TOURISM

Key areas of study for this question:

• What is tourism?
• Why and how tourism has grown and changed?
• Butlers Model
• Advantages and disadvantages of tourism
• Tourism in Dubai
• Tourism in the Lake District National Park
• Tourism in Blackpool (UK coastal)
• Tourism in Kenya (Tropical case-study)
• Tourism in Antarctica (Extreme environments)
• Conflicts created by tourism
• Sustainable/Ecotourism
• Alternate Futures

WHY AND HOW TOURISM HAS GROWN AND CHANGED?

Tourism is the world's largest and fastest growing industry, with a turnover of around £450 billion. Until recently, it was an activity which largely concentrated in the richer, MEDC countries of the world, but it is increasingly becoming an important source of income in LEDC's.
Tourism has changed considerably in the last 40 years. Not only has there been a dramatic increase in tourism numbers, but there is now a wider range of holiday destinations. People also seem to be travelling further, and more often than ever before. There are several reasons for these changes.

BUTLERS MODEL

The history of tourism in the UK provides an example - or model - of how a tourist industry might develop in any particular nation.
Butler developed a model which shows how any tourist resort may grow. A resort may start off from being a small, low key, destination. He suggests that all resorts go through the same sort of process.
The 7 stages of tourist development:

1. Exploration - A small number of tourists visit the area. The area is unspoilt and few tourist facilities exist.
2. Involvement - Local people start to provide some facilities for tourists. There starts to become a recognised tourist season.
3. Development - The host country starts to develop and advertise the area. The area becomes recognised as a tourist destination.
4. Consolidation - The area continues to attract tourists. The growth in tourist numbers may not be a fast as before. Some tensions develop between the host and the tourists.
5. Stagnation - The facilities for the tourists may decline as they become old and run down. The numbers of tourists may decline too.
6. Rejuvenation - Investment and modernisation may occur which leads to improvements and visitor numbers may increase again.
7. Decline - If the resort is not rejuvenated (stage 6) then it will go into decline. People lose their jobs related to tourism. The image of the area suffers.

BUTLERS MODEL AND BLACKPOOL

Blackpool was originally a small fishing village on the north west coast, however today it is one of the most popular coastal resorts in the UK.

1860s: Arrival of the railway from Manchester brought thousands of people for a day out at the seaside – closest coast to the city

1900s: hotels and tourist entertainment facilities built so people could spend longer at the resort

1920s: development of cars and coaches brought people from inland cities. Resort grew.

1950s: increasing wealth and paid holidays meant huge numbers of people coming to the resort for a week or fortnight holiday.

1960s: Pleasure Park developed with some of the most exciting thrills & rides in Britain

1970s: cost of Package Holidays to Spain were coming down, so fewer tourists coming to Blackpool for their main holiday – but still many weekend and day visitors

1990s: Keeps putting in new rides and gets celebrities to open the Blackpool Illuminations each September & develops new plans

2010s: Has become the ‘Hen Party/ Stag Party’ focus for Britain – also a major Conference Centre. Voted the most popular coastal resort in Britain.

 

There has also been big changes in the distance people are willing to travel, the time of year people take holidays and the nature of the holidays taken.

• Distant places like Florida, Kenya, Thailand and even Antarctica have become potential tourist destinations.
• Ski resorts, once exclusive to the rich attract increasing numbers of tourists.
• There has been a massive growth in 'short breaks' e.g. city breaks for a long weekend.
• There has been a growth in the number of purpose built resorts, such as Center Parks, which houses extensive indoor facilities that are not dependent on the weather.
• There has also been a growth in business tourism, including international business meetings and weekend conferences.

FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH OF TOURISM:

• Since the 1950's people have become wealthier.
• Incomes are larger and so is disposable income (the amount left to spend after essentials such as food and bills).
• Most families have two working parents where as in the past it was usually one.
• People have fewer children: less expensive to take a smaller family away than a large one.
• Car ownership has grown.
• People have more leisure time and holiday time from work has increased.
• Life expectancy has risen so more people are retired many of whom have good pensions and can afford several trips a year.
• Travel today is quick and easy due to motorways, airport expansion and faster jet aircraft.
• Low cost airlines like Easyjet reduces the cost of flying.
• Flying has become cheaper and booking online is quick and easy.
• Increasing number of package holidays now available to destinations all over the world.
• Ecotourism and unusual destinations such as Alaska and Kenya are expanding rapidly.