Tourist Destination
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Tourism has become one big industry. In addition, it has become a significant pillar for most economies generating billions annually. The absence of incomes from tourism could even shake the world’s most prosperous and strongest nations. In spite of the economic downturn lead to most people not to travel, the most popular destinations of the world still host enormous numbers of tourists, whom in turn leave huge amounts of both local and foreign currency to their hosts.
Tourist destinations and generators
Back in year 2008 there were 922 million people vising foreign nations (reflecting year on year growth of 2%). These tourists according to World Tourist Organization spent US$ 922 billion. The year 2009 tourism was declining due to recession. In the 1st 4 months of 2009, less than 8 percent tourists were moving around the globe compared to year 2008 and in the year 2010, arrivals were estimated to be 1.6 billion.
Austria is one of the countries that tourists cannot say no to. This is because of the features in the country that attract tourists. They include the White fluffy snow in tones quite perfect for skiing, Cafes of Vienna, Excellent cultural offer, Alpine hiking among other features. The nation is a tiny country filled with countless travel opportunities in the winter as well as the summer months and citizens who are aware of how they can make loads from it. Tourism happens to be one of the most significant parts of the Austria’s economy. Tourism accounts for about 9 percent of the country’s GDP. Tourists brought $21.8 billion to the country in year 2008.
Turkey has become a most popular world’s travel destination over recent years. The country has plenty of historical, archaeological, and natural sites. It is the home of two among the ancient world’s wonders. From year 2000 to 2008, tourists visiting the world grew from 8 million – around 40 million. Turkey is the 9th most visited country in terms of revenue and eighth most visited country in the world in terms of arrivals. In 2008, it generated $22 billion from tourism in 2008.
United States of America is the 2nd largest tourist destination making $110.1 billion in the year 2008 from tourism. In that year, Times Square was visited by 35 million tourists, the Los Vegas strip was visited by 31 million people, and Memorial Parks and the National Mall were visited by 24 million tourists at the time. In year 2001, Spain bit the US for position one but the US remains number one tourist destination in terms of tourist revenue generation
Tourism is a main contributor to Spain’s economy generating around US $ 60 billion per annum. Tourist attraction features include Medieval Towns, Golden Beaches, Barcelona’s Museums, Flamenco Dancers, Ski Slopes of Pyrenees, and Fruity Sangria among others. The country has surpassed its Mediterranean rival Italy paving its way the 3rd most popular destination for tourists in the world.
The United Kingdom, especially the city of London has come to be a must-see for travellers. The Great Britain’s capital is the World’s second most visited city. In year2008, the visitors were totalling fifteen million. With presence of the strong currency, the nation happens to be one very expensive among other destinations where a cup of coffee will cost twice as much compared to other countries in Europe. Despite the fact, around 30 million tourists prove the UK as worth what it means.
In a recent report written by the Huffington Post about the world’s most visited tourist attractions, the article reported that UK’ British Museum in London is among the world’s top tourist destinations attracting around 6,701,036 visitors annually. This placed UK’s British Museum in London as the 40th most visited in the word ahead of Hong Kong’s Disneyland and a notch lower than EverlandGyeonggi-do of South Korea.
Trends in UK visits by residents of overseas show adjustments.
In year 2014 during match, the number of overseas residents visiting the United Kingdom as tourists rose by ten percent in comparison to year 2013 match.
In the period between 2014 January to 2014 Match, visits in the United Kingdom by overseas residents was ten percent more compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, with the tourists spending more than 18 percent more on their visits.
Within the twelve months to 2014 Match, the United Kingdom had visits more than seven percent higher compared to the preceding year with earnings from tourists growing to 14 percent. Visits from Europe itself grew by 8 percent while visits from other nations grew to 9 percent. Holly day visits rose by 10 percent, visits to relatives and friends rose by 5 percent and trips made to UK for business purposes grew 5 percent.
United Kingdom visits by overseas residents by month (Adjusted Seasonally)
FIG: overseas Residents visiting the United Kingdom Monthly {IPS (International Passenger Survey) – National Statistics Office}
Cultural, social and physical features of tourist destinations and their appeal
Upon the close examination of the top 50 tourist destinations in the world, United States had attracted the most number of tourists coming from its tourist destinations such as Las Vegas garnering the top position and the succeeding nine top tourists destinations all located in America such as Times Square, New York City (Union Station, in Washington D.C.
The common denominators of tourist attractions at present are theme parks such as all Disneyland’s parks landing in top tourist destinations from the Anaheim in California (9th top tourist destination), Tokyo Disneyland (12th), Tokyo Disney Sea (15th), Disneyland Park, France (16), Disney Animal Kingdom Florida (22nd), Disney’s Hollywood Studios to Florida (23). Other similar theme parks were also in top tourist attractions such EPCOT in Florida (17th) and Universal Studios, Japan (24th).
