The Tourism attractions, Lecture notes of Tourism

Download The Tourism attractions and more Lecture notes Tourism in PDF only on Docsity! 1 UNIT: THE TOURISM ATTRACTIONS SECTOR A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, and leisure and amusement. Early works on attractions by Gunn (1972) affirmed that without attractions, there are no tourists or tourism. Tourist attractions are a key ingredient for successful tourism destination development. Attractions have exercised a magnetic ‘pulling power’ over people since classical times. This magnetism comprises not only the interests and preferences of the visitor but also the quality of the design, development, and operation of the attraction. Swarbrooke (1999) defined attractions as a “designated permanent’’ resource controlled and managed for enjoyment or entertainment. Attractions have been viewed by many as central to the tourism process. Tourist attractions are often the reason for visiting a particular destination. They provide activities and experiences and a means of collecting the signs of tourism consumption. Attractions are arguably the most important component of the Tourism System. They are the main motivators for tourist trips and are the core of the Tourist product. Without attractions, there would be no need for other tourism services. Indeed, Tourism as such would not exist if it were not for attractions. Attractions are those events, places, people, or features that draw visitors to a destination. Attractions could be natural wonders or built establishments designed to educate or entertain visitors, which are managed and promoted. An attraction must be interesting and pleasurable enough to sufficiently motivate people to travel to experience it (Timothy & Butler, 1995). Visitor attractions form one of the basic components of the tourism industry, along with transport and accommodation, and play a crucial role in the appeal of destinations. For many tourists, the attractions on offer at a destination form the major reason for visiting. Attractions are used as a basis for destination marketing. Attractions are a central component of leisure day visits as well as tourism trips, serving the resident community as well as those on holiday away from home. The attraction sector comprises a range of built environments and natural environments, as well as cultural resources, products, festivals, and events, which are developed and managed to provide interesting and enjoyable experiences to visitors. As well as providing appeal in a destination, attractions act as a focal point for visitor activity and spending, which is particularly important where tourism forms part of wider development and where tourism forms part of a wider development or area rejuvenation strategy. A thriving attraction industry is part of an area’s basic tourism infrastructure, providing opportunities for the local community, businesses, and local economy and visitor enjoyment. The management of attractions, however, is highly complex and beset with difficulties. Where there is a failure to manage attractions, the basic infrastructure of the tourism sector is diminished. Although visitor attractions might be considered a modern creation, the evolution of tourism was dependent on the existence and development of attractions. Even as far back as Roman times, travellers went to look at the Pyramids, and much later, the Grand Tour circuits were based around the major cultural attractions of Europe. It was not until the post-war that visitor attractions developed into a form we recognise in contemporary tourism, including theme parks where the experience is highly sophisticated, using marketing and technology. 2 DEFINING TOURIST OR VISITOR ATTRACTIONS Attractions are a very complex sector of the tourism industry and are not understood. There is no single acceptable definition that is relevant to all visitor attractions. Swarbrooke (1995:4) argues that “attractions tend to be single units, individual sites or clearly defined small-scale geographic areas that are accessible and motivate large numbers of people to travel some distance from their home, usually in their leisure time, to visit them for a short, limited period”. Lubbe (2006:103) “attractions are those occurrences or creations (such as scenery, climate, hot water springs, exceptional fauna or flora, buildings or other architectural work, scenes of historical importance, work of art, places of enjoyment and entertainment) or happenings (such as festivals, meetings, sports competitions) in the natural or human-made environments that motivate people to travel”. The following are other definitions of tourist attractions. 1. An attraction is something that appeals to a particular tourist or prospective Tourist. It creates and arouses interest and a desire to see or participate in it: it is an appeal to the senses or to the motivations for embarking on travel. The principal appeal of a destination is the attraction or the aggregate of attractions that the destination offers. 2. Attractions are those events, places, people, or features that draw visitors to a destination. 3. Attractions could be natural wonders or built establishments designed to educate or entertain visitors, which are managed and promoted. An attraction must be interesting and pleasurable enough to sufficiently motivate people to travel to experience it (Timothy & Butler, 1995). 