Tourism - SS2 Commerce Lesson Note
Tourism refers to the activity of traveling to different places for leisure, recreation, or business purposes. It involves visiting various destinations, engaging in sightseeing, experiencing different cultures, and participating in activities or events. A tourist is a person who travels to a different location outside of their usual environment for these purposes.
Forms of Tourism:
Leisure Tourism: This form of tourism focuses on relaxation, entertainment, and recreational activities. It includes activities like beach vacations, visiting theme parks, or engaging in outdoor adventures.
Business Tourism: Also known as corporate or MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism, it involves traveling for business-related purposes such as attending conferences, meetings, trade shows, or exhibitions.
Cultural Tourism: Cultural tourism involves traveling to experience and explore the cultural heritage, traditions, art, architecture, and history of a particular destination. It includes visiting museums, historical sites, festivals, and cultural events.
Eco-Tourism: Eco-tourism focuses on responsible travel that promotes conservation and sustainable practices. It involves visiting natural environments, protected areas, and engaging in activities that minimize environmental impact.
Advantages of Tourism:
Economic Benefits: Tourism can contribute to the economic growth of a destination by generating revenue, creating job opportunities, and supporting local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and souvenir shops.
Cultural Exchange and Understanding: Tourism promotes cultural exchange between visitors and the local population. It allows people from different backgrounds to learn about each other's cultures, traditions, and perspectives, fostering mutual understanding and respect.
Infrastructure Development: To accommodate tourists, destinations often invest in infrastructure development, including transportation networks, hotels, and recreational facilities. This infrastructure improvement can benefit both tourists and local residents.
Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage: Tourism can create awareness and promote the preservation of natural and cultural heritage sites. The revenue generated from tourism can be utilized for conservation efforts, ensuring the protection of fragile ecosystems and historical landmarks.
Disadvantages of Tourism:
Environmental Impact: The influx of tourists can lead to increased pollution, waste generation, and damage to natural ecosystems. Over-tourism in popular destinations can strain local resources and contribute to environmental degradation.
Social and Cultural Disruption: The presence of a large number of tourists can disrupt local communities, traditions, and ways of life. It can lead to overcrowding, increased costs of living, and loss of authenticity in cultural practices.
Economic Dependency: Some destinations may become overly dependent on tourism as their primary source of income. This reliance can make them vulnerable to fluctuations in the tourism industry, economic downturns, or shifts in travel trends.
Exploitation and Disparity: In certain cases, tourism can result in the exploitation of local communities and natural resources. Income disparities may arise between those directly involved in tourism and others in the community who do not benefit equally from tourism-related activities.