Chosen tourist destinations Cultural, social and physical features of tourist destinations that appeals to tourists
Located in UK: British Museum in London The museum contains the world’s finest artefacts from the ancient times such as the Egyptian mummies, Rosetta stone, Elgin marbles to name a few. These are priceless artefacts from our ancient past that cannot be found anywhere else in the world drawing tourists of 6, 701, 36 from all over the world.
The UK is also called land of museums consisting of distinct cultures, politics, religions, and cuisines. The industry of tourism in the UK has several physical, cultural, as well as social features. All these create appeal for the tourist target.
Cultural resources- they comprise of heritage property such as museums, churches, monuments as well as other structures made by man. They may include food patters as well as e entertainment events such as art, sports, and music. UK also has historical towns and cities that create appeal amongst the tourists. This helps it attract many tourists in comparison with other native places, which lack cultural heritage.
Social groups- they include local, national, as well as regional communities’ of a certain destination. This group does play a significant role in the satisfaction of various tourist needs as well as meeting their expectations. It directly affects tourism. The local’s warm behaviour affects tourism significantly and has significance in creation of sustainability. The responsibility of the group is to give the tourists overall experience.
Physical resources-among them are famous mountains, landscapes, coastlines, lakes, flora & fauna, sand dunes and beaches. Their significance is the creation of tourist appeal. In general, tourists view the nice looking natural locations.
Evaluation of how characteristics affects appeal
Several gains can be achieved by tourism.
Historical characteristic – The appeal of British Museum of London to tourists is its collection of priceless historical artefacts that relates to our magnificent history. These artefacts cannot be found anywhere else in the world that compels tourists to visit the British Museum. For example, the Rosetta stone and its collection of Egyptian mummies enabled the experts to read the Egyptian hieroglyphics, which in turn gave us a better understanding of our ancient past.
Economic characteristics- The city of London that houses the British Museum is one of the most advanced and culturally rich cities in the world, which encourages tourist to visit the Museum. It also has excellent infrastructure making the visit convenient.
Issues that could affect the popularity of tourist destinations
Two factors could affect the popularity of British Museum in London. These are economic and security issues that it must address in order to optimize and maintain the number of tourist visits.
Economic – London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. The cost associated in visiting British Museum in London is prohibitive. As a result, many potential tourists are discouraged to visit the city and instead opts other less expensive tourist destinations.
Security – security is an issue that would affect the popularity of any tourist destination because it would scare the tourists away. This is evident with the experience in Palawan, Bali and other famous tourist destinations where tourism dropped significantly after a terror attack.
Tourism could attain several benefits. These could be economical as well as social benefits for developing countries mainly, even though negative challenges can be present as well. There have been many debates with regard to impacts of tourism, which are beneficial as well as harmful to the environment. 1st, tourism is known to create job opportunities in various sectors mainly transportation and retail. This brings about foreign currency to the host nation. However, the jobs created by tourism are mostly seasonal. The host nation will face various effects from tourism such as traffic jams, pollution of environment, dust, and littering among others. It is true that wildlife will be protected by tourism but also some citizens will face displacement to provide room for site seeing as well as hotel constructions (Beirman, 2003). Tourism may at times bring with it pollution and diseases that are unwanted to the host nation.
Potential for responsible tourism to enhance the host community at worldwide tourism destinations
Different people define responsible tourism differently. It may be described as a travel that:
Will reduce harmful ecological, communal as well as financial effects
Brings about greater economic gains to local citizens as well as improving their comfort, advancing operational circumstances as well as access to business.
Does engage local inhabitants in an assessment that will influence their own existences as well as existence likelihoods;
Brings about creation of encouraging involvement in the maintenance of the accepted as well as humanizing inheritance, to the conservation of the world’s assortment;
Does offer access for the bodily challenged individuals and
Does produce admiration among the tourists, is ethnically responsive, and constructs local assurance and satisfaction.
Main responsibilities for a tourism sector in which ever given country are income generation as well as to bring surplus revenue. Some special concentration has to be present in areas that assist in gaining the tourism objective. Resort areas as well as travel hubs need maintenance and improvement in some manner that is well planned. The plans as well as the endorsement have to be such that tourists chose a place over and above the other comparable destinations.
Bibliography
Reference List
About us . British Museum. 8 10, 2014. http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us.aspx?ref=header.
Associated Newspapers. London is sixth most expensive city in the world. 8 10, 2014. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-57591/London-sixth-expensive-city-world.html.
Auletta, Kate. The World’s 50 Most Visited Tourist Attractions. 8 10, 2014. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/most-visited-attractions_n_4858066.html.
Beirman, Dvid. Restoring Tourism Destinations in Crisis. CABI Publishing, 2003.
