PURE GEOGRAPHYOUR CHANGING WORLD

GLOBAL TOURISMIS TOURISM THE WAY TO GO?

GATEWAY 2WHY HAS TOURISM BECOME A GLOBAL PHENOMENON?

• Describe the trends of international and domestic tourism

• Describe the changing nature of tourism• Explain the growth of global tourism• Explain why tourism is subject to regional

fluctuations

CHANGING TRENDS IN TOURISM

• Travelling to further destinations• Travelling to destinations once

considered unreachable• Changing purposes and nature• Example: emerging trends of

ecotourism and medical tourism

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM (PG 28)

• World tourist arrivals has been increasing

• From 1950 to 2010, world tourist arrivals have increased by nearly 1 billion

• Before 1980s, Europe was receiving most of the tourists

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM (PG 28)

• In the 2000s, Asia Pacific overtook North & South America to be the second most visited region

• All regions have been experiencing growth in number of tourist arrivals

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM: ORIGINS AND DESTINATIONS• More than half of all international

tourists originate from developed countries in Europe and North America

• Increasingly more tourists from rapidly developing countries

• Eg: China, India and Brazil

INTERNATIONAL TOURISM: ORIGINS AND DESTINATIONS• Destinations of tourists are also

unevenly distributed• In 2011, Europe received more

than half of all international tourists arrivals at 504 million

• Asia Pacific is the second highest at 217 million

DOMESTIC TOURISM• Most popular form of tourism

despite growth of international tourism

• In 2010, domestic tourism account for:• 83% of all tourist arrivals• 69% of overnight hotel stays

DOMESTIC TOURISM (PG 32)• Eg: China and Philippines• Large percentage of domestic

tourism is due to:• Holiday and sightseeing• Visiting family and relatives

GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS• Flow line & Desire line maps (pg 30)• Calculating percentage change (pg

33)• Identifying trends or patterns (pg 33)

PITSTOP 6Pg 34Questions• 1(a), (b)• 2• 3(a), (b), (c), (d)

CHANGING NATURE OF TOURISM• Tourism has been evolving due to:

• Improvement in transportation• Growth in income

• This has led to the evolution of:• Mass tourism• Package holidays• Niche tourism

FORMS OF TOURISM• Mass tourism

• Package holidays• Niche tourism

• Ecotourism• Short-haul / Long-haul

destinations

MASS TOURISM• Involves a large number of tourists

visiting a place together• Due to increased affluence and

leisure time• One form of mass tourism is

package holidays

PACKAGE HOLIDAYS• Holiday that involves a tour usually

arranged by a travel agent• Includes accommodation, transport

and most meals• Service of guides who speak local

language and is knowledgeable about the sites, habits, culture and history of the place

NICHE TOURISM• Special-interest tourism based on

particular areas or activities• Done by independent travellers or

with package tours• Appeals to tourists who seek ‘new’

destinations, activities and experiences

NICHE TOURISM• Examples:

• Whale-watching in Hawaii• Whitewater rafting in NZ• WWII historical tour in Europe

• Ecotourism is a form of niche tourism

ECOTOURISM• TIES - The International Ecotourism

Society • Ecotourism - responsible to travel to

natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people

• Six principles of ecotourism

ECOTOURISM1. Minimise impact2. Build environmental and cultural

awareness and respect3. Provide positive experience for

both visitors and hosts (local people)

ECOTOURISM4. Provide direct financial benefits for

conservations5. Provide financial benefits and

empowerment for local people6. Raise sensitivity to host countries’

political, environmental and social climate

ECOTOURISM - EXAMPLE• Waitomo Caves in New Zealand• Glow worms that light up the cave

ceiling• Managed by government and the

Maori• Close monitoring of carbon dioxide

levels (<2,400 parts per million)

ECOTOURISM - EXAMPLE• Controls number of tourists• Benefits the Maoris who are

employed as part of staff and who also receive part of the cave’s entrance fees

SHORT & LONG-HAUL DESTINATIONS• Tourism can also be classified into

short and long-haul destinations• Short – destination reachable by

car, bus, train, or flight less than 5 hours (S’pore to Hong Kong)

• Long – generally flights of 5 hours or more (S’pore to Europe)

REASONS FOR GROWTH OF GLOBAL TOURISM

• Developments in technology• Demand factors• Destination factors

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – BETTER & AFFORDABLE TRANSPORT

• Technology developments applied to transport:• improved travel safety• shortened travel time• lowered travel costs

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – BETTER & AFFORDABLE TRANSPORT

• Budget airlines• Cheaper than major commercial

lines due to smaller and more fuel-efficient aircraft

• Fly mainly short-haul• Tickets sold online and not

through agents, lower costs

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – BETTER & AFFORDABLE TRANSPORT

• Eg: Jetstar Asia, Tiger Airways• More people can travel, and more

frequently• Opportunities to travel further

away from home• Go to destinations not covered by

major airlines, eg Bhutan, Corsica

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – MORE AIR ROUTES & AGREEMENTS

• Increased air routes have made various parts of the world more accessible

• Interconnectedness between countries have also increased

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – MORE AIR ROUTES & AGREEMENTS• Open skies agreement

• Agreement between governments to remove restrictions on commercial flights between their countries

• Deregulation or airline industry• Allow fares to rise and fall based on

market demand and competition between airline companies

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – MORE AIR ROUTES & AGREEMENTS• Effect of agreement and

deregulation• Growth of air routes and flights• Increased number of

commercial airline companies and budget airlines

• Reduced prices of flights for passengers

DEVELOPMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY – EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION• Online booking and research

