TOPIC 6: TOURISM - GEOGRAPHY NOTES FORM 2
Tourism refers to the travel of people away from home to other place for recreation, leisure, religious, family, or business purposes, usually of a limited duration.
Tourism involves visiting places of interest like wildlife, beaches, museums etc,
Types of tourism
There are two categories of tourism, namely, Domestic and international tourism.
Domestic tourism involves travel within the same country. For example, when people move from Mbeya to Mikumi National Park to view wild animals, this kind of tourism is called domestic tourism.
International tourism involves movement from one country to another for leisure, business, education, etc. For example, many people travel from Europe and America to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, or to view other attractive things.
Factors for the Development and Growth of the Tourism Industry in the World
Factors Which have Contributed to the Development and Growth of Tourism in the World Describe factors which have contributed to the development and growth of tourism in the world
Socio-cultural factors
Accessibility of the area of interest, transportation like roads, and railway sis required. Presence of national park like Serengeti Availability of good social services like medication, good food, water supply etc
Political factors
Presence of peace in the country Government policy that helps to develop tourism industry Religious factors People often travel to places of religious importance to seek inner peace, get blessing of their favourite gods and spiritual leaders, attain salvation before death, etc. Examples of places that are well known for their religious significance are Jerusalem in Israel, Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, Varanasi and Amritsar in India, etc.
Importance of Tourism in the World
There is a lot reasons to say Tourism is important, some of them include the following:
1. Source of foreign exchange
2. Source of employment
3. Improvement of infrastructure
4. Promotes international relations
5. Source of government revenue
6. Conservation of wildlife and environment and protection of historical sites
7. Economic use of marginal lands
8. Preservation of culture
Impact of Tourism in the World Positive impacts of tourism
1. It helped in foreign exchange
2. Tourism has led to creation of job opportunities. Many people have been employed in the tourist sector, a fact which has helped improve their quality of life.
3. It brings together people of different colours, cultures and religions.
4. It leads to job creation in rural areas, thereby reducing rural-urban migration.
5. It has led to diversification of economies of countries involved in the sector. For example, tourism is now earring more revenue than agriculture and other sectors of the economy in Tanzania.
6. Tourism has enabled sustainable conservation of wildlife and the environment and preservation of cultural heritage and historical sites.
7. It influences development of infrastructure in host countries. In Tanzania, for example, roads to national parks such as Serengeti National Park have been improved Negative impact of tourism
1. Bad behaviour and overcrowding to the host community.
2. The tourists can lead to erosion of traditional cultures and values.
3. Tourism poses a threat to natural and cultural resources such as water supply, beaches, coral reefs and pollution.
4. High expenditure towards improvement of social services.
5. Jobs created by tourism are often seasonal and poorly paid
6. Tourism can cause events such as terrorism, natural disasters and economic recession.
Ways of Addressing the Negative Impact of Tourism
Ways of addressing negative impact of tourism include:
1. Diversification of revenue sources such that when the tourism industry collapses they do not suffer economic difficulties.
2. Laws and policies should be put in place that ensures the revenue accrued from tourism benefits the local community and the government in general.
3. Tourists should be directed to obey the culture and traditions of the host communities.
4. Promotion to conserve and preserve the environment
5. The laws, rules and regulations should be enacted and enforced to combat criminal incidences, child labour, drug abuse, and prostitution
6. New tourist attractions should be established and developed so as to reduce pressure exerted to already established attractions.
7. The local people should be involved in tourism activities so that they benefit in conserving the tourist attractions like wildlife conservation areas, etc.
8. There should be integration of tourist activities with the protection of the environmental condition through the eco-tourism approach.
TOURISM IN NAMIBIA
Namibia is a newly independent country but the tourism sector has grown very fast within a short period of time. Incidentally tourism is the 3rd largest contributor to the gross domestic product after mining and agriculture.
The number of visitors in Namibia has been increasing year after year. For example in 1993 over 368,000 visitors came to Namibia, 560000 in 1996, 615000 in 1997 and over 800000 are projected for the year 2007.
The overall growth of the tourism sector is targeted at 10-12 percent per year
Factors that have contributed to the tourism growth in Namibia
1) Advertisement that has been done by the government and the private sectors
2) Strong policy on promoting the tourism industry
3) Namibia has a favorable investment potentials created by Namibia’s free market economy and the government commitment to promote free enterprise
4) Well developed infrastructure has facilitated easy accessibility of different places in Namibia
5) There are a lot of attractions which include:- Climate endowed with beautiful sunshine, Abundant wild life in the game reserves like hardtop and mahango game reserves, national parks like the Etosha and Malili national park, Caprivi Aaan and Viljoen game parks.
