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Tourism development is influenced by a complex mix of physical, economic, political and social factors. Understanding these helps us evaluate why some destinations succeed while others struggle.
Key Definitions:
Climate: Warm, sunny destinations like the Mediterranean attract beach tourists, while consistent snowfall draws winter sports enthusiasts to the Alps.
Landscape: Mountains, beaches, lakes and unique landforms create natural attractions (e.g., Lake District, Giant's Causeway).
Wildlife: Diverse ecosystems attract nature-based tourism (e.g., safari tourism in Kenya).
Investment: Capital for infrastructure development (airports, roads, hotels).
Economic climate: Recession reduces tourism spending; prosperity increases it.
Exchange rates: Favourable rates make destinations more affordable (e.g., UK visitors to Turkey increased when the pound was strong against the lira).
Stability: Political unrest deters tourists (e.g., tourism decline in Egypt during Arab Spring).
Government policy: Tourism promotion, visa requirements, taxation.
International relations: Diplomatic tensions can reduce tourist flows between countries.
Cultural attractions: Heritage sites, festivals, cuisine (e.g., Edinburgh Festival).
Language: Shared language facilitates tourism (e.g., British tourists in Australia).
Safety: Crime rates and health risks influence destination choices.
Effective management is crucial for sustainable tourism development. Different strategies address various challenges faced by destinations.
Tourism can damage natural environments through pollution, habitat destruction and resource depletion. Sustainable management strategies include:
National parks, marine reserves and conservation zones limit development and visitor numbers (e.g., Lake District National Park visitor management).
Entry fees, tourist taxes and pricing strategies help fund conservation and control visitor numbers (e.g., Venice tourist tax).
Visitor centres, interpretation panels and guided tours raise awareness of environmental issues (e.g., Jurassic Coast information centres).
Tourism brings economic benefits but can create dependencies and inequalities. Management approaches include:
Encouraging locally-owned businesses keeps more money in the community rather than profits going to international companies.
Example: Community-owned tourism enterprises in the Scottish Highlands.
Developing year-round attractions to provide stable employment and reduce the boom-bust cycle of seasonal tourism.
Example: Blackpool's efforts to extend the tourism season beyond summer.
Tourism can affect local communities through overcrowding, cultural change and rising costs. Management strategies include:
Including local people in tourism planning and decision-making.
Example: Community consultation for tourism development in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Controlling tourist numbers and behaviour through permits, timed entry and codes of conduct.
Example: Timed entry tickets at Stonehenge to manage visitor flow.
Barcelona has faced significant challenges from overtourism:
Different approaches to tourism development produce varying outcomes for destinations:
Characteristics: Large-scale development, international hotel chains, package holidays, high visitor numbers.
Examples: Benidorm (Spain), Cancun (Mexico)
Benefits: Job creation, economic growth, infrastructure development
Challenges: Environmental degradation, seasonal employment, cultural impacts, economic leakage
Characteristics: Small-scale development, local ownership, environmental conservation, cultural preservation.
Examples: Costa Rica's ecotourism, Slovenia's green tourism strategy
Benefits: Lower environmental impact, authentic experiences, greater local economic benefits
Challenges: Higher costs, limited capacity, marketing difficulties
When answering questions on tourism development and management, remember to:
For questions asking you to use a case study to explain tourism development:
Example case studies to prepare: Blackpool (UK), Dubai (UAE), Kenya's safari tourism, Thailand's beach resorts, Venice (Italy)