Tourism Key Concepts and Principles

In this section of the syllabus, you are required to “explain the key concepts and principles of tourism”. What does that mean? Well basically, CXC wants you to define the concept of:

1. Tourism
2. Tourists
3. Host
4. Guests
5. Visitors
6. Community
7. Government

They’d also like you to understand the principles:

1. Mass/Traditional Tourism
2. Eco-Tourism
3. Niche Tourism
4. Sustainable Development
5. Sustainable Tourism

And the interdisciplinary nature of tourism as a field of study, for example, Geography, Business and Entrepreneurship, Sociology, Economics and Anthropology.

So let’s get into the concepts!

• Tourism - Tourism comprises of the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours but less than one year for leisure, business and other purposes, according to the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization).

• Tourist - According to the UNWTO, a visitor (domestic, regional, international, inbound or outbound) is classified as a tourist (or overnight visitor), if their trip includes an overnight stay.

• Host - The word “host" can refer to numerous entities and varies depending on the context. It can refer to the country (host country/ destination region), it can be the place you’re staying at (it is hosting you; you are being accommodated) or it can be an owner (usually in AirBnBs or Bed and Breakfasts, where your host is someone who interacts with their guests.

• Guests - Guests are the tourists. They are guests because they seek accommodation at a place that isn’t their home.

• Visitors - According to the UNWTO, a visitor is a traveler taking a trip to a main destination outside his/her usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose (business, leisure or other personal purpose) other than to be employed by a resident entity in the country or place visited. It is important to note that if a visitor stays at a destination for longer than 24 hours they will be classified as a tourist.

• Community - Community refers to the local residents and businesses in a destination area. They play a vital role in shaping the visitor experience and often benefit from tourism through employment, economic opportunities, and cultural exchange. It is important to note that communities can be affected positively and negatively by tourism.

• Government - Government, in this case, is the body of authority in a country that is in charge of tourism development with regards to investments, policy creation, management of economic development and development of tourism regulations.

Now that that's done and over with, let’s move onto principles.

Note: while the syllabus states Mass/Traditional Tourism I will be doing them separately as there are differences between the two.

• Mass Tourism - Mass tourism is basically large-scale tourism and focuses on acquiring a larger customer base. It is profit driven and does not take into consideration the environmental hazards. Mass tourism is linked quite closely to over tourism since it poses many negative effects on a host community such as: pollution, environmental degradation, cultural erosion and over tourism.

• Traditional Tourism - Traditional tourism refers to the conventional way of travelling where people visit popular destinations, stay in hotels, and participate in typical tourist activities like sightseeing, dining out, and shopping. It usually involves following well-established tourist routes and attractions. Traditional and Mass tourism are similar because traditional tourists flock to popular destinations, an abundance of this can lead to mass tourism and by extension, over tourism.

• Niche Tourism - Niche Tourism is “specialized” tourism. It is where a group of people go to a destination region to experience something specific. For example: sports tourism, wedding or honeymoon spots, wildlife tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) tourism.

• Sustainable Development - According to the United Nations, sustainable development is development that fulfils the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs too.

• Sustainable Tourism - According to the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council), Sustainable Tourism refers to sustainable practices in and by the tourism industry. It is an aspiration to acknowledge all impacts of tourism, both positive and negative. It aims to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive ones.

And now to the Interdisciplinary Nature of Tourism.

Firstly, let’s address that big word, “interdisciplinary”. Interdisciplinary refers to the integration of knowledge, methods, and perspectives from multiple academic disciplines to address complex problems or phenomena.

What's the link between Tourism and Geography?

Geography provides insights into the spatial distribution of tourist destinations, natural attractions, and cultural landscapes. It helps in understanding how physical features, climate, and location influence tourism patterns. Geographical information systems (GIS) are used to analyze tourist flows and spatial relationships within destinations.

What's the link between Tourism, Business and Entrepreneurship?

The business aspect of tourism involves understanding the management, marketing, and financial aspects of tourism enterprises such as hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tour operators. Entrepreneurship in tourism focuses on innovation, the development of new tourism products, and small business management within the tourism sector.

What's the link between Tourism and Sociology?

Sociology helps in understanding the behaviour, motivations, and preferences of tourists, as well as the impacts of tourism on host communities. It examines issues such as tourist interactions with locals, cultural exchange, social dynamics within tourist destinations, and the formation of tourist identities.

What's the link between Tourism and Economics?

Economics provides insights into the economic impacts of tourism, including its contribution to GDP, employment generation, foreign exchange earnings, and regional development. Economic analysis also involves studying tourism demand and supply dynamics, pricing strategies, investment decisions, and government policies affecting the tourism industry.

What's the link between Tourism and Anthropology?

Anthropology contributes to tourism studies by examining the cultural aspects of tourism, including the commodification of culture, heritage tourism, authenticity, cultural impacts of tourism, and the representation of indigenous communities in the tourism industry. Anthropological research helps in understanding how tourists perceive and engage with different cultures.