Page 101 - Tourism The International Business

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for their vacations; those inland travel to the coast. Spas and country centers exist inland. Mineral waters and hot
springs are the source of the spas. Other centers rely on mountains, camping and fishing.
South Africa has 3,220 kilometers of coastal beaches. The chief resort areas are those of the Cape region,

particularly those of the Hibiscus Coast.
Asia and the Pacific

Distance and cost have meant that tourism in Asia and the Pacific has been slow to develop. It is expected that,
as the focus of the world economy increasingly turns to this area, tourism will become more important, both
inbound and outbound. The four areas that have had a long history of tourism are Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand
and Singapore.
Hong Kong. The British lease on Hong Kong runs out in 1997. After that time the territory reverts to China.
The major generator of tourists to Hong Kong is Japan followed by the United States. Approximately two-thirds
of the visitors to Hong Kong are from Pacific-area countries. They come to experience the Chinese culture and the
free-port shopping. However, on the nearby islands there are good beaches. Visits tend to be short-term, an average

of less than three days. Tourists often stop en route to somewhere else. Despite this, tourism is a major export for
the island.
Malaysia. As with Hong Kong, most tourists visiting Malaysia come from within the Pacific region, primarily
Thailand. The influence of its membership in the British Commonwealth, however, is felt in the number of visitors
from Australia and the United Kingdom. Tourists are attracted to picturesque towns (such as the thatched houses
on stilts in the old part of Kuala Lumpur), the Buddhist temples, black sand beaches, jungles and culture of the
locals.

Thailand. Thailand attracts visitors from the Pacific region and Europe. The United States accounts for about
10 per cent of tourists to the country. The months of April, May and June are the slowest months. Visitors come to
see the temples, ancient cities, religious sites, jungles, and to enjoy the beach resorts. In addition, there are six hill
tribes in the country, each with their own culture, who can be visited by tourists.
Singapore. Singapore benefits from its location at a crossroads for both ships and airplanes. It is on the air
routes to the Far East and Australasia and has what is regarded as the finest airport in Southeast Asia. However,
tourists are usually en route to somewhere else. About half of tourist expenditure is on shopping. Singapore does
have beautiful natural attractions including beaches and coral reefs. Government attempts to improve tourism have
focused on developing Singapore as the convention capital of Southeast Asia. Conventions bring a captive group

and can attract visitors in the off-season. Many festivals have also been developed, focusing on a blend of culture,
food, and music.
The Indian Ocean Islands. The white sand beaches, palm trees, high temperatures, clear skies, and warm
seas give this area its "island paradise" image. The largest island by far is Madagascar. In fact, its size and limited
means of communication pose problems. Tourism is concentrated in the capital of Tananarive, the volcanic
"paradise" island of Nosy-Be and at Diégo-Suarez, a bay fringed by coral reef.
Tourism is fairly well established in Mauritius, which offers a variety of scenery in addition to coral reefs and

beaches. Reunion, which is French, the Comoros, and the Seychelles, offer the tourist the opportunity to get away
from it all. Facilities are lacking but the features of these islands will bring tourists and facilities to meet their needs.
The problem will be to ensure that development does not harm the natural beauty of the islands.

Tourism the International Business 101 A Global Text