(Geography & Tourism)

Geographical Components of Tourism

By Mohammad Alam

OBJECTIVES
The interaction of Geography & Tourism. Identify the major Geographical Components of

Tourism.

GEOGRAPHY & TOURISM

Geography is fundamental to the study of tourism, because ;

Tourism is geographical in nature, it is part of Human geography;

Tourism occurs in places, it involves movement and activities between

places.
An activity in which characteristics of place and personal self-identities

are formed.
The relationships that are created among places, landscapes and

people.
Physical geography provides the essential background, against which

tourism places are created and environmental impacts.

Tourism
Tourism is the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.

Geography
The study of the earth, its features and spatial distribution of life/resources on the surface of earth, their interaction with each other.

Tourism Geography
The study of the tourism resources and their spatial distribution of on the surface of earth, their effect on the land, nature and humankind.
(Spatial analysis of where tourism develops and why)

CONCEPT OF TOURISM GEOGRAPHY

The spatial distribution of tourism resources of the surface of earth and their interaction with each other.

Spatial scale
Tourism Geography (key concept)
The Geographical components of the Tourism System
Spatial interaction between the components of the Tourist system.

Touristgenerating areas

Transit routes

Tourist-receiving areas

GEOGRAPHY & TOURISM study the geography of travel and tourism, three key concepts need to be considered;
I. Spatial Scale
The spatial study can be undertaken at a variety of scales; World distribution of climatic zones. Regional assessment of tourist resources. The local landscapes of resorts.

II. Spatial interaction between the components of the tourist system

Tourist flows. The regular patterns of tourist flows.

III. The Geographical components of the tourism system.

A. The places of origin of tourists (the tourist-generating areas).
Represent the homes of tourists, where journey begin and end. Geographical location of an area; its socioeconomic and demographic

characteristic. Areas main tourist markets in the world. Major marketing functions of tourist industry are found here, such as tour operation, and travel retailing.

A system is a set of elements or parts that are connected to each other by at least one distinguishing principle

B. The tourist destinations (the receiving areas).

Places that attract tourist to stay temporarily and will have features and attractions. Comprise of the accommodation, retailing, service, functions, entertainment, and recreation. Most important part of the tourism system, which attract the tourists and energizing the system. Rrecognized as the impacts recipient of the tourism industry, and therefore where the planning and management of tourism is so important.

C. Transit rout
The routes travelled between tourist-generating areas and the receiving areas.
Link the tourist-generating area and the tourist destination area. As the key element in the system as their effectiveness and

characteristics shape the size and direction of tourist flows. It represents the location of the main transportation component of the tourist industry.

Conclusion
It is important to recognise that each particular form of tourism involve

all of the geographical components. Forms of tourism based dominantly on the destination visited. The destination visited influence the other components of the tourism system
The latest form of Tourism Geotourism is carrying the concept of

"best practice" tourism that sustains, or even enhances, the geographical character of a place, such as its culture, environment, landscape, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.