Geography (Topic: Tourism) Term 2 Revision Notes

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Info (about term 2 test):

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Test date: 26/4/2011, Tuesday, Wk 6 Topic: Tourism 2 sections, 2 questions, 25 marks, 1 hour
Section A: Data response + Field techniques (Q1 10m) Section B: Structured Essays (Q2&3, 8m LORMS)

Focus:

Trends, Factors, Eco-tourism

Summary:

Importance of Tourism

Tourism Trends Factors of Tourism Trends Problems of Tourism Impacts of Tourism

Ecotourism for Sustainable Tourism

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Importance of Tourism:
Tourism accounted for more than US$ 6 trillion in travel & tourist spending globally. Travel & tourism directly (benefits to tourist industry) and indirectly (benefits to industries that are supporting tourism) generated 11.7% of world GDP in 2005 Main source of foreign exchange earnings Labour-intensive industry generates 200m jobs globally. Employment generated via spending of direct & indirect workers Multiplier effect on local economy o Increase in level of development in host country Higher standard of living & quality of life Does not require high-capital, utilizes indigenous (aka local) resources LDCs rely heavily on tourist industry

Factors of Tourism Trends:

Greater affluence Transport technology advancement Telecommunications advancement Governments trying to maintain political stability & actively promoting their countries Changing lifestyles/demands o Movement towards more exotic places (e.g. Asia, North Africa, Latin America, Caribbean) o Greater interest in off-the-beaten-path vacations, ecotourism, cultural tours, spa holidays, cruises, adventure travels New markets in Asia & Africa getting larger share of tourism pie

Tourism Trends:
Phenomenal increase in international tourism since 1950s Rapid but uneven increase of international tourism. (More rapid increase in Asia Pacific region) LDCs account for 1/5 of world tourism. Future Tourism Trend: More people from LDCs will increase their travels due to continued rise in global wealth esp in Asia People going for shorter, more diverse trips & more individualized, customized tour packages

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Problems of Tourism:
Opportunity costs o Funds/taxes being diverted to support tourist industry Over-reliance makes country vulnerable o Changes in global economy o Unforeseen events (e.g. economic crisis 1997-1998, wars, terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics etc) Leakages (amt of tourism expenditure that does not stay in local economy, or brings little benefit to local businesses and workers) Failure to produce large economic benefits in LDCs DCs (core) continue to develop at expense of LDCs (periphery). Conclusion: Tourism not a good long-term development plan May not be environmentally sustainable if long-term Tourism is an exploiting industry.

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Economic Impacts of Tourism:

Generates employment Promotes growth of informal sector e.g. street hawking, private tour guides etc provides jobs to the unskilled Contribute to foreign exchange earnings Generates Gross National Product/revenue. (GNP measures the output generated by a country's enterprises - whether physically located domestically or abroad) o Directly Levies on tourists, income taxes from tourist employment o Indirectly taxes on goods & services supplied to tourists. E.g. Spore govt collect GST of 7% from purchases made. o Multiplier effect on local economy: Money spent by tourists Circulated thru economy Stimulates investment/foreign capital inflow (to other sectors) develop host country o Foreign hotel chains invest in building new hotels in tourist destinations. E.g. Hyatt Intl built the Grand Hyatt Singapore Hotel o New amenities built + Old ones renovated to cater to tourists infrastructure development. E.g. Development of Chinatown area in Singapore o Foreign investors attracted to set up new businesses Attract even more investments Helps diversity economy of host country Widening income gap + Social tension [due to segmentation of tourism jobs available to locals and foreigners] o Locals employed in low-end jobs o Foreign & skilled personnel from DCs employed in high-pay jobs Volatile nature subject to economic fluctuations/political stability/destination preferences Vulnerability to seasons workers subject to seasonal fluctuations in income (decline in tourist arrivals during off-peak season) no job security Leakages (profits earned by tourist industry flow out) Loss of tourism receipts o Foreign ownership of local tourism businesses/inward transport carriers o Imports of equipment & supplies Social Impacts of Tourism: countries o Advertising cost in other Cultural interaction & tourists on goods & services imported by host country o Purchases by exchange Sustaining of local dances, (sendingevents and festivals o Foreign remittances cultural money home while working in foreign country) by Using revenue to tourism workers expatriate preserve/maintain/refurbish old buildings Preserve cultural o Enclave tourism (i.e. history & belonging in locals + educate resorts or taking heritage instills sense of people choosing to stay in enclaves likefuture generations about their origin. cruise limited economic benefits to host country a package Development & upgrading of infrastructure & attractions raises prices higher Increased demand for goods & services by foreigners drive up quality of life of locals cost of living increased financial burden People and resources diverted to tourism industryhave differentof other industries Widens social & cultural gap (locals & tourists may Neglect cultural Over-reliance on tourism + Unequal development of industries in host country misunderstanding and clash) + Regional develop attitudes of inferiority Locals may disparities Loss of local identity + Erosion of values + Undermined social standards (esp under greater exposure to foreign culture) Conflict due to competition of resource use o Locals compete with tourists for use of public facilities o Locals have to bear higher costs of basic services to pay for maintenance and upgrading of these services (sometimes) Development of child labour and prostitution Copyright 2011 Liang QiYun Cultural prostitution altering of culture (creation of pseudo-culture) to cater to tourist demands loss of authenticity and cultural significance loss of local culture Commercialisation + mass production of local souvenirs lower quality & value of cultural items loss of authenticity
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Benefits Problems Benefits Problems

Environmental Impacts of Tourism:

Benefits Problems Benefits Limitations Govt needs to develop basic infrastructure to promote tourism Environment improved Revenue can be used to upgrade places of interest + conserve unique/fragile areas/habitats Awareness of natural environmental conservation stricter laws & regulations for environmental protection Environmental consequences not given high priority (due to large capital required to develop infrastructure) Inadequate planning/Mass tourism activities cause environmental degradation & loss of biodiversity Tourist developments (e.g. resorts) clash with indigenous cultural architecture. Greater demand for natural resources (due to excessive consumption by tourists) over-exploitation Waste disposal Congestion + Pollution

Sustainable Tourism:
Meeting present needs of tourists and host country while protecting & enhancing opportunities for future generations

Ecotourism a strategy for Sustainable Tourism

Provides tourists with authentic, enriching experiences of being in natural environments without disturbing much of the environments
E.g: Jordan ecotourism made up avg of 10% of countrys GDP, employed approx 10% of labour force and contributed almost 1 billion dollars annually to economy.

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Low-density, low-impact green tourism strongly emphasizes environmental conservation No intrusion for interference with local socio-cultural environment (ecotourism tends to develop in remote areas) Viable for LDCs with limited resources Fastest growing tourism sectors Locals directly engaged in the operations & management of tourist facilities Locals get huge benefits Revenue used for maintenance and protection of the area Earn revenue & provide alternatives to local original environmentally-damaging activities (e.g. woodcutting & goat grazing) via establishment of small nature-centred businesses (e.g. production of organic jams/fruit/herbs/silver jewellery etc) Minimal negative environmental impact Potential danger for gradual development into mass tourism Conflict bet. conserving landscape and allowing total access to visitors & providing them with the desired facilities Tour packages may focus on profits and tourists may not be responsible enough (education needed) Laws not strictly enforced to conserve environment Competition threatens sustainability of the area (untouched environments may be developed as ecotourism destinations)