Exploring the Growth and Development of the Global Tourism Industry: Trends, Motivations, and Key Stakeholders

Introduction

The global tourist industry has witnessed its highest growth rate in recent years as more people realize leisure and pleasure. Tourism traverses all other sectors including politics, and the economy, and thus can be termed as a global phenomenon (Gyr, 2010). The tourism industry has undergone developments; some current and others historical. Some of the current developments include industrialization improvement and the adoption of social and labor rights (Gyr, 2010). There are various types of tourism and those of interest in this report include mass and special interest tourism. Tourists visit a given destination due to demand and motivation from past visitors (Fedele, 2017). Other reasons such as push-pull factors, tourist motivations and typologies, and the factors that affect tourist motivation will be discussed extensively in the report. The development of a new tourist destination is a task that requires the stakeholders to take into consideration certain crucial aspects such as access, attractions, amenities, ancillary services, and assemblage (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). The tourism industry also brings together various organizations from the public, private, and voluntary domains.

Historical and current developments in tourism

Traveling for leisure and educational matters started back in the classical period, and earlier on, such as in Egypt when the country was under Pharaoh’s rule (Gyr, 2010). Tourists would visit Egypt to see the monuments and experience the Egyptian culture.  Between 485-424 B.C., Herodot who was a well-known Greek writer visited countries such as Egypt, Italy, and North Africa among others (Gyr, 2010). Tourism was also practiced by many people in classical Rome. The latter was facilitated by the road network of a total of 290,000 kilometers that existed in Rome around 300 A.D. (Gyr, 2010). However, tourism was largely affected by the fall of the Roman Empire in that road degeneration occurred.

In the 14^th century, travels were conducted by journeymen who were mostly interested in the arts (Gyr, 2010). The industry continued to grow and in the 16^th century, journeying was mainly educational in Europe and it could last approximately 3 to 4 years (Gyr, 2010). The latter practice went on until the 18^th century. The period between the 16^th and the 18^th centuries marks the beginning of modern tourism as touring for leisure and pleasure became more important than the original goal of acquiring education (Gyr, 2010). The history of the tourism industry is characterized by five major periods which are related to the travel sector. These include; the pre-industrial revolution (happened more than five thousand years ago), the railway age (was used in the U.S as it was appropriate for mass traveling for tourists and goods), the Automobile age (involves cars and buses and was invented in Germany and later adopted in America), Jet aircraft age (facilitates tourism in that people can access even the most remote islands) and finally the cruise ship age (Tourists can be on a floating ship where accommodation and all kinds of luxuries are provided) (Researchgate, nd).

Some of the key developments from the 1960s include the implementation of the Tourism Act 1969 (Weebly, nd). This development aimed to ensure that all the organizations in the tourism industry were brought together under one roof. In the U.K., the Act mentioned above saw the establishment of two tourist bodies. These included; the British Tourist Authority and the Tourist Boards for states such as England, Scotland, and Wales (Weebly, nd). Another legislative development that took place in the tourism industry was the ‘Self-check-in 2005’ (Weebly, nd). Tourists were allowed to check in their luggage, thus saving time.

Different types of Tourism

Mass Tourism

Mass tourism is a term used to describe the action of a large mass of people traveling to the same destination at the same time (Gamesby, nd). Mass tourism is perceived as the cheapest form of tourism as it is purchased as a single package. The package comprises all the needs of the tourist and they are provided by a single company such as Thomas Cook (Gamesby, nd). Some of the needs within the package include; travel arrangements, accommodation, outdoor and indoor activities, and food (either all meals or two meals per day). Some of the advantages associated with mass tourism include; job creation, local tax increment, introduction of new values and cultures to the community by tourists, and infrastructure improvement (Gamesby, nd). The disadvantages associated with mass tourism include; unsustainable tourism, cultural pollution, and the introduction of seasonal jobs (Gamesby, nd).

Special Interest Tourism

Some people travel for a specified reason. Special interest tourism is whereby customized activities are provided to tourists with a specific need or interest (ACS, 2017). Special interest tourists are in the category whereby high standard services are expected. Special interest tourism offers four major experiences and they include; rewarding, enriching, adventurous and learning experiences (ACS, 2017).

Special interest tourism is characterized by people who are looking forward to learn more, gain more experience in their fields of interest, develop their awareness and be in a position to improve their self expression. Some of the major interests include; heritage, culture, wildlife, historical monuments, rock climbing and art-related sites, and activities (MacKay, 2016).

Reasons why Tourists visit a particular destination

People visit a particular destination for various reasons such as tourist motivations, push-pull factors, and factors related to the demand for tourism.

Demand for tourism

Tourists are the ones who create the tourism demand. The tourism demand goes through two transformations; advancement and change (Nelwamondo, 2010). Demand is a situation whereby a certain commodity or service is being requested by a particular group of people at a given time. The change in tourism demand occurs when new tourists show up in a given destination and they want different kinds of services from the ones traditionally offered at that particular destination (Nelwamondo, 2010).

Demand for tourism can be classified into 3 groups. The first type of demand is known as actual demand and it involves tourists who are taking part in the process itself (they tour a given destination) (Nelwamondo, 2010). Suppressed demand is divided into two groups, with the first comprising of people who are unable to travel due to various issues and the second comprising of people restrained to travel by issues arising from the supply environment (Nelwamondo, 2010). The third type is known as latent demand and it comprises demands such as tourist accommodation in a given destination (Nelwamondo, 2010).

Push and Pull Factors

One can be pushed to travel to escape from certain circumstances and other desires such as relaxation, health, and fitness; factors that are known as push factors (Yaduvanshi, 2017). These factors are also known as internal motives and they make a tourist escape from their usual environment to go seek a place where their emotional and other types of needs can be reduced. On the other hand, pull factors are those that call someone to a certain destination (Yaduvanshi, 2017). These factors are motivated by what a tourist knows about a given destination.

Both push and pull factors influence a tourist to tour a given destination, with both playing different roles in the entire process. Push factors initiate the tourists desire to travel while the pull factors influence the choice of destination the tourist is going to make (Bello and Etzel, 1985).

Tourist Motivations and Typologies

Tourists are motivated to travel by various factors such as the pull and the push factors that have been discussed earlier on in this report. Tourists get the desire to travel to a given destination due to the various sceneries present at the site. These sceneries may include; historical sites, wild animals, sandy and sunny beaches, and eye-catching environments among others. Motivation is also gotten from the desire to escape some circumstances such as work and nagging family members.

There are different types of tourists and they all travel for different purposes. Some travel with the aim of exploring, others are just escaping normal circumstances, while others look to engage in more activities than those specified in the packages they purchased. According to Plog (2001) tourists are either dependable or venturer. However, no one is perfect and with time, these two types of tourists seem to carry the same characteristics.

Factors Influencing Tourist Motivation

The motivation of a tourist is affected by various factors such as the ones mentioned earlier (push and pull factors, demand for tourism among others). Mahika (2011) classifies these factors into motivational factors (the push to purchase the package) and determining factors (they determine whether a tourist is in a position to buy the tourist package). These motivational factors are further divided into various classes as described below. Psychological factors such as relaxation and exercise; emotional factors such as romance and fantasy; personal development