TOURSIM ENVIRONMENT

Toursim environment

Toursim Environment

Task I: Scenario

Introduction

Tourism has to face a challenging change in its framework conditions: The geopolitical as well as the economic situation require new strategies. Technological innovations, demographic change and a powerful costumer have to be met in politics, marketing and planning. New destinations, new products with prices on a level, which would have been incredible some years ago, compete with the established tourism offer.

During the Roman Empire, citizens of Rome travelled freely to those countries their armies had conquered, using their own currency and not having to worry about border restrictions. The Romans built long straight roads along which their armies could march and goods could be transported. In countries they conquered, the Romans established trade and created leisure facilities such as spas - the most famous example in this country is the Roman spa in Bath. Those who could afford to travelled to newly conquered countries and to visit their friends and relatives. (Messenger 2001: 20-35)

Influencing Factors

As we all experience the change around us the questions arises how these developments will have an impact on tourism demand. To name just a few categories:

Economy: (e.g. from BIP over exchange rates to perceived risk of loosing the job)

Politics: (e.g. the enlargement of the EU, taxation, environment)

Crisis and threats: (e.g. terrorism, epidemic diseases, earth quakes)

Demographic Change: (e.g. age structure, migration, educational level)

Technology: (e.g. transport, communication, information)

During the Middle Ages most transport was by foot or on horseback, though some people could afford a wagon. In the early 1600s the sprung coach was introduced. This was more comfortable but could only be afforded by the very rich. In the early seventeenth century wealthy young men were travelling across Europe on the Grand Tour, spending as long as a year visiting the capitals of Europe, as part of their education. Another development in travel at this time was the taking of 'a cure' by the wealthy, who visited the various spa towns to take the waters, which were reputed to provide a cure for a range of ailments. These resorts became very popular, and there are still spas today at Buxton, Bath and Harrogate. By 1815, tarmac had been developed for use as a road surface, which led to further developments in the road system in the UK and to an increase in the movement of people and vehicles. (Leslie 2000: 489-498)

The development of the railways increased the opportunity for travel. With the opening of the first rail services in 1825, people could travel longer distances for excursions to the seaside, for example. Steamships increased sea travel, particularly between England and France on the Dover-Calais route. People had a strong desire for travel to escape the dreary working and living conditions of the factories and towns that emerged during the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. The development of transport made this possible. However, whatever holidays factory workers took, they were not paid during them. Paid holidays were not introduced until 1938.

In the UK, the NTO is the British Tourist Authority, and ...