• Easier to obtain tickets• More options and control for tourists• Able to do more research on

destinations before travelling• Surveillance, electronic checks and

other safety controls research• Increased safety and confidence

about travelling

DEMAND FACTORS – DISPOSABLE INCOME

• Disposable income – amount of income after taxes

• Increasing disposable income due to rapid economic growth (eg China and India)

• More money to spend on leisure activities, ie travelling

DEMAND FACTORS – LEISURE TIME

• Leisure time – part of the day with no work commitment

• Can be in the form of paid leave• Having more public holidays

and shorter working weeks increases availability of leisure time

DEMAND FACTORS – CHANGING LIFESTYLE

• Changing lifestyle – change in the way people live throughout their lifetime

• Faster pace of life today• Travelling is a common way to

relax and take a break from work

DEMAND FACTORS – CHANGING LIFESTYLE

• Due to medical technology and increase in health consciousness, people live longer and are physically fit to travel

• More retirees travel as a way to spend their time

• Eg: Grey nomads in Australia

DESTINATION FACTORS - ATTRACTIONS

• Tourists are more likely to visit places with attractions

• Attractions can be scenic, man-made, rich culture or purpose-built facilities (recall previous topic)

• Attractions can be promoted by the government or tourist authorities in hope that tourists will return repeatedly

DESTINATION FACTORS – INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES

• Investment in infrastructure and services is to support expected growth in tourist arrivals

• Good infrastructure and service support also makes a place more attractive to tourists

DESTINATION FACTORS – INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES

• Infrastructure• Transport and communication

networks, systems for water and waste disposal

• Eg: S’pore Changi Airport• Closed down Budget Terminal to

build Terminal 4 by 2017• Increase capacity from 73 million

to 85 million

DESTINATION FACTORS – INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES

• Infrastructure• Accommodation in the form of five-

star hotels to backpacker hostels and homestays

• Eg: Hong Kong will add 49 hotels to its current 189 by 2016

• Increase capacity from 42 million to 70 million a year

DESTINATION FACTORS – INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES

• Services• Help or work provided by

businesses to customers• Eg: free Wi-Fi in hotel rooms• Eg: trained guides, travel agents,

hotel managers

DESTINATION FACTORS – ACCESS TO INFORMATION

• Tourists are more likely to visit a destination where information is easy to obtain

• Eg: Weather, travel routes, accommodation availability

• Information should be in a language tourists can understand

DESTINATION FACTORS – ACCESS TO INFORMATION

• Signs in languages that visitors can understand provide security and comfort to them

• Local guides and travel agents with knowledge of history, geography and culture of location can enhance the tourists’ experience

PITSTOP 8Pg 45Questions• 3(a), (b)• 4(a), (b)• 8(a), (b)

TOURISM AFFECTED REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS

• Refers to rapid changes in a region’s situation or condition

• May directly lead to changes in tourist numbers

• Disasters• Regional / Global recessions• Unfavourable political situations• Outbreak of diseases

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS - DISASTERS

• Events that cause great damage to properties, injuries and loss of lives

• Poses risks to tourists’ safety• Disrupt essential infrastructure• Watch the video on Japan, Tohoku

Earthquake in 2011 and suggest the impacts it could have on tourism in Japan.

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS - DISASTERS

• Earthquake, followed by tsunami• Disruption of services: govt buildings, air

terminal, ports, train services disrupted• Damage to infrastructure: roads damaged,

oil refinery & nuclear plant, airport submerged

• What is the effect of this news report on tourism of Japan?

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – REGIONAL & GLOBAL RECESSIONS

• A period of slowdown in economic activities

• People experience loss of income or jobs

• Will cut back on spending, less likely to travel overseas

• Fewer international tourists

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – REGIONAL & GLOBAL RECESSIONS

• Recession may cause more tourists to opt for domestic tourism

• A more affordable option than international tourism

• Spend less on transportation• Domestic tourism helps to boost

country’s own economy during the recession

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – REGIONAL & GLOBAL RECESSIONS• Eg: European Sovereign Debt Crisis (Regional

Recession)• 2010 – Greece unable to repay government

debt• Followed by Ireland, Portugal and Spain• Affects other countries that use the Euro as

their currency• Collapse of financial institutions & businesses,

massive unemployment

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – REGIONAL & GLOBAL RECESSIONS• Eg: Global Financial Crisis (Global Recession)• 2007, 2008 – World’s largest financial firms

went bankrupt• Due to loss of investments in the crash of USA

housing market• Triggered panic in financial institutions around

the world• Caused economies to slow down or shrink

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – UNFAVOURABLE POLITICAL SITUATIONS

• Eg: War, civil war, political riots• Poses a danger to residents as well as

tourists• May cause disruptions to services and

damage to infrastructure• Discourages tourists from travelling• Governments may issue travel advisories

to discourage their citizens from travelling• Who else will issue travel advisories?

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – UNFAVOURABLE POLITICAL SITUATIONS

• Examples – Little India, Egypt and Bangkok

• What effects will these activities have on the surrounding environment?

• What kind of impact does it have on the tourism of the country?

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – OUTBREAKS OF DISEASES• A sudden and widespread occurrence of

disease in an area• Discourages tourists from travelling, do not

want to risk getting infected• May cause cancellation of large-scale MICE

activities• Governments may issue travel advisories to

discourage their citizens from travelling• Travel advisories may also be issued from

international organisations eg. WHO

REGIONAL FLUCTUATIONS – OUTBREAKS OF DISEASES• Eg: SARS in HK, Singapore (2003)• Infected 8,000 in 25 countries and killed 775• Eg: H1N1 Influenza outbreak (USA, Mexico,

Spain)• Widespread cancellation of bookings by

tourists from USA, Canada and Europe

CHECKPOINTPg 53

Questions• 2• 6• 10 (Open-ended question)• 12 (Open-ended question)• 13 (a), (b)• 14 (a), (b)