Types of Tourism » Domestic and International Tourism

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The difference between domestic and international tourism
Key characteristics of domestic tourism and its impacts
Key characteristics of international tourism and its impacts
Push and pull factors that influence tourism choices
Case studies of domestic and international tourism destinations
Current trends in both types of tourism

Introduction to Domestic and International Tourism

Tourism is one of the world's largest industries, contributing significantly to the global economy. Understanding the different types of tourism helps us analyse how the industry works and its impacts on different places. Two fundamental categories of tourism are domestic and international tourism.

Key Definitions:

Tourism: The activities of people travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes for less than one consecutive year.
Domestic Tourism: Travel within one's own country for tourism purposes.
International Tourism: Travel to a different country for tourism purposes.
Inbound Tourism: Visitors from other countries coming into a destination.
Outbound Tourism: Residents of a country travelling to other countries.

🏠 Domestic Tourism

When people travel within their own country's borders for leisure, business, or other purposes. For example, a family from Manchester visiting the Lake District or Londoners spending a weekend in Cornwall.

🌎 International Tourism

When people travel beyond their country's borders to visit other countries. For example, British tourists visiting Spain or Japanese tourists visiting the UK.

Domestic Tourism: Exploring Your Own Backyard

Domestic tourism is often the backbone of a country's tourism industry. It's typically less affected by global events and can be more sustainable as it usually involves shorter travel distances.

Characteristics of Domestic Tourism

Currency: No need for currency exchange
Language: No language barriers (usually)
Travel documents: Minimal documentation required (no passports or visas)
Cultural familiarity: Similar customs and practices
Travel distance: Generally shorter journeys
Duration: Often shorter stays and weekend trips
Seasonality: May be less seasonal than international tourism

Economic Impacts of Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism creates significant economic benefits within a country:

Creates jobs in local communities
Redistributes wealth from urban to rural areas
Reduces economic leakage (money staying within the country)
Supports small businesses and local producers
Helps develop infrastructure that benefits locals

Case Study Focus: UK Domestic Tourism

In 2019, British residents took 99.1 million overnight trips within the UK, spending £24.7 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a boom in domestic tourism with terms like "staycation" becoming popular. The Lake District, Cornwall and Scottish Highlands saw significant increases in domestic visitors as international travel restrictions limited options. This highlighted both the resilience of domestic tourism during global crises and the potential issues of overcrowding at popular destinations.

International Tourism: Crossing Borders

International tourism involves travelling to different countries and experiencing new cultures, environments and attractions. It's a major driver of global economic development but comes with unique challenges and considerations.

Characteristics of International Tourism

Currency: Requires currency exchange
Language: Potential language barriers
Travel documents: Passports, visas and other documentation required
Cultural differences: Exposure to different customs and practices
Travel distance: Usually longer journeys
Duration: Typically longer stays
Seasonality: Often highly seasonal (e.g., summer holidays, winter sun)

Economic Impacts of International Tourism

International tourism has significant economic effects on both origin and destination countries:

Major source of foreign exchange earnings for destination countries
Creates employment opportunities in hospitality and related sectors
Potential for economic leakage (profits going to international companies)
Development of international transport networks
Investment in infrastructure and facilities

💰 Economic

Foreign exchange earnings, job creation, infrastructure development, but potential leakage of profits to multinational companies.

🌏 Environmental

Carbon emissions from long-distance travel, potential strain on local resources, but can fund conservation efforts and raise awareness.

🏢 Socio-cultural

Cultural exchange and understanding, but potential for commodification of culture and disruption to local communities.

Case Study Focus: Spain's International Tourism

Spain is one of the world's most popular international tourism destinations, welcoming 83.7 million international visitors in 2019. Tourism contributes about 12% to Spain's GDP. The Costa del Sol and Balearic Islands are particularly popular with British tourists. While international tourism has brought economic prosperity to many Spanish coastal regions, it has also led to challenges such as overtourism in cities like Barcelona, environmental degradation in some areas and seasonal employment patterns. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Spain's tourism sector, highlighting the vulnerability of economies heavily dependent on international visitors.

Push and Pull Factors in Tourism Choice

Whether people choose domestic or international tourism depends on various factors that either 'push' them to travel or 'pull' them towards specific destinations.

🔃 Push Factors

These are factors that encourage people to leave their home area:

Desire to escape routine
Weather conditions at home
Disposable income
Available leisure time
Stress and need for relaxation
Desire for adventure or new experiences

🔁 Pull Factors

These are factors that attract tourists to a specific destination:

Climate and natural beauty
Cultural or historical attractions
Accessibility and transport links
Affordability and exchange rates
Safety and political stability
Unique experiences or activities

Current Trends in Domestic and International Tourism

Domestic Tourism Trends

Staycations: Increased popularity of holidays within one's own country
Rural tourism: Growing interest in countryside experiences and farm stays
Microadventures: Short, local adventures that fit into busy lifestyles
Workcations: Combining remote work with domestic travel
Eco-tourism: Growing interest in sustainable tourism options closer to home

International Tourism Trends

Experiential travel: Focus on authentic experiences rather than just sightseeing
Sustainable tourism: Increased awareness of environmental impacts
Digital nomadism: Long-term stays combining work and travel
Emerging destinations: Interest in less-visited countries and regions
Medical tourism: Travel specifically for healthcare procedures

Comparing Domestic and International Tourism

Aspect	Domestic Tourism	International Tourism
Economic impact	Redistribution of wealth within country	Foreign exchange earnings
Environmental impact	Generally lower carbon footprint	Higher emissions from long-distance travel
Cultural impact	Reinforces national identity	Cultural exchange and potential culture shock
Accessibility	More accessible to wider population	Requires more planning, documentation and often higher costs
Resilience	More resilient to global crises	More vulnerable to global events (pandemics, terrorism, etc.)

Summary

Both domestic and international tourism play vital roles in the global tourism industry, each with distinct characteristics and impacts. Domestic tourism offers accessibility and economic stability, while international tourism provides cultural exchange and significant foreign exchange earnings. Understanding the differences between these types of tourism helps in analysing tourism patterns and planning for sustainable tourism development.

As you continue your studies in Travel & Tourism, consider how these different types of tourism interact and how factors like technology, climate change and global events might shape their future development.