Concept of Tourism

Tourism is the movement of people from their usual place of residence to another destination or destination for reasons other than work. Tourists visit places for many different reasons but their choice is often influenced by such things as the attractiveness of the natural environment or the appeal of an area’s culture or heritage For practical purposes and for statistical reasons, travellers are categorized as ‘visitors’ or ‘tourists’ depending on the length of their stay in a given destination. A person who stays for less than 24 hours is classified as a visitor

‣

Tourism as a service Industry

Tourism is also the name of the service industry that involves businesses that cater to the needs of travellers in regard to transportation, accommodation, food, entertainment, recreational activities and souvenirs.

‣

Types of Tourists

‣

International

Tourists who travel outside the geographical region of their home country

‣

Regional

Tourists who travel to places within the same geographical region

‣

Domestic

Tourists who travel within their own country

‣

Tourism sites: destinations, attractions

A tourist destination is a place to which visitors (local and international) come for recreation or relaxation. A tourist resort is a town or village which is particularly popular with tourists A tourist attraction is a place that attracts tourists to visit such a cultural site, museum, beach, coral reef, or waterfall.

‣

Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago

In Trinidad and Tobago most tourist destinations are villages or towns along the coast. Most visitors go to Tobago for the beaches, snorkeling, and diving and for jazz festivals, and to Trinidad for the beaches and special events such as Carnival, international cricket matches, and for other festivals. There are eco-tourism facilities in Tobago near the Main Ridge Reserve and in Trinidad’s Northern Range. There are some large hotels and resorts in Tobago but there are also many smaller self-catering villas, beach houses, and apartments, guest houses, and hotels.

‣

Factors that influence the development of Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago

‣

Climate

Tourism in the Caribbean has been greatly influenced by the climate. Our long hours of sunshine and warm temperatures attract people to visit the region. Tourists, especially those from the northern hemisphere and Europe come to visit to relax on the beaches under the sun and bathe in the warm sea water

‣

Flora & Fauna

Many tourist come at least in part to visit our natural environment and enjoy our plants and animals. Our Tropical rainforests are an attraction while our swamps (Caroni/Nariva) attract bird watchers

‣

Special events

Special events tourism attracts visitors to particular events such as Carnival, international cricket matches, golf tournaments, and jazz and other music festivals. The appeal of Carnival for example is particularly evident in the notable rise in the number of visitors to our two islands during that time every year.

‣

Impact of Tourism on Trinidad and Tobago

‣

Economic

While not having the economic importance of the energy sector in Trinidad the tourism industry contributes to over 50% of that island’s GDP. The average daily expenditure per tourist was estimated at TT$ 580. This money feeds directly into the wages and salaries of ordinary citizens who work in the industry. In addition, the government receives tax revenue from the industry and workers' income tax which can be used to spend on public services.

Another economic advantage of tourism is that tourists bring foregin currency into the country which can then be used to import vital equipment, machinery and other foreign items from overseas to improve the country. While tourism is an example of diversification away from oil and gas, over dependence on this one industry in Tobago makes the island’s economy very vulnerable to any significant drop in the number of visitors.

‣

Employment

It has been estimated that close to 60% of total employment in Tobago was connected to the tourist industry. Tourism is quite labor-intensive as it requires a large number of workers to provide services. Career and job opportunities within the tourist industry are varied and include:

• Hotel and guest house proprietors, managers, receptionists, restaurant chefs, and bartenders, servers, and housekeepers
• Tour guides
• Boat operators

In addition the tourist industry creates employment indirectly for those providing services such as airline personnel, travel agents, taxi drivers, entertainers, hairdressers, beauticians, construction workers, handicraft artisans, retail and wholesale merchants (drink and food supplies) People working in tourism can learn new skill which they can then use in other industries or other parts of the Caribbean.

‣

Social Impacts

When tourism work well it can educate both tourists and locals as each can gain an appreciation of the others’ country, culture and background and long-term relationships may be created. It can promote international relations and cultural exchange. Visitors can also gain an appreciation of our natural environment. However local culture may become too commercialized. Cultural offerings to visitors may be more stereotypical than authentic. Prostitution and drug dealing may also develop to serve the demands of some visitors.

‣

Environmental impacts

Tourism provides some financial resources for the conservation of built and natural heritage such as ecosystems that are tourist sites. As the number of tourists visiting an area increases there can be an increase in damage to the natural environment. Degradation of the environment may result from too many visitors and insufficient management to allow for sustainable management eg. major damage to the Buccoo Reef in Tobago and pollution in Chaguaramas Bay caused by yacht tourism. The development of tourism infrastructure can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which tourism depends

Large number of tourists require increased water supplies. This puts pressure on the supplies and may result in reduced quality or reduced availability of water for local consumption. Land may be degraded during resort development and the building of infrastructure. This had damaged beaches and the nesting areas where turtles lay their eggs. Coral reefs off Tobago have also been degraded, harvested or destroyed by unregulated tourist activity with boat anchors and tourists’ feet destroying the coral

Josiah Renne (PC)