Page 29 - principles of tourism marketing-1 (1)

in a certain area – then you’re eating in local restaurants, using

local public transport, buying souvenirs and ice cream and new flip

flops. As a tourist, you are contributing to the global economy every

time you book and take a trip.

For some towns, cities and even whole countries, the importance of

tourism is greater than for other. In some cases, it is the main

source of income. For example, according to the World Travel and

Tourism Council, tourism accounts for almost 40% of the

Maldives’ total GDP. In comparison, it’s less than 4% in the UK

and even lower in the US! In the Seychelles the number is just over

26% while in the British Virgin Islands it is over 35% – so tourism

is vastly important in these nations.

- The importance of tourism: Social gains

The importance of tourism is not only recognized through

economic factors, but there are also many positive social impacts of

tourism that play an important part. Below I will outline some of

the social gains from tourism.

- Preserving Local Culture

It is the local culture that the tourists are often coming to visit and

this is another way to demonstrate the importance of tourism.

29