Tourism & Hospitality Geography

The Geography of Resources for Tourism

Objectives

Appreciate the nature of resources for tourism.

Distinguish the methods used to classify and evaluate resources for tourism. Outline the main factors favoring the development of tourist resources. Understand the way that destinations evolve. Appreciate the need for tourism planning and sustainable development.

Resources for Tourism

3 characteristics of tourism resources;

Tourist resources is normally taken to refer to tangible objects. Tourist resources are not used solely by tourists. Tourist resources are perishable.

Planning for Tourism Resources

Tourism brought economic benefits of employment, income and development.

Economic imperative overlooked the environmental social and cultural consequences. Tourism planning evolved from an inflexible, physical planning approach to a flexible process which seeks to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs of tourism.

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Tourism planning;

Is based on sound research Involves local community in setting goals and priorities Is implemented by the public sector in partnership with the private sector

Key concept to tourism planning is; Carrying Capacity.

Planner determine the level of use that can be sustained by a tourist resource and manage to that level.

Carrying Capacity

It refers to the ability of a destination to take tourism use without deteriorating in some way.
Mathieson and Wall (1982);
The maximum number of people who can use a site without unacceptable alteration in the physical environment and without an unacceptable decline in the quality of experience gained by visitors.

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Different types of carrying capacity: From the point of view of the resource
Physical carrying capacity
Refers to number of facilities

Environmental or biological carrying capacity

Limits of use in the ecosystem

From the point of view of the visitor

Psychological or behavioral carrying capacity
The point at which the visitor feels that additional tourist would spoil their experience

From the point of view of the host community

Social carrying capacity
The ability of the host community to tolerate tourism

Tourism Resources at the World Scale

Physical features

Mountains More gently slopping hill lands Elevated plateaus (land above surface) Lowland plains

Cultural features

Cultural differences across the world in terms of language, art, festivals, folklore, handicrafts, food, music and the way of life of different peoples

Tourist Resources at the National Scale

Classification of resources for tourism

Natural Human-made Human-made and purpose-built Special events

A broader view of the tourism resource base

User-oriented areas of highly intensive development close to population centers Resource-based areas where the type of resource determines the use of the area An intermediate category, where access is the determining factor

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Evaluation of resources for tourism

Measurement of the suitability of the resource base to support different forms of tourism. Problem- to include the varied requirements of different users.

The tourism product

Attractions, accessibility, amenities and ancillary services, combined to provide tourism product.

Tourist Resources at the Local Scale

Private sector (banks) Public sector

Central government State-funded organization

Voluntary sector -non profit making organizations (initiative) Local community

The Tourist Area Life Cycle

Exploration Involvement
Small # of adventurous tourists, un-spoilt nature and cultural features Local initiatives provide facilities and advertising ensues. Large # of visitors. Tourist season & public sector involvement. Large # of visitors. Control passed to national & international companies. Change in image and overuse may begin. Destination is fully-fledged part of the tourist industry. The rate of increase of visitors is reducing. Recreational business emerged. Peak visitor number. The destination is unfashionable with environmental, social and economic problems. Promotional efforts needed. Visitors visit new places. Destination depends on a smaller geographical catchments and repeat visit.

Development

Consolidation

Stagnation

Decline

Rejuvenation

The authorities attempt to re-launch the destination by providing new facilities, attracting new markets and reinvesting.

Conclusion

Developed tourist resources are cultural appraisals, considered by society to be of economic value. Tourism planning for resources become vital as it could minimize the cost of tourism and to maintain integrity of the resource base.