4. Attractions are natural or manmade features which collectively or singly create the appeal of a country or place. 5. An attraction is where the main purpose is sightseeing. The attraction must be an established excursion destination, the primary purpose of which is to allow access for entertainment, interest, or education rather than being primarily a retail outlet or a venue for sporting, theatrical or film performances. It must be open to the public, without prior booking, for published periods each year and should be capable of attracting day visitors or tourists as well as residents. In addition, the attraction must be a single business under a single management to answer the economic questions on revenue and employment. 6. A tourist attraction is a named site with a specific human or natural feature, which is the focus of visitor and management attention. 7. Attractions are generally single units, individual sites or very small, easily delimited geographical areas based on a single key feature. Destinations are larger areas that include several individual attractions together with the support services required by tourists. 5 EVENTS TOURISM Every year, hundreds of festivals, sports events, carnivals, fairs, shows and exhibitions are held across the globe. Although many destinations have developed their tourism industries around natural and built environments, the need to differentiate has led destinations to develop and promote unique events. Where an event is an attraction, it is an event-based tourist product. Events attract tourists as spectators and as participants, sometimes for both. The Oktoberfest is organised in Germany. Event attractions are temporary and are often mounted to increase the number of tourists to a particular destination. Some events have a short time scale. A destination which may have little to commend to the tourist can nevertheless succeed in drawing tourists by mounting an event such as an unusual exhibition. People travel for pleasure, looking for tourist resources, facilities and events that provide them with entertainment and interest. Any resources, facilities or events that attract tourists to a particular place are called attractions. DEFINING TOURISM EVENT An event attraction is where tourists are drawn to the destination largely or solely because of what occurs there. Events such as sports contests, fairs and expositions can be major tourist attractions for short time periods. Many tourists are attracted to cultural festivals, such as religious pageants, art festivals, music festivals and events related to local traditions and arts. Events are classified as attractions. Events are not bound to one place only, although some events take place at the same venue annually. Events last for a specific period of time-anything from under an hour to, sometimes, a good part of the year. They are never permanent. The ‘Face of Africa’ awards ceremony, rugby series, and agricultural shows are examples of such events. Events can also be based on natural resources or human-made features. Events are a temporary phenomenon, and every event is a unique combination of where and when it is held, its theme, design and style and the participants, spectators and organisers. TYPE OF EVENTS 1. MEGA-EVENTS Mega Events are expressly targeted at the international market and may be described as mega by their size in terms of attendance, target market, level of public financial involvement, political effects, construction of facilities and impact on the social and economic fabric of the host community. 2. HALLMARK OR MAJOR EVENTS: Hallmark or Major Events are one time or recurring events of limited duration, developed primarily to enhance the awareness, appeal, and profitability of the destination. The success of such events relies on uniqueness, status, or timely 6 significance to create interest and attention. Major events can also be defined as having an ‘ability to focus national and international attention on destination’ (Burns & Mule, 1986). Major events are events that are expected to guarantee large external benefits or where the external benefits are so widely distributed and events costs so substantially that they are funded, either partially or wholly, with public monies’ (Ritchie, 1984) 3. COMMUNITY EVENTS Community Events are smaller-scale events based on community characteristics and aspirations. Events Tourism could be defined as the “systematic development, planning, marketing and holding of events as tourist attractions.” Events Tourists can be defined as those who travel away from home for business, pleasure, personal affairs, or any other purpose and stay overnight at an event destination. THE ADVANTAGES OF HOSTING SPECIAL EVENTS (TOURISM EVENTS) • Hosting tourism events can bring numerous advantages to a destination, from economic benefits to cultural exchange and promotion. Here are some advantages, along with examples from around the world: • Infrastructure improvement, for example, upgrading existing facilities such as roads in preparation for events. • Sociological and anthropological texts highlight the established role of festivals and events as agents of communitas and social bonding. For example, Raworth (2017: 76) identifies international festivals as one vehicle for building “norms, rules and relations that enable us to cooperate with and depend on one another, “helping us to “meet our fundamental human needs such