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Unlock This CourseEvery tourist destination has a mix of features that attract visitors. These can be natural (beaches, mountains, wildlife) or built (theme parks, historic buildings, resorts). Understanding these features helps you explain why tourists choose one place over another which is a classic exam question!
Key Definitions:
These are features created by nature not humans. They include beaches, coral reefs, rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, lakes and wildlife. Countries like Kenya (safaris), the Maldives (coral reefs) and Switzerland (Alps) rely heavily on their natural features to attract tourists.
These are man-made attractions theme parks, historic sites, museums, stadiums and resorts. Examples include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome and Disneyland in Florida. Cities like London and Dubai are famous for their built attractions.
Geographers and tourism experts use the "4 A's" to analyse what a destination offers. This is a really useful framework for exam answers!
The things that pull tourists in natural scenery, heritage sites, events, culture, wildlife.
Where tourists stay hotels, hostels, campsites, resorts, Airbnb. Quality and range matter a lot.
How tourists get there airports, motorways, rail links, ports. Poor access can limit tourist numbers even if a place is beautiful.
The fourth "A" is Amenities restaurants, shops, entertainment, medical facilities and other services that make a stay enjoyable and safe.
Dubai in the UAE is a brilliant example of a destination built almost entirely around man-made attractions. In the 1970s it was a small trading port. Today it attracts over 16 million visitors a year. Key features include the Burj Khalifa (world's tallest building), Palm Jumeirah (artificial island), world-class shopping malls and luxury hotels. The government invested billions in infrastructure airports, roads and resorts to make Dubai one of the world's top destinations. This shows how built features + investment + accessibility can transform a destination rapidly.
The iGCSE syllabus expects you to know the different types of tourist destinations and be able to give examples of each. Here's a clear breakdown:
Located by the sea. Tourists come for sun, sand and water sports. Examples: Benidorm (Spain), Phuket (Thailand), CancĂşn (Mexico). These are among the most popular destination types worldwide.
Found in highland areas. Popular for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Examples: Chamonix (France), Zermatt (Switzerland), Aspen (USA).
Urban destinations famous for history, culture, food and entertainment. Examples: Paris, Rome, Tokyo, New York, London. Often attract both leisure and business tourists.
Focused on natural environments and wildlife. Examples: Serengeti (Tanzania), Galápagos Islands (Ecuador), Amazon Rainforest (Brazil). Often linked to ecotourism.
Tourism doesn't just happen by itself. It's managed and promoted by a range of organisations at different scales from local councils to international bodies. Understanding who does what is important for the exam.
Key Definitions:
These organisations work at a global level to support, regulate and promote tourism around the world.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation is the leading international body for tourism. It collects global tourism data, promotes sustainable tourism and helps developing countries benefit from tourism.
The International Air Transport Association regulates the airline industry. It sets safety standards, ticketing rules and helps airlines work together making international travel safer and more efficient.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation designates World Heritage Sites places of outstanding value that deserve protection. This status often boosts tourism significantly.
At a national level, most countries have a government-backed tourism body. In the UK, this is VisitBritain which promotes the UK to international visitors. In Spain it's Turespaña. These bodies run advertising campaigns, produce tourism statistics and support businesses in the tourism sector. At a local level, tourist information centres help visitors find accommodation, attractions and transport.
VisitBritain is the UK's national tourism agency. It markets Britain to overseas visitors and works with airlines, travel agents and tour operators to grow inbound tourism. In 2019 (pre-pandemic), the UK received 40.9 million overseas visits, generating ÂŁ28.4 billion for the economy. VisitBritain runs campaigns like "GREAT Britain" which highlight British culture, heritage and landscapes to potential visitors in countries like the USA, China and Germany. This shows how a well-funded NTO can directly boost tourist numbers and income.
Why does tourism grow quickly in some places but stay small in others? Several key factors determine how tourism develops in a destination. These are essential for exam answers especially for longer "explain" or "evaluate" questions.
Key Definitions:
The natural environment plays a huge role in whether tourism can develop. A beautiful coastline, a warm climate, stunning scenery or unique wildlife can all attract tourists. However, physical factors can also limit development extreme heat, flooding, earthquakes or remote locations can put tourists off or make development expensive.
Wealthier countries can invest more in tourism infrastructure airports, hotels, roads and marketing. Developing countries may struggle to fund this, even if they have amazing natural attractions. Foreign investment (money from overseas companies) can help, but profits may leave the country rather than benefiting local people this is called economic leakage.
Political stability is crucial. Countries affected by war, terrorism or political unrest see tourist numbers drop sharply. For example, tourism in Egypt fell dramatically after the Arab Spring unrest in 2011. In contrast, countries with stable, tourist-friendly governments invest in promotion and make it easy for visitors to get visas.
The Gambia is a small West African country that has tried to develop tourism based on its warm climate, beaches and wildlife. Positive factors include a sunny climate, English-speaking population and relatively low costs. However, development has been limited by: poor infrastructure (limited roads and unreliable electricity), political instability (a dictatorship ruled until 2017), economic leakage (large hotel chains take profits abroad) and a lack of skilled tourism workers. This case study shows how multiple factors interact to shape tourism development it's rarely just one thing.
Local culture can be a major attraction festivals, food, traditions and heritage all draw visitors. However, rapid tourism growth can damage local culture if it's not managed carefully. Communities may feel their way of life is being commercialised or disrupted. Destinations that celebrate and protect their culture (like Japan with its geisha traditions or Morocco with its medinas) tend to attract more respectful, higher-spending tourists.
Technology has transformed how destinations develop and market themselves. Online booking platforms (Booking.com, Airbnb), social media (Instagram, TikTok) and review sites (TripAdvisor) mean that even small, remote destinations can reach millions of potential visitors. A single viral photo or video can put an unknown place on the map overnight this is sometimes called the "Instagram effect".
Butler's model describes how tourist destinations develop over time through stages: Exploration → Involvement → Development → Consolidation → Stagnation and then either Rejuvenation or Decline. This is a key model for the iGCSE you should be able to describe each stage and give examples.
Benidorm on Spain's Costa Blanca is a textbook example of Butler's TALC model. In the 1950s it was a tiny fishing village (Exploration). By the 1960s–70s package holidays brought mass tourism (Development). By the 1990s it was one of Europe's most visited resorts (Consolidation/Stagnation). In recent years, Benidorm has tried to rejuvenate by attracting new markets younger visitors, entertainment tourism and year-round visitors to avoid decline. This shows how destinations must constantly adapt to stay competitive.
For your iGCSE exam, you need to be able to combine knowledge of destination features, organisations and development factors in your answers. Here are some typical exam question styles and how to approach them:
Give a clear, concise definition or fact. No need for examples. E.g. "State one role of the UNWTO." Answer: It collects global tourism statistics.
Give detail and reasons. Use the word "because" to force yourself to explain, not just describe. Use a named example where possible.
Give both sides of an argument. Consider positive and negative points. Use case studies. End with a conclusion that makes a clear judgement.