TOURISM GEOGRAPHY – CONCEPT, NATURE AND SCOPE

Tourism geography is a branch of human geography that studies the spatial patterns and processes of tourism. It is concerned with the location of tourist destinations, the flows of tourists between them, and the impacts of tourism on places and people. Tourism geography is a growing field of study, as tourism is becoming an increasingly important economic activity worldwide. Tourism geographers play a vital role in understanding the spatial dimensions of tourism and in developing strategies to manage its impacts.

Here are some of the key characteristics of tourism geography:

·        It is a spatial science: Tourism geography is concerned with the spatial patterns and processes of tourism. This means it is interested in where tourists go, how they get there, and what they do when they arrive.

·        It is a social science: Tourism geography is also concerned with the social and cultural dimensions of tourism. This means that it is interested in the motivations of tourists, the interactions between tourists and locals, and the impacts of tourism on society.

·        It is an interdisciplinary field: Tourism geography draws on a wide range of disciplines, including geography, economics, sociology, anthropology, and environmental studies. This is because tourism is a complex phenomenon that involves a variety of factors.

FIGURE: Interdisciplinary Nature of Tourism Geography (adopted from Velvet Nelson)

 

 CONCEPT OF TOURISM  

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines tourism as "the activities of persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes."

FIGURE: This conceptualization approaches tourism from the demand side and takes into consideration the stages that contribute to the overall process of tourism. These stages do not necessarily occur in a linear fashion but may overlap and influence the others. Source: Velvet Nelson

 

DEFINITION - TOURISM GEOGRAPHY

V.S. Herman - Australian Economist: Tourism is the sum total of the operations mainly of an economic nature, which directly relate to the entry, stay, and movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country, city, or region.

International Tourism Society:

Tourism is in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment. Tourism may or may not involve overnight stays away from home. Tourism is in terms of particular activities selected by choice and undertaken outside the home environment. Tourism may or may not involve overnight stays away from home

ATEST (Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism)

The definition brings out the following three distinct elements of Tourism

• Involvement of travel by non-residents
• Stay of temporary nature in the area visited
• Stay not connected with any activity involving earnings

Ziffer: Tourism is the temporary movement of people to destinations outside their normal place of work and residence.

 NATURE AND SCOPE  

Nature of Tourism Geography            

• Nature
• Specialty
• Diversity
• Recreational
• Dynamic
• Interdisciplinary
• Seasonal
• Cultural and Religious
• Geographical Nature
• Historical Nature

Scope of Tourism Geography           

The scope of tourism geography is vast. It covers a wide range of topics, from the location of tourist destinations to the impacts of tourism on the environment. Tourism geographers play a vital role in understanding the spatial dimensions of tourism and in developing strategies to manage its impacts. Some of the key areas of study in tourism geography include: 

1. The geography of tourist destinations: This area of study examines the factors that attract tourists to different places, such as natural beauty, cultural attractions, and historical sites.
2. The flows of tourists: This area of study looks at how tourists move between different places and the factors that influence their travel decisions.
3. The impacts of tourism: This area of study examines tourism's positive and negative impacts on places and people.
4. Tourism planning and development: This area of study focuses on how to plan and develop tourism in a sustainable way.
5. Tourism marketing: This area of study focuses on how to promote tourism destinations to potential tourists.
6. Tourism management: This area of study focuses on how to manage tourism destinations in a way that minimizes its negative impacts and maximizes its benefits.

Tourism geography is a growing field of study, as tourism is becoming an increasingly important economic activity worldwide. Tourism geographers play a vital role in understanding the spatial dimensions of tourism and in developing strategies to manage its impacts.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF THE SCOPE     

Here are some specific examples of the scope of tourism geography: 

The Geography of Tourist Destinations: Tourism geographers may study the physical geography of a destination, such as its climate, terrain, and natural resources. They may also study the cultural geography of a destination, such as its history, art, and architecture.

The Flows of Tourists: Tourism geographers may study the patterns of tourist movement, such as where tourists come from, where they go, and how they travel. They may also study the factors that influence tourist travel decisions, such as price, availability of flights, and the weather.

The Impacts of Tourism: Tourism geographers may study tourism's positive and negative impacts on places and people. Positive impacts can include economic development, job creation, and cultural exchange. Negative impacts can include environmental degradation, social problems, and cultural erosion.

Tourism Planning and Development: Tourism geographers may work with governments and businesses to plan and develop tourism destinations in a sustainable way. This may involve developing new tourism attractions, improving transportation infrastructure, and managing the impacts of tourism.

Tourism Marketing: Tourism geographers may work with tourism businesses to promote tourism destinations to potential tourists. This may involve developing marketing campaigns, creating websites, and attending trade shows.

Tourism Management: Tourism geographers may work with governments and businesses to manage tourism destinations in a way that minimizes their negative impacts and maximizes their benefits. This may involve enforcing regulations, resolving conflicts, and providing information to tourists.

 Elements of Tourism Geography 

The elements of tourism are the components that make up a tourist destination and that attract tourists to visit. They include:

1. Attractions: These are the main draw for tourists. They can be natural or man-made and can include things like historical sites, museums, theme parks, beaches, and mountains.
2. Accessibility: This refers to the ease with which tourists can reach a destination. It includes factors such as transportation options, road conditions, and visa requirements.
3. Accommodation: Tourists need a place to stay, so this is an essential element of any destination. Accommodation can range from budget hostels to luxury resorts.
4. Amenities: These are the supporting services that make a destination more enjoyable for tourists. They can include things like restaurants, bars, shops, and tourist information centers.
5. Activities: Tourists want to have things to do when they visit a destination, so there should be a variety of activities available. These can include things like sightseeing, hiking, shopping, and dining.
6. Price: Tourists also consider the cost of a destination when making their travel plans. Destinations that are too expensive may not be attractive to budget-minded travelers.
7. Infrastructure: This includes things like roads, airports, and telecommunications. It is important for tourists to have access to reliable transportation and communication when they are traveling.
8. Human resources: The tourism industry relies on a skilled workforce to provide services to tourists. This includes people working in hotels, restaurants, transportation, and other tourism-related businesses.
9. Tourism marketing: This is the process of promoting a destination to potential tourists. It can be done through advertising, public relations, and social media.
10. Tourism policy: This is the framework that governs the tourism industry in a particular place. It can include things like visa requirements, environmental regulations, and taxes.

The elements of tourism are all interconnected. For example, a destination with great attractions but poor accessibility will not be as attractive to tourists as a destination with both great attractions and good accessibility. The tourism industry is a complex system that requires all of these elements to be in place in order to be successful.

 

 TYPES OF TOURISM 

There are many different types of tourism, each with its own unique appeal. Here are some of the most popular types:

1) Leisure Tourism: This is the most common type of tourism, and involves traveling for pleasure. Leisure tourists typically visit beaches, theme parks, historical sites, and other attractions.

2) Adventure Tourism: This type of tourism involves activities that require physical exertion and a sense of adventure. Examples of adventure tourism include hiking, skiing, white-water rafting, and skydiving.

3) Cultural Tourism: This type of tourism involves traveling to learn about a different culture. Cultural tourists may visit museums, historical sites, and religious centers. They may also participate in cultural events such as festivals and dances.

4) Eco-Tourism: This type of tourism involves traveling to natural areas in a way that minimizes impact on the environment. Eco-tourists may go hiking, camping, and wildlife watching. They may also participate in activities that help to protect the environment, such as planting trees or cleaning up beaches.

5) Medical Tourism: This type of tourism involves traveling to a different country to receive medical treatment. Medical tourists may travel to countries where the cost of treatment is lower, or where they can receive treatment that is not available in their home country.

6) Religious Tourism: This type of tourism involves traveling to a place of religious significance. Religious tourists may visit holy sites, such as Mecca or the Vatican City. They may also participate in religious pilgrimages.

7) Heritage Tourism: Heritage tourism is a type of tourism that involves traveling to learn about a place's history and culture. This can include visiting historical sites, museums, and archaeological ruins. It can also involve participating in cultural activities, such as festivals, dances, and traditional crafts.

8) Agro Tourism: Agro-tourism, also known as agri-tourism, is a type of tourism that involves visiting working farms or other agricultural operations for the purpose of enjoyment, education, or other active involvement. Agro-tourism can encompass a wide variety of activities, such as Agro-farm tours, Animal-farm tours, harvesting festivals, etc.

9) Sport Tourism: Sports tourism is a type of tourism that involves traveling to a destination to participate in or watch a sporting event. There are two main types of sport tourism:

• Attending the Olympics
• Playing in a golf tournament
• Skiing in the Alps for winter sports enthusiasts
• Going to a football match
• Watching a tennis tournament
• Attending a hockey game

These are just a few of the many different types of tourism that exist. The type of tourism that you choose will depend on your interests and budget.

 Issues or Problems of Tourism 

Tourism geography is a complex and ever-evolving field of study. As such, there are a number of problems that can arise in the context of tourism geography. Here are a few of the most common problems:

Over tourism: Over tourism is a phenomenon that occurs when a destination becomes too popular and the number of tourists overwhelms the capacity of the destination to handle them. This can lead to a number of problems, such as environmental degradation, cultural erosion, and social tensions.

Tourism Bubbles: Tourism bubbles are areas that experience sudden and dramatic increases in tourism, often due to a specific event or attraction. This can lead to a number of problems, such as price inflation, traffic congestion, and a lack of affordable housing for locals.

Tourism Poverty Traps: Tourism poverty traps are situations where tourism actually contributes to poverty in a destination. This can happen when tourism is not properly managed and benefits do not trickle down to local people.

Environmental Degradation: Tourism can have a negative impact on the environment, both directly and indirectly. For example, tourism can lead to pollution, deforestation, and the depletion of natural resources.

Cultural Erosion: Tourism can also have a negative impact on cultures, both directly and indirectly. For example, tourism can lead to the commodification of culture, the loss of traditional practices, and the exploitation of local people.

Social Tensions: Tourism can also lead to social tensions, both directly and indirectly. For example, tourism can lead to conflict between tourists and locals, the rise of crime, and the spread of diseases.

It is important to be aware of these problems so that we can work to mitigate their negative impacts and promote sustainable tourism.

REFERENCES: 

1. Nelson, V. (2021). An introduction to the geography of tourism. Rowman & Littlefield.
2. Hagen, J. (2010). Tourism geography: a new synthesis.
3. Williams, S., & Lew, A. A. (2014). Tourism geography: Critical understandings of place, space, and experience. Routledge.