as for participation, leisure, protection and belonging.” • Events can help prompt domestic growth. A successful event can help boost the area via media exposure and, in turn, attract future visitors, provide local jobs, and help make a case for local infrastructure improvements. • Amenity expansion and improvement: for example, upgrading hotels and the construction of new ones. • Events play a crucial role in cultural activity, not only encouraging cultural development but visibilising cultural forms and allowing a wider range of people to participate. As such, cultural festivals and events are regarded as ways of making places more inclusive. • Creating a favourable image and building awareness for a destination; for example, South Africa generated goodwill through the World Cup. • Expanding the traditional tourist season. For example, an event may be staged during the off-season, therefore expanding the Tourism season. • Attracting both local and international tourists. For example, South Africa received many visitors during the World Cup. • Mega events can facilitate a feel-good atmosphere of celebration that improves social relations. Hosting mega events that result in people feeling a sense of camaraderie can help lessen negative experiences such as marginalisation. 7 • Spreading tourist demand more evenly through an area: Events impact the distribution of tourists throughout a destination nation. For example, in South Africa, during the World Cup, visitors were encouraged to travel throughout the country because the match venues were evenly distributed throughout the major provinces. • Increased construction industry activity, for example, the construction of new hotels to cater for visitors. • Enhance a destination's sense of place and civic pride, for example, the pride and status of hosting the World Cup. Events can intensify community pride, introduce new and challenging ideas, and help revitalize the host community's traditions. • Real estate value increases as properties gain value near event venues. For example, housing and other facilities tend to be appreciated in all areas surrounding event venues. • Improved international relations due to interactions, an area became the centre of attraction to the whole world. For example, South Africa is now known throughout the world after hosting the World Cup in 2010. • The hosts gain experience in managing large visitor numbers, which enables them to gain experience in holding other large-scale events. • Potential for tourism development: People who attend a big event may return as repeat visitors, thereby boosting tourism inflows and the development of a destination area. • Build and improve the region’s capacity to deliver high-quality festivals and events of all sizes. • They improve the capacity to maximise sustainable, inclusive regional economic growth from festivals and event activities. • Events justify public sector spending on destination infrastructure, environmental regeneration, and social initiatives. • Economic Impact: Tourism events can significantly boost the local economy through increased spending on accommodations, dining, transportation, and souvenirs. Example: The Olympic Games are one of the largest tourism events globally. Host cities like Barcelona, London, and Sydney have seen substantial economic benefits from hosting the Olympics, including increased tourism revenue, infrastructure development, and job creation. • Promotion of Local Culture and Heritage: Tourism events often showcase a destination's unique cultural and heritage aspects, promoting local arts, crafts, traditions, and cuisine. For example, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland is the world's largest arts festival, featuring thousands of performances across various art forms. It not only attracts tourists but also celebrates Scotland's cultural heritage while providing a platform for artists from around the world. • Infrastructure Development: Hosting tourism events often necessitates infrastructure improvements such as transportation networks, accommodation facilities, and public spaces, which can benefit the destination long term. Example: The FIFA World Cup held in Brazil in 2014 led to significant investments in infrastructure, including new stadiums, transportation upgrades, and urban development projects, which continue to benefit the country's tourism industry. • International Exposure and Branding: Tourism events attract global media coverage, providing host destinations with valuable exposure and helping to enhance their 10 • Tourism generally involves events that can be a source of conflict between hosts/ host communities and tourists/visitors in destinations where it can lead to perceived and actual impacts. • Some suggest that negative social impacts of tourism events can have wide effects, such as experiences of marginalisation and displacement. mega-events. For instance, poor designation and use of public land, increased social disparities, disruption to the community's way of life, gentrification, and community displacement have been reported in host destinations. • Infrastructure strain. Large influxes of tourists during events can strain local infrastructure, such as transportation systems, accommodation, and public amenities. • Environmental impact. Tourism events can have significant environmental consequences, including increased waste generation, pollution, and