Reasons for, + Trends in, the Growth of International Tourism

Question 1

What is international tourism?

Answer 1

• movement of ppl across international borders for leisure, business, education or other purposes

Question 2

What are the eco. reasons for the growth of international tourism?

Answer 2

• more ppl are wealthy + have higher disposable incomes, as global economies dev, allowing them to spend more money on leisure activities inc. travel
• improved exchange rates make travel, for tourists from wealthier countries, cheaper + more affordable, inc tourism
• advancements in transport has allowed faster, cheaper + more efficient transport, making transport more convenient, thus inc tourism

Question 3

What are the social reasons for the growth of international tourism?

Answer 3

• more ppl have more time for vacations due to holiday allowances, longer weekends + more flexible working hrs
• better communication, due to growth in social media, has allowed inc awareness + info. ab destinations all over world, making them more appealing + accessible
• better tech has led to an inc in digital booking platforms (e.g. booking.com), making it easier for tourists to book flights, accom + tours online
• package holidays make travel easier + more accessible bc removes stress of planning + are often more cost-effective
• as social trends + preferences change (e.g. rise in popularity of ecotourism) it encourages more ppl to explore new destinations that fit w current trends

Question 4

What are the political reasons for the growth of international tourism?

Answer 4

• relaxation of boundaries, such as opening borders + relaxing visa restrictions, makes a destination more attractive to FDI from international hotel chains, stimulating investment into tourism facilities in LICs, + so attracts tourists
• gov.s investing in dev. tourism infrastructure (e.g. airports, roads + public transport systems) making country more accessible, inc tourism

Question 5

Describe the trends in the growth of international tourism.

Answer 5

• international tourism has grown sig. over last few decades, w NO° of international tourists reaching a record of 1.135B in 2014
• growth is shifting towards emerging economies as the middle class in dev. countries are inc
• long-distance travel + ST trips, such as weekend breaks, have inc bc of cheaper, more accessible international flights + high speed rail networks

Question 6

What are external shocks + how do they affect trends in growth of international tourism?

Answer 6

• unexpected events, that a country can’t control, which sig. dec demand for tourism at a particular destination + so growth temporarily dec.
• e.g. natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes/volcanic eruptions) can damage infrastructure + temporarily close tourist destinations, discouraging tourism
• e.g. health crisis’, like pandemics, can limit tourism by gov.s imposing widespread travel restrictions: in 2020, Covid-19 pandemic led to a 74% dec. in international tourists