Tourism

planeGlobal tourism

Tourism has changed from being a mostly national activity to become an increasingly international phenomenon with people traveling further afield more and more frequently. This is part and parcel of globalisation. A growing level of interconnectedness has developed between different societies, environments and consumer cultures. This change has been aided by:

  • Improved technology (faster aircraft and trains)
  • Rising wealth (more people can afford international flights)
  • Falling prices of travel as economies of scale develop (operators can afford to offer greater numbers of deals as customer numbers rise and overheads are more easily met)
  • Greater awareness of what foreign destinations offer (thanks to TV, film and the internet)
  • Internet booking (allowing greater ease of ticket purchasing e.g. EasyJet)
  • Political changes such as the development of the European Union (which has led to more relaxed border controls between participating member states)

International tourism is sometimes seen as a useful strategy for many poorer countries who lack a manufacturing base and are over-reliant on primary (agricultural) exports. Tourism is seen as a way of boosting gross domestic product (GDP) of nations and of lessening their dependency on aid and loans.

Now that there is a growing global concern over the impact of flying, might some countries begin to suffer the adverse effects of receiving fewer foreign visitors?

How will climate change impact upon patterns of global tourism?

Some political commentators believe that the era of cheap international travel may now be approaching an end, due to:

  • raised ethical concerns over the environmental cost of flying (people are more concerned with reducing their carbon footprint)
  • higher green taxes imposed on flights by governments (the 2007 UK Budget doubled air passenger duty from £5 to £10 per passenger)
  • a raised perception of risk associated with some destinations (e.g. hurricanes in Florida or terrorism in the Middle East)

However, statistics for air flights leaving the UK suggest that it could be a long while before global tourist markets actually show any signs of contraction. With demand for flights in the UK growing at 5% per annum, flights are expected to double over the next thirty years. As well as Heathrow’s planned third runway, twelve other UK airports, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Southampton, Norwich and Swansea, are planning large-scale expansions.

Another reason why international tourism is set to keep growing - despite fears over the impact of aeroplanes on global carbon emissions - is the spread of wealth to previously developing countries. Even if greater numbers of people in MEDCs refuse to fly in future, large countries such as China and India are home to a growing number of wealthy shoppers who will be keen to travel for the first time. China now has 30m affluent consumers who can afford to take international holidays and this number is set to increase steeply in coming years.

It is also possible that the risks associated with some destinations (such as the hurricane-hit southern states of the US) will just lead to other international destinations becoming more favoured instead (such as New York, Canada or New Zealand). Therefore, while there is no immediate sign of fears over climate change reducing the numbers of tourists taking international flights, it may be that patterns of tourism will change in the short-term if some regions are increasingly perceived as being at risk from the impacts of climate change (e.g. Caribbean nations in "hurricane alley").

Student Practice Question:

Examine the factors that influence changing patterns of global tourism

Important ideas include cultural linkages (e.g. common language) between countries, the role of the media in promoting destinations and the natural and historical resources that different destinations possess. But a good answer could also describe climate change as a factor that may modify patterns in the future. Might Florida be perceived as less safe than before? Might ethical consumers start to avoid long-haul flights?