| The tourism industry is a diversified industrial complex which creates the conditions for travel and tours, i.e. making a tourism product.
Typical subjects of the tourism industry are (the tourism industry in narrow sense): accommodation industry (hotels, guest houses, etc.), transport, tour operators, tourist agencies, resorts, picnic bureaus and bureau of guides, associations and state bodies for regulation of development of tourism, the organization of conventions and the organization of exhibitions and fairs.
Atypical subjects of tourism industry are (the tourism industry in a broad sense): in the sphere of production - the companies producing souvenirs, sports goods, goods for vacations, clothes for vacations and tourism, literature on tourism, mechanical engineering products, photo-goods; in the sphere of service - the companies carrying out the organization of entertainment, public catering, bath and sauna services, cultural and educational activities, training services, medical services, credit services, insurance services, issuing of visas.
All the subjects of industry tourism in one or another participate in making a tourism product.
The tourism product is a set of resources, services and goods, which is used by the tourist for organizing travel.
Tourism geography:
Europe:
European countries receive the largest number of foreign tourists. In 1989-1997, the number of tourists coming to Europe was up to 350 million people, and the monetary receipts from the international tourism increased two times. However, the share of Europe in world tourism is gradually falling. Studies of the nationalities of the tourists traveling to the continent, show, that 90% of the European tourists are inhabitants of European countries. The Germans are 19% from the total number of travelers, British - 10%, French— 7% and the Danes — 6%.
The relative loss of the leading position of Europe in tourism is because of the following factors:
* Obsolescence of the tourism product of Southern European countries (Greece and Italy);
* High prices for the tourism products in Northern European countries (Great Britain, Sweden)
* Socio-economic and ethnic problems in Eastern Europe countries;
* The growth in the popularity of the countries of South East Asia.
Tourist streams are basically directed to the centers of the rest of Western and Southern Europe (France, Spain, and Italy). Such a concentration is the result of the habit of summer beach holidaying. Great Britain is known for educational tourism, and Northern Europe (Scandinavia and Ireland) specialize in eco-tourism.
America:
America is the second region after Europe in the number of foreign tourist arrivals. These are the Southern, Central and northern Americas and the Caribbean islands. Half of the international arrivals in the region are to the USA and Canada, and Europeans occupy the first place - 15%.
USA and Canada are a huge internal tourism market with an advanced infrastructure with an extensive hotel network and transport industry. Second place is occupied by the Caribbean islands receiving 12 million tourists in a year. In South America, the tourist streams are relatively weak because of the political instability and economic development. The main types of tourism are beach, sports, picnic and business tourism.
Incomes from international tourism reach 10-20% from the profits of total exports. Such a high level is the consequence of the competitiveness of a region and the specialization of some areas in tourism - Canada, Caribbean islands.
East Asia and Pacific region:
APAC is at third place in the world as per the tourism level of development, and mass arrivals of travelers to this region started in the 80’s of the 20th century. Basically, it is the industrial countries, the active exporters of goods: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Since 1985, these countries have increased their share in the arrival of tourists up to 18%, and financial receipts from tourism to 20%. The main tourist stream is generated by the countries of a region (78%). So, for example, Japan financially stimulates the holidaying by Japanese abroad. The second and third places are occupied by Europe and the USA.
ВАТ attracts the tourists by its unique nature, and the new industrial countries by business tours. Entertainment tourism is developed in Japan, South Korea and in Taiwan. Japanese industry occupies the second place in the world after the USA. Hong Kong and Singapore offer shopping-tourism. Thailand is making new beaches on the southern coast of the country and organizes informative tours to the northern part. In the large cities, there exists a claimed industry of sex tourism.
Tourism in Australia and New Zealand, in Melanesia and Micronesia is well developed. Holidaying on the islands of the Pacific Ocean has the advantage by its relative affinity of the Australian market and has a good image in Europe.
In the APAC region, the average expenses of one tourist exceed the world average level of 659 dollars and are 764 dollars though in some countries, such as China or Mongolia holidaying expenses are minimum - up to 200 dollars.
In the news: A poster campaign urging people not to eat smelly foods on London's overcrowded and overheated underground system has sparked a diplomatic incident with Italy. The poster showing an overweight and Mediterranean-looking man lounging in an underground train carriage surrounded by hams, salamis and strings of garlic triggered a torrent of letters from angry Italians and even the Italian ambassador who said," We considered this poster to be very offensive to the Italian image, Italian products and the Italian company that is clearly identified, It is a caricature of Italians."
|
