Global interdependence extra Flashcards
Why has international tourism grown?
(changes in transport)
Increasingly sophisticated mechanised tranport has revolutionised travel between and within countries, drastically reducing journey times. The introduction of mass forms of transport (e.g. wide-bodies transport, cruise ships, and coaches) has made travel cheaper, thereby increasing the availability and accessibility of transport for far more people.
Why has international tourism grown?
(changes in society)
Education and mass media have increased awareness of other places.
Holidays are now seen as not just desirable but necessary consumer items in the annual budget of families in employment. In parallel, consumer culture has also encourages the ongoing development by tour operators of new destinations in order to satisfy customer demand for new places and experiences.
Why does the size and scope of tourism vary between countries?
Colonial relationships with other countries: 68% of American visitors to Ireland in 1994 cited forebears as their reason for visiting.
Changing tastes: The UK has a mature, broadly based tourist industry whose ageing and unfashionable coastal resorts. Similarly, Switzerland’s mature industry based on scenery and outdoor sports is facing competition from East European countries able to offer scenic between and competitively price skiing facilities.
Government policy regarding international tourism: Some governments of South Pacific Islands are way of the social costs (e.g. cultural erosion) and uncertain economic benefits (e.g. economic benefits and have therefore deliberately restrained tourism growth. In contrast, Kenya’s government have enthusiastically promoted it as part of the diversified economy.
What are the economic benefits of tourism?
(Development)
The need to attract and accommodate tourists leads to the development and improvement of local infrastructure such as roads, airports, ports, hotels and services such as water supplies, electricity and domestic waste disposal. The construction of infrastructure stimulates the local economy. For example, in the Tunisian resort of Tozeur each new hotel is estimated to create up to 100 new jobs for the local people, while indirect employment is created by the demand for tour guides, restaurants and ancillary services such as banking. A rise in the number of job will lead to a rise in incomes. This means that locals will have more disposable income to spend on goods and services, thereby improving their standard of living.
Development of services such as clean water supplies and domestic waste disposal will reduce the incidence of disease.
The northern coast of Penang Island in Malaysia has been transformed by tourism. Where 20 years ago there were scattered villages without modern services, there is now a new highway and a highly developed infrastructure.
What are the economic benefits of tourism?
(food and drink)
Consumption of local food and drink is often cited as one of the greatest pleasures of a foreign holiday and this increased demand helps to stimulate local, regional and national agriculture. The growth of ‘fermes auberges’ farm restaurants in France is a good example of French success in linking local produce to the tourist industry.
What are the economic benefits of tourism?
(injections)
Tourists often have high spending power and this injection of capital into the the towns, shops and leisure outlets stimulates the local economy and becomes an important contributor to the national balance of payments. This has lead to Indonesian island of Bali adopting tourism as an economic strategy throughout the country.
Governments can also invest injection of tourism into improving welfare services such as education and healthcare, thereby improving the standard of living.
Why may the economic benefits of tourism be very selective?
(economic cost)
Tourism may only benefit very small areas of a country and only a very small proportion of local traders, hoteliers etc. may benefit from any increased trade. This in turn may generate or deepen local or regional disparities in standard of living.
Why may the economic benefits only reach a small number of people?
Only a very small proportion of the total spending by tourists may actually reach local people because hotels and holiday organisers, especially package tour organisers, may be in foreign ownership. So, there is economic leakage.
What is an economic cost of tourism?
(transport)
Furthermore, a high proportion of the total cost of the holiday may be transport related and this is usually paid for in the home country, reducing the amount of capital that capital that could’ve been invested into the country receiving tourism.
What is an economic cost of tourism?
(jobs)
In Antigua, although tourism brings in a sizeable amount of foreign exchange, this is leaked out again through payments for expatriate staff and food (tourists in Antigua spend little money on local food and instead buy food through hotel companies).
Why does tourism provide an unstable base for economic development?
(reactions)
(economic cost)
Tourism is strongly influenced by outside reaction to events in a country and therefore tourism provides an unstable base for economic development. For example, political events in the The Gambia in 1994 led to the collapse of the tourist industry and thereby its economic as the government of the UK (country of origin for 90% of Gambia’s tourist clientele) advised tour companies to avoid the country.
Why does tourism provide an unstable base for economic development?
(rush)
(economic cost)
The rush to develop the sophisticated and efficient infrastructure which many western tourist demand may cause enormous strains of both the local and national economy This may mean that other areas of the economy, such as those on which local people depend on (e.g. education, healthcare) are neglected.
For example, in the Indian coastal state of Goa, there have been numerous protests about government policy giving priority for water supplies to hotels towards the end of the dry season, while local village well run dry.
What is a social cost of tourism?
(culture)
Tourism also brings consumerist values which may be a sharp contrast to the indigenous culture. The younger generations in particular are susceptible to the attractions of western lifestyle and this may lead to out-migration towards western countries, thereby changing the age structure of populations (i.e. an older population structure).
In Turkey, the traditional and conservative nature of society is changing in the new tourist resorts, as young people come into contact with radically different attitudes to women, nudity and religious observance. This is creating cultural friction between younger and older generations.
What is a negative impact of ecotourism/tourism?
The designation of protected sites for ecotourism may force local people off lands to which they traditionally had open access. In turn, may mean agricultural land and are lost and this may inhibit the ability of local people to develop of sustainable economy.
In Acapulco, Mexico, the locals living by the bay were forced out as the resort grew. Many locals now live on the dangerous and infertile slopes which are miles from sources of work and food. Therefore, it could be argued that tourism can cause the economic isolation of locals as well undermining the ability of locals to develop a sustainable economy.
