Definition
Basic
Tourism can refer to either a person, or persons exercising such an activity, or to a branch as a whole, which includes transport, accommodation and services. Thus, tourism can be defined as travel, primarily exercised for recreational purposes or services that support tourism as a branch.
According to the specialised agency of the United Nations, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an international tourist is “any person who travels to a country other than that in which s/he has his/her usual residence but outside his/her usual environment for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose of visit is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from with the country visited, and who stay at least one night in a collective or private accommodation in the country visited.”
Components
Travel and tourism industry consists of the following components: travel agents, tour operators, tourist information and guiding services, accommodation and catering, attractions and transportation. The principals within the industry are the transport, accommodation and attraction providers. These provide the finance required to operate the product and act independently of tour operators or travel agencies, earning their income from sales, whether to individuals or tour operators.
Status
Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. Analysis of the travel activity, made by UNWTO, reveals recovery of tourism as an industry in 2010 (with the rise up to 7%, which equalled to 935 million), compared with the year of economic crisis of 2009, when a decline of 4% in travelling was observed. The recovery is explained by emerging economies’ development.
Economic Importance
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has been measuring the economic impact of travel and tourism for the world, regions, and OECD countries since 1991. According to its research, travel and tourism is projected to grow to $7.0 trillion of economic activity and 260 million jobs by 2011. Their latest research confirms the recovery in Travel & Tourism in 2010, with the industry’s direct contribution to global GDP increasing by 3.3%, to US$1,770 billion. During 2011, this recovery is forecast to strengthen further– by 4.5% to US$1,850 billion, creating an additional 3 million direct industry jobs.
History
Origin
Tourism as a phenomenon dates back to the Babylonian civilization, together with the appearance of trade and invention of money in 4000 BC.
Popularisation
The foundation of tourism as the modern industry has religious connotations when pilgrimage becomes popular. Starting from a pilgrimage to Benares for Hindus or to Mecca for Muslims, tourism develops its popularity through attraction to healing wells throughout Europe, while the Roman baths lay foundation for modern spa treatment travels.
From the 18th century passion for salt-water treatment becomes popular, which can be bridged to modern medical tourism. Sports tourism becomes popular with men: hunting in Africa or India, or golf, which came to the Continent from Scotland, involves men across different society circles. Much larger tourist numbers were attracted to tourism by scenery, i.e. fascination of ancient ruins, nature beauties, architecture, historical places, etc., which leads to modern tourism activity as we know it today.
Types
Basic
Tourism is perceived as a world-wide travel market in connection with the modern popular tendency of people to mobility. United Nations and World Tourism Organization have a scale of subdivision in relation to a given country. Those types of tourism are: Domestic (involving residents of the given country travelling only within this country), Inbound (involving non-residents travelling in the given country) and Outbound (involving residents travelling in another country). There can also be differentiated 3 major categories of tourism: internal (comprises domestic tourism and inbound tourism), national (comprises domestic tourism and outbound tourism) and international (consists of inbound tourism and outbound tourism).
Purpose
Nowadays there exist as many types or variations of tourism, as there are travellers, starting from seasonal tourism (e.g. winter/summer tourism), tourism aiming at nature preservation (e.g. sustainable/ ecotourism), tourism with medical or educational purposes, sport tourism and many other forms. The types can roughly be divided into 2 major categories: business travel and travel for pleasure.
Key Figures
Motor of Economies
Tourism is a principal export earner for 83% of developing countries and it is the principal export for one-third of them.
In 2000 tourism ranked third among the major merchandise export sectors for both developing countries and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). If petroleum industry exports are discounted, tourism is the primary source of foreign exchange earnings in the 49 LDCs. Tourism is a much larger part of their economies (accounting for over 15% of all goods and services exported) than in other DCs, or the EU and OECD.
In countries that are most dependent on tourism (particularly small islands) tourism can account for 30-90% of GDP, 50-90% of exports, and can employ 20-50% of the population.
Challenges
Employment
Tourism services create a supply-chain value, beginning with supplies from hotels, tour operators, travel agents and transportation companies, which in their turn make use of such facilities, as airports, roads, sea-ports and rail infrastructures, while those infrastructures are provided by a number of service industries, like catering firms, restaurants, port docks, etc.