habitat degradation. • Overcrowding. Popular events may lead to overcrowding at tourist attractions and public spaces, diminishing the visitor experience and causing inconvenience to both tourists and residents. • Pressure on Local Resources. Hosting events may pressure local resources such as water, energy, and food supplies, especially in areas with limited infrastructure. • Seasonal Demand. Events may lead to seasonal fluctuations in demand, which can challenge businesses that struggle to maintain consistent revenue throughout the year. • Sustainability Concerns. Balancing the economic benefits of tourism events with long-term sustainability goals can be challenging, particularly in fragile ecosystems or culturally sensitive areas. • Community Displacement. Tourism events may result in the displacement of local communities or changes to traditional ways of life, leading to social tensions and conflicts. • Risk of Natural Disasters. Destinations hosting events in disaster-prone areas face the risk of natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods, which can disrupt the event and pose safety concerns for attendees. • Security Issues. Large-scale events are potential targets for security threats, including terrorism, crime, and civil unrest, necessitating robust security measures and contingency plans. • Financial Burde. The costs associated with hosting tourism events, including infrastructure development, marketing, and security, can place a financial burden on host destinations, particularly if the expected economic benefits do not materialise. • Negative Sociocultural Impacts. Tourism events may contribute to cultural commodification, cultural appropriation, or the erosion of local traditions and identities, leading to resentment among local communities. • Public Perception and Image. Negative incidents or controversies associated with events, such as safety concerns, environmental damage, or cultural insensitivity, can tarnish the destination's reputation and deter future visitors. • Logistical Challenges. Planning and coordinating large-scale events require effective logistical management, including transportation, accommodation, crowd control, and emergency response, which can be complex and resource intensive. 11 • Regulatory Compliance. Meeting regulatory requirements and obtaining permits for hosting events, especially in sensitive or protected areas, can be time-consuming and bureaucratic, posing challenges for event organisers. INFLUENCES DETERMINING THE SUCCESS OF VISITOR ATTRACTIONS Factors that contribute to the success of a tourist attraction comprise those associated with the operator or organisation in charge of the attraction, the visitor, and the managed features of the attraction. Accordingly, the range of elements that constitute a visitor attraction stretches far beyond the core focus of the attraction. In many cases, a successful attraction captures the right market in the right location at the right time at the right price. These factors include: • Professional management skills and operators’ available resources. Good management is required to retain customers and for the sustainability of the attraction. • The type of attraction or product offering. Some attractions are naturally more popular than others. Attractions, however, must be augmented by others to make them more appealing. • Market demand for the product. Due to changes in trends, some attractions may be more successful than others. • Ease of access from major routes and centres of tourist and resident populations. • Appropriate hours of opening. Attractions should be open for longer hours and even during holidays to capture as many visitors as possible. • Provision and quality of on-site amenities, such as parking, visitor centre, signs and labels, shops, guides, refreshments, toilets, litter bins, seating, and disabled provision. • Proximity to and quality of near-site amenities, such as signposting, local accommodation, local services, and other attractions. • Quality of service, including staff appearance, attitude, behaviour, and competence. • Excellent marketing of tourism products locally and internationally. • Sustainable and responsible management plans. This is the creation of plans with aims, schedules, potential obstacles, and solutions to help run a business in a way that will generate an income for a long time without damage to the environment. • Efficient and ethical behaviour of staff and management. Efficiency is doing the job well, effectively, and fast as well as eliminating waste of time. Ethical behaviour involves doing your job properly, honestly and in the best interests of the environment, local community, and business. • Positive experience of visitors. Satisfied visitors should be a priority for any attraction. Visitors should have a positive experience at an attraction, encouraging them to return and promote it by word of mouth. • Safety and crime prevention. People need to feel safe, and their belongings are safe. If they feel threatened, they will not visit an attraction and business will be lost. • General appearance and upkeep of the attraction. Buildings, roads, and guest facilities must function properly and look neat and professional. Buildings need to be cleaned regularly, painted, and fixed when necessary. • Considering the needs of people with disabilities. Buildings and activities should be designed to allow