GCSE Tourism

Question 1

How has affluence (the amount of money) helped tourism to grow?

Answer 1

Since 1950 people have become more wealthy. There is more disposable income.

People also now have paid time off work for holidays. This means they can travel further.

Question 2

How has technology helped tourism grow?

Answer 2

Travelling today is much quicker. Motorways and aircraft have helped reduce the time it takes to get to different countries.

Travelling by air has become more accessible as you can book online and choose more budget options such as EasyJet.

Technology such as the internet has developed so people are able to research places and book their flights and hotels online.

Question 3

How has choice helped tourism grow?

Answer 3

In the past seaside holidays and package holidays were the most popular. Recently, the tourism industry has seen more people look at ecotourism and more unusual holiday destinations such as Thailand or visiting the Antarctic.

Question 4

What is a tourist?

Answer 4

A person who travels somewhere for pleasure or leisure, and stays for less than one year.

Question 5

What is a honey pot site?

Answer 5

A small attractive or historical area, that attracts a large number of tourists.

Question 6

Why is tourism needed but not wanted in Goa?

Answer 6

Needed - tourism creates jobs which provide money and improves the economy

Not wanted - creates pollution, destruction of environment to build hotels, tourists use too much water which is already scarce.

Question 7

Why has tourism in Blackpool declined?

Answer 7

1. Poor weather has forced people to visit places like Benidorm where it is sunnier
2. The local council wouldn’t allow a casino to be built so tourists went to alternative places.
3. Package holidays are cheaper so people have started to travel abroad
4. A shift in the market to late night drinking, stag and hen parties has put off families

Question 8

Why did tourism in Blackpool grow?

Answer 8

1. Pleasure Beach theme park
2. The 7 mile stretch of sandy beach
3. Development of railway in 19th Century
4. Blackpool Tower

Question 9

What regeneration has occurred in Blackpool?

Answer 9

1. a £300 million regeneration project in 2000 which included the introduction of a new tram transport system
2. fantastic town centre lighting scheme which aims to encourage visitors to explore the town centre further at night and in the day
3. St John’s Square has been pedestrianised and new planting, paving and lighting has been added
4. WiFi connectivity has been introduced
5. Houndshill Shopping Centre has been redeveloped to improve shopping in the town centre

Question 10

What is a short haul flight?

Answer 10

A flight that is less than 3 hours in length.

Question 11

What is a long haul flight?

Answer 11

A flight that is more than 3 hours in length.

Question 12

What is eco-tourism?

Answer 12

Tourism that is concerned with looking after the environment, whilst also allowing people the opportunity to travel to new places.
E.g. the cloud rainforests of Ecuador.

Question 13

What are the benefits of tourism to an LEDC?

e.g. Kenya, Goa, etc.

Answer 13

1. Foreign currency spent by tourists can be invested in improving local education, health and other services
2. Jobs for local people are created and people can learn new skills in tourism services
3. Local infrastructure is improved as water and sanitation facilities, roads, buses, taxis and airports are provided for tourists
4. Visitors get an insight into local customs and traditions
5. Tourists see beautiful landscapes, wildlife and plants. They can also be educated about the dangers to fragile ecosystems in the modern world

Question 14

What are the problems caused by tourism in an LEDC?

e.g. Kenya, Goa

Answer 14

1. Profits go to foreign companies, such as tour operators and hotel chains, rather than to the local community
2. Foreign companies may bring foreign workers to do the skilled jobs; so local people only do low skilled, poorly paid work
3. House prices rise when foreign companies and investors buy property for hotels and holiday homes. This often makes houses too expensive for locals
4. Important projects for local communities might be sidelined as infrastructure developments are focused on tourists
5. If the aim of activities is to entertain, rather than educate tourists, this may belittle the local people
6. Pollution and disruption to wildlife habitats could occur if tourism isn’t sustainable

Question 15

What is GNI?

Gross National Income

Answer 15

This is where all the money that is made by a country is added together and divided by the population to give an average per person.

For example the GNI of the UK is £27,500 and the GNI of Thailand is £3,800.

Question 16

What is an LEDC?

Answer 16

Less Economically Developed Country

also known as a poor country or a developing country

Question 17

What is an MEDC?

Answer 17

More Economically Developed Country

also known as a rich country or a developed country

Question 18

What other indicators can be used to determine if a country is an MEDC or an LEDC?

Answer 18

% of people with access to clean water

Literacy rate

% of people living in slums

The number of doctors per 1,000 people

The number of babies who die under the age of 5 per 1,000 each year

Question 19

How can conflicts be managed in a honeypot? (E.g. Grasmere in the Lake District)

Answer 19

1. Zoning so users are not in the same areas (E.g. Walkers have designated zones away from horseriding)
2. Parking areas and permits so that lovals can still Park outside their homes without tourists taking their spaces
3. Signs to educate walkers about the importance of closing gates behind them
4. Creating pathways to stop erosion of vulnerable areas due to high volumes of tourists

Question 20

What is eco-tourism?

Answer 20

This is where tourism is carried out in a more managed way so that the local environment is used but without being damaged. Tourists are encouraged to participate in conservation activities.
The facilities are also built to be as in harmony as possible with the local area (e.g. growing their own food instead of importing, not using cars but encouraging walking / horse riding, etc.)

An example is in the cloud rainforest of Ecuador.

Question 21

What is HDI?

Human Development Index

Answer 21

HDI is a way of ranking countries based upon their life expectancy, levels of education, and income per person.

Countries with high HDI rankings have high life expectancy, high levels of education and high income rates.
These are countries such as Japan and the UK.

Question 22

In which continent has tourism grown the most from 1950 to the present day?
Why?

Answer 22

Europe

This is because it is a small continent and has good transport links for people to get around.

Question 23

What is a National Park?

Answer 23

An area of natural landscape that is protected by law for people to enjoy.

There are 15 National Parks in the UK - including the Lake District, Snowdonia and Dartmoor.

Question 24

What does the word physical tourist attraction mean?

Answer 24

A naturally made tourist attraction - e.g. a beach or mountain

Question 25

What does the word human tourist attraction made?

Answer 25

An attraction that was built by man - e.g. the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Question 26

What is a fragile tourist attraction you have studied?

How is it fragile?

Answer 26

The Great Barrier Reef - Australia

It is fragile because it can be easily damaged/destroyed by tourists.
For example - if tourists touch it then the coral will die, boats could move sediment which will smother the coral and people may drop litter in the area which may cause it to be damaged.

Question 27

How can fragile environments (such as the Great Barrier Reef) be managed?

Answer 27

1. Limit the amount of tourists who can visit it day by having organised tours only
2. Ensuring that all litter is taken home and not left/dropped
3. Ensuring that people do not take samples of the coral home with them - and issuing fines if they do
4. Educating people about the importance of protecting the coral reef

Question 28

What is infrastructure?

Answer 28

Basic networks such as transport, power supplies and communication

Question 29

What does exploitation mean?

Answer 29

Misusing resources

This could be items such as trees, etc.