6) The establishment of the Namibia stock exchange [NSX] that has attracted foreign investors, has been another contributing factor in the tourism development
7) The hard work made by both the public and private sector. The private sector has invested substantially in the development of infrastructure
8) The influence of development of other activities has facilitated the development of tourism in Namibia
9) The aid from European countries has also enhanced the tourism development process in the country
Importance of tourism to Namibia
a) It has led to the preservation and boosting of the country’s cultural values and norms
b) It has stimulated the further development of infrastructure
c) It has promoted the move towards environmental conservation in the country with an aim of maintaining the country’s beauty
d) It has contributed to the employment creation in the country
e) It has contributed to the gross domestic product. It is the third contributor to the GDP after mining and agriculture
f) Social services have improved in the country especially with the introduction of the community based tourism
g) Tourism has earned Namibia an international repute. It has led to the formation of the people’s lives in general Tourists resorts in Namibia The tourist resort in Namibia includes Cape gross seal reserve, Caprivi Game Park, Daan Viljeon park, Duwisib castle, Etosha national park, Fish river canyon, Gross barmen hot spring resort etc.
TOURISM IN SWITZERLAND
Switzerland is a famous country in the world due to its tourism development. It is also referred to as the playground of Europe since tourism takes place all the year around and many tourists visit Switzerland because of its attractions. There are also different games and sports that are of interests to the tourists.
Factors influencing the development tourism industry in Switzerland
1. Beautiful scenery made by the Alps Mountains which have U-Shaped valleys pyramid peaks and snow cover. Also presence of water bodies like Geneva which adds to the beauty of the scenery.
2. Its central location in Europe has also led to high accessibility of the country from different directions in Europe and other countries like America etc.
3. Ideal climate which allows the activities to take place both in winter and summer
4. Good hotel management so as to meet tourists demand
5. Availability of skilled labor. This has led to the efficient running of the tourism industry
6. Hospitality of the Swiss people has been another attraction to the tourists
7. Its policy of stability has made peace dwell in the country and hence tourists have been encouraged to visit the country
8. It has international institutions like banks and conference centers used by different nations because of its peace
Importance of tourism in Switzerland
i) It is the major employer in the country. During the peak season it employs more than 120,000 people. This is six or seven times as many as Tanzanian tourism employments.
ii) It has contributed to the earning of foreign exchange in the country hence capital is accumulated from the tourism industry in a great amount.
iii) It has stimulated the development of science and technology for example electrification of the railway systems.
iv) It has accelerated the foreign responsibility of the Swiss country. This has been followed by the improvement in the international relations between Switzerland and the countries where tourists come from.
v) It has contributed to the provision of employment to the people.
Problems facing tourism in Switzerland
1) Severe cold during winter which leads to the blocking of railway lines
2) Landslides and avalanches are dangerous to the tourists
3) There is competition between the tourism industry and transhumance in the use of the Alps Mountains
4) Steep slopes of the mountain have led to the problems of transport to different parts of Switzerland.
5) Environmental pollution due to the coming visitors
TOURISM IN TANZANIA
The importance of tourism in Tanzania
1. Tourism Source of foreign exchange
2. Improvement in the standard of living
3. Source of employment.
4. Improvement of infrastructure
5. Market for locally produced goods and services
6. Environmental conservation
7. Strengthening of international relations
8. Source of foreign exchange
Problems Facing Tourism Industry in Tanzania
Problems facing the tourism industry in Tanzania include:
1. Poor transport and communication
2. Poor marketing of the tourist attractions
3. Shortage of capital to develop tourism industry
4. Poor coordination policies government and stakeholders in the industry
5. Crime that caused by tourists from visiting tourism areas.
6. Poaching has led to extinction of some animals
7. Stiff Competition competition from other countries with the same attractions
8. Failure to master different languages creates a communication
Methods Used to Increase the Income of Tourism Industry in Tanzania
2. Promotion of domestic tourism
3. Expanding tourist industry by opening and expanding new tourist attraction like coastal area.
4. Training of tourism personnel
5. Improvement of infrastructures
6. Improvement of safety and security
7. Controlling poaching because it reduces numbers of wild animal Lessons to Promote Tourism Industry in Tanzania
How to promote tourism in Tanzania
1. The ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, through Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), must promote Tanzania’s tourist attractions through conducting publicity campaigns, preparation and publication of destination brochures and provision of tourist information.
2. Improvement and development of transport and communication infrastructures, particularly in areas with tourist attractions, in order to make these attractions accessible from the town centres.
3. Tourism resources such as national parks and game reserves should be protected from human encroachment. Also the environment on which the animals thrive, such as natural vegetation and water resources should be conserved.
4. There is need to identify and develop tourist attractions and improve the existing ones so as to diversify the tourist activities. Special emphasis should be put on improvement of pre-historical and archaeological sites, most of which are in very poor states.
7. The political stability, peace and tranquility should be maintained to ensure maximum security to tourists.