructure developed especially for tourism purposes)

c. Technology

d. Information

e. Governance

f. Culture

3. Operating Sectors

a. Transportation agencies

b. Tour operators/Travel agencies

c. Accommodation providers

d. Food and restaurant facilities

e. Entertainment and event organizers/providers

4. PPDCOs (Planning, Promotion, Development and Catalyst organizations)

a. Public bodies: Global organizations like UNWTO, ICAO, and NTOs like ITDC,

RTOs like RTDC, MTDC, and other local governing bodies.

b. Private bodies: WTTC, IATA, TAAI, PATA etc and NGOs.