Tourism industry is a great generator of high-skilled jobs in both developed and developing countries. In many countries it is a key industry to fight unemployment and maintain peace, badly needed to preserve an environment, friendly to foreign investments. Even though most travelling still occurs in the developed world, the significance of tourism to the economy of a country is far more important in the developing world, in particular in the least developed countries.
Mass Tourism
While some countries are desperately searching for the ways to attract tourists, there arises another problem – mass tourism and connected with it hotel and infrastructure development, which in some locations has got catastrophic consequences on the local environment habitat and microclimate, or under the danger of environmental devastation.
The example with Mallorca, where level of Calvià’s ground waters is 18% lower, landscape deterioration, mass hotel and streets construction, gave a reason to call the island the example of touristic mismanagement since the 1980s.
Another bright example of mass tourism impact can be the Galapagos Islands. Their delicate system, which developed in a remote and isolated realm, is easily disturbed by human interaction. Overfishing, introduction of non-native species were among those causes that had drastic consequences for the fragile life on the islands.
Possibilities
Basic
There are a number of reasons that cause tourism growth, and therefore offer better possibilities for its development as an industry. With the product development, for instance, package holidays, opening of theme parks, inventing activity holidays, weekend breaks or starting up a new type of travel, like ecotourism, the travel industry revealed a new possibility for growing popularity. According to Barcelona Field Studies Centre, those reasons can roughly be subdivided into 3 major categories: social/economic, changes in technology, and product development.
Economic and Social Development
Among social and economic reasons of tourism growth there are: increase in car ownership, increase in leisure time, which includes holiday entitlement, shorter working week, early retirement with pensions and ageing population. Greater wealth, in form of larger incomes, less number of children and two wage-earner families, also generate increasing number of travels.
Technology
Changes in technology, like computer reservation systems, internet on-line booking, as well as infrastructure development, motorways and jet aircraft are another reason why tourism becomes more and more significant part of the modern society.
Key Countries
According to United Nations World Statistics Pocketbook and Statistical Yearbook, the key countries of international tourist arrivals in 2010 are based on the following countries:
1. France: 67,310,000
2. United States: 47,752,000
3. Spain: 43,252,000
4. Italy: 34,087,000
5. United Kingdom: 25,515,000
Key Companies
Today most of the travel bookings are done through travel sites. The most often used web sites to order travels are:
1. Tripadvisor
2. Yahoo! Travel
3. Expedia
4. Travelocity
5. Priceline.com
Profit, People, Planet
Global Compact
The travel and tourism industry is linked to the Profit, people, planet in terms of establishment of such a phenomenon as ecotourism, or responsible tourism.
Karen Blixen Camp is an eco friendly luxury camp located in the beautiful Mara North Conservancy. The members of the camp strongly believe responsible tourism holds the capacity to protect a natural wildlife area, alleviate poverty through proper working conditions and contribute positively to the local community. Karen Blixen Camp supports the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact and is furthermore member of Ecotourism Kenya.
Miscellaneous
Further information
International tourist arrivals grew by nearly 7% in 2010 to 935 million
In 2009, international tourism generated US$ 852 billion (€ 611 billion) in export earnings
UNWTO forecasts a growth in international tourist arrivals of between 4% and 5% in 2011
Transition to Globalisation
From tourism to medicine
Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular. This phenomenon is driven by marketplace forces and occurs outside of the view and control of the organized healthcare system. Medical tourism presents important concerns and challenges as well as potential opportunities. This trend will have increasing impact on the healthcare landscape in industrialized and developing countries around the world.
Globalisation > Economy > Services > Medicine
Transition to Political Tools
Tourist taxes in Rome
For many countries around the world tourism is an additional opportunity to boost the national treasury. Italy decided to introduce a special tax for tourists wishing to visit one of the most popular tourist destinations- Rome. The revenue will occur whenever a tourist would like to rent a room at a hotel or take a boat on the Tiber, which will cost additional 1 to 3 euro. The non-residents of Rome will also have to pay the same tax. The accumulated revenue will be invested into reconstruction of the city’s attractions, street cleaning as well as transport infrastructure development.
Political Tools > National > Italy > Basic Structure > Budget > Tax
Transition to Political Actors
World Travel & Tourism Council
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the global forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry. With the Chairs and Chief Executives of the 100 foremost Travel & Tourism companies worldwide as its Members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to Travel & Tourism. The Council works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world's largest industries, supporting more than 258 million jobs worldwide and generating some 9.1% of global GDP.
Political actors > Business > Interest organisations
