Page 25 - Tourism The International Business

1. Tourism: its historical development

Location, or accessibility, is very important to the success of a destination that relies upon natural resources. For
most tourism destinations, there is a direct relationship between distance and demand; the farther away people are
from the destination, the fewer their numbers visiting it as a proportion of total attendance.

The natural resources of a destination are very fragile. Because of its attractiveness the destination draws people.
These visitors leave their marks (and sometimes their garbage) on the resource. As a result the destination becomes
less attractive. Once the decline has started it is difficult to reverse. The key is to manage the resource in such a way
that it will maintain its attractiveness to tourists.
Culture. The culture of an area is the way of life of its people. It is exhibited in such things as places of historical
interest, religion, the way people live, the way they are governed and their traditions, both past and present. Part of
the culture of the British is the tradition of afternoon tea and going down to the pub at night. Both are part of the

attraction of visiting that country.
Ethnicity. The number one reason that people in North America take a trip is to visit friends and relatives.
Because of the mobility of Americans (it is estimated that one out of five people moves each year) vacations are
often used to renew ties with family and friends.
On an international level there is the desire to get back to one's homeland. Distinct travel patterns can be seen,
such as the movement of Bostonians to Ireland and residents of Toronto to Scotland. There are two types of such
tourists. First-generation tourists generally stay with relatives whereas later generations are more likely to stay in
hotels. For the former there is a great desire to see things the way they remembered them. Later generations expect
more of the creature comforts to which they have grown accustomed.

Entertainment. Tourists are often attracted to a place because of the entertainment provided. That
entertainment may be a permanent feature of the destination such as a theme park or zoo. Obvious examples in the
United States are Disney World, Six Flags Over Georgia, and the San Diego Zoo. The entertainment may be a
temporary event such as the American Super Bowl or a county fair. There has been an increasing trend toward
active participation in recreational activities. The attraction may not be to watch people run, for example, but to
participate in the sport.

Facilities
Attractions bring people to the destination and facilities service them when they get there. Because they are
away from home, the visitor requires certain things: a place to stay, something to eat and drink. Facilities support,
rather than start, the growth of a destination. The major facilities are lodging places, restaurants for food and

beverages, support services, and infrastructure.
Lodging. Almost half of all American tourists stay with friends and relatives when taking a trip. Despite this,
lodging accounts for between one-fifth to one-fourth of total tourist expenditures.
To be successful a destination area needs sufficient accommodation of the right kind to appeal to the visitor.
That may mean campsites, or bed and breakfast places in private homes, hotels, motels or resorts. The type
provided will depend upon the market being catered to.
As noted earlier in this chapter, the type of accommodation provided is, in part, determined by the

transportation used by visitors to the destination. A system of bed and breakfast houses will work only if the visitors
travel by car.

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