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Tourism organisations play vital roles in developing, promoting and managing tourism at local, national and international levels. Understanding these organisations is essential for your iGCSE Travel & Tourism exam.
Key Definitions:
UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization)
The leading international organisation promoting responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism worldwide.
Key roles:
VisitBritain, Tourism Australia, etc.
Government-funded bodies responsible for promoting a country as a tourist destination.
Key roles:
Tourism products and services are what organisations offer to visitors. These can be tangible (physical) or intangible (experiences).
Hotels, hostels, B&Bs, camping sites, holiday parks, Airbnb
Assessment point: Consider range, quality, accessibility and value for money
Restaurants, cafés, food tours, cooking classes
Assessment point: Consider variety, authenticity, dietary options and cultural experiences
Theme parks, museums, heritage sites, natural wonders
Assessment point: Consider appeal to different market segments, educational value and visitor experience
For your iGCSE exam, you need to be able to assess how effectively tourism organisations operate. Here are the key criteria to consider:
When evaluating tourism organisations, consider these aspects:
VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. It has been particularly successful in developing themed tourism years to attract visitors.
Key achievements:
Assessment: VisitScotland effectively combines traditional marketing with digital innovation. Its themed years approach has successfully extended the tourism season beyond summer months, addressing seasonality issues.
These organisations focus on specific areas within a country and often work more directly with local businesses and communities.
Bodies responsible for coordinating tourism development and marketing in a specific area.
Examples: Marketing Manchester, Visit Cornwall, Lake District National Park Authority
Key roles:
Local facilities providing information and services to visitors.
Key services:
Assessment point: Effectiveness depends on location, staff knowledge, range of services and ability to adapt to digital trends.
Private businesses form the backbone of the tourism industry, providing most of the products and services that tourists use.
Companies that package and sell holiday products.
Examples: TUI, Jet2Holidays, Kuoni
Assessment: Consider product range, pricing, sustainability policies and customer service
Digital platforms for booking travel services.
Examples: Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb
Assessment: Consider user experience, range of options, pricing transparency and customer reviews
Companies providing travel services.
Examples: Airlines, ferry companies, railway operators
Assessment: Consider reliability, comfort, value for money and environmental impact
The National Trust is a voluntary sector organisation that preserves historic properties and natural landscapes across the UK.
Key tourism roles:
Assessment: The National Trust effectively combines heritage conservation with tourism development. Its membership model (5.6 million members) provides sustainable funding while encouraging repeat visits.
When answering questions about tourism organisations in your iGCSE exam:
Remember that tourism organisations don't operate in isolation. The most successful destinations have effective partnerships between public, private and voluntary sector organisations, each contributing different strengths to the tourism offering.