people with disabilities to function easily. Facilities such as special 12 toilets, ramps, and signs should be available for people in wheelchairs or with other disabilities. • Universal access. International and national tourists need to be able to access tourist attractions through airports, roads, and infrastructure. Parking facilities should be easily available, accessible, and safe for transport. They should also include parking facilities for those using wheelchairs. • The attractions market is very competitive and those developing and managing attractions increasingly understand the need to base them on innovative concepts which create a sensational experience or, as it is often termed, a ‘wow’ factor for the visitor. Understanding the visitor experience is a key concept for contemporary visitor attraction management. Creating the right appeal and ambience in a fiercely uncompromising sector is crucial for visitor attractions. ATTRACTIONS An attraction is a destination that pulls or entices a person to it. In general, tourist attractions can be categorised into two types: natural attractions and man-made attractions. Attractions, whether physical or cultural, are the main pull factor of tourist flow. Without these attractions, there would be no need for other tourist services. Attraction is a pull factor which entices travellers to a destination. However, the attractiveness of a destination will be different for different people, and it may change with time. Therefore, a combination of attractions may help to create a strong tourist appeal. As discussed above, attractions can be classified in several ways. The roots of attractions go back to the medieval times. Natural attractions are the ‘mainsprings’ that drive many people to travel. Heritage attractions (such as historic sites) and prehistoric and archaeological sites also appeal to those inspired to learn more about contemporary and long-vanished civilisations. Recreation attractions maintain and provide access to indoor and outdoor facilities where people can participate in sports and other recreational activities. Examples include golf courses, ski resorts and marinas. Commercial attractions are retail operations in gifts, hand-crafted goods, art, and souvenirs that attract tourists. Industrial attractions like wineries and breweries have long been tourist attractions. Factory tours are growing, and manufacturers have developed elaborate facilities to handle tourists. Great modern cities, with their cultural treasures of many sorts, provide powerful attractions to millions of visitors each year. Sightseeing tours are provided in most cities, giving easy access to attractions. Theatres, museums, special buildings, zoos, aquariums, cultural events, festivals, shopping, and dining are some appeals. 15 kinds of health tours that are gaining popularity are spa tours. Spas offer the unique advantages of taking the best from the West and the East, combining them with the indigenous system, and offering the best of the two worlds. 6. Beach tourism is very popular among the tourists today. Tourists of all age groups, backgrounds, cultures, and countries enjoy this tourism product. Besides attraction and saleability, beach holidaying has led to the overall development of tourism in many parts of the world. The basic importance of beaches is that they provide aesthetic and environmental value of the beach such as beautiful natural scenery with golden sands, lush green vegetation, and bright blue sky. The water should be clear, free of currents and underwater rocks. Beach tourism activities include water and land resource use. The water usage involves swimming, surfing, sailing, wind surfing, water scootering, Para- sailing, motorboat rides, etc. The land use has multifacets like sunbathing, recreational areas for tourists (parks, playgrounds, clubs, theatre, amusement parks, casinos, and cultural museums.), accommodation facilities (hotels, cottages, villas, camping sites, etc.), car and bus parking areas, entertainment and shopping complexes, access roads and transportation network. Due to its multidimensional requirements the beach product needs special care. A beach resort needs to be developed as an integrated complex to function as a self-contained community. Environmental management should also ensure the availability of necessary infrastructure in the immediate hinterland to the coastal region in support of this form of tourism. 7. Islands abound with natural beauty, with the rare flora and fauna and tribes. This makes islands an ideal place for adventure, nature, and culture lovers to visit. This tourist product has great scope as these islands are being developed as tourist paradises. For example, Hawaii, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles Islands, etc. has developed with tourism activity over the past few decades. The topography is generally undulating, and they offer natural scenic beauty with exotic flora and fauna. Most of these islands have places of worship like churches and temples. As an added attraction some of these islands have developed as tax havens thereby encouraging commercial development of these economies. They offer social and cultural attractions as tourists can experience the local lifestyle, local food, fairs and festivals. 8. Scenic attractions, like good weather, are very important factors in the development of tourism. Breathtaking mountain scenery and coastal stretches exert a strong fascination on the tourist, and the magnificent mountain ranges provide an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity. 3. CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS Man-made tourism products are created by man for pleasure, leisure, or business. Man-made tourism products include: 1. Culture 2. Sites and areas of archaeological interest 3. Historical buildings and monuments 16 4. Places of historical significance 5. Museums and art galleries 6. Political and educational institutions 7. Religious institutions • Cultural tourism is based on the mosaic of places, traditions, art forms, celebrations and experiences that portray the nation and its people, reflecting the diversity and character of a country. Garrison (1995) best described cultural tourism by saying, "We need to think about cultural tourism because really there is no other kind of tourism. It’s what tourism is...people don't come to America for our airports; people don't come to America for our hotels or the recreation facilities. They come for our culture: high culture, low culture, middle culture, right, left, real or imagined. They come here to see America.” Two significant travel trends will dominate the tourism market in the next decade. Traditions • Pilgrimages • Fairs and festivals • Arts and handicrafts • Music • Folklore • Native life and customs • Dance • A pilgrimage is a term primarily used for a journey or a search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. Secular and civic pilgrimages are also practised, without regard for religion but rather of importance to a particular society. • There are many forms of dance worldwide like Salsa, Hip- Hop, Jazz, Flamingo, Ballet and Traditional Dances. People who travel like to watch these dance performances and sometimes even take some introductory classes. • Music can be traditional or modern. Traditional music, such as folk, classical, and country, is specific to every region and country. Modern forms include Blues, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Rap, Techno, and hip-hop. Music also adds to a destination's appeal. • Fairs and Festivals capture the fun-loving side and bring out the joyous celebrations of the community. Festivals like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Eid, Ramadan, Diwali, Holi, and so on also bring people to destinations where they can enjoy the celebration. Some popular Fairs that cater to fun and work are Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan, Prêt fair in Paris, Magic Fair in Vegas for garments, Hong Kong Fashion Week, and various job fairs where people are recruited. 17 4. ENTERTAINMENT 1. Amusement and recreation parks 2. Sporting events 3. Zoos and Oceanarium 4. Cinemas and theatre 5. Nightlife 6. Cuisine • Tourist products that have entertainment as their main characteristic are many. To name a few, there are amusement and recreational parks like Disneyworld in the United States, Hong Kong, Paris, and Singapore and theme parks in various countries and cities like Durban. Tourists may come to attend sports events, and it is also an opportunity to explore the country. The fundamental concept is that all tourist activities have an influence on providing economic benefits and have a powerful influence in some definite locality like the Olympics in Athens has given immense benefit to all in the tourism business in Athens and Greece in general. Many countries organise year-round sports events like swimming meets, athletic meets, weightlifting events, cricket matches, baseball, and football events and many more such events which encourage tourism. • Night Life is one of the prime attractions in a holiday. Tourists like to especially visit areas in cities where the night life activity is promoted. These areas are usually lit up with street stalls like flea markets and food areas. Bars, night clubs, casinos and very often open-air bands attract and add to the psychological satisfaction and experience of tourists. • Cuisine is often an understated but highly important part of any holiday. Nowadays, cuisine from all areas of the world is found at most tourist destinations. Speciality restaurants serve Indian, Continental, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Fast food, Mexican, Mediterranean, Arabic, etc. However, tourists usually like to eat the local food of the areas they visit. 5. BUSINESS CONVENTIONS AND CONFERENCES People who travel in relation to their work come under business tourism. However, such travel for business purposes is also linked with tourist activity like visiting places of tourist attraction at the destination, sightseeing and excursion trips. Business travel is also related to what is termed today as convention business, which is a rapidly growing industry in hospitality and tourism. A business traveller is important to the tourism industry as it involves using all the components of tourism. He travels for different business reasons-attending conventions and conferences, meetings, and workshops. Participants have a lot of leisure time at their disposal. The conference organisers make this leisure time very rewarding for participants by organising many activities for pleasure and relaxation. The spouses and families accompanying the participants are also well looked after by the organisers. The organisers plan sightseeing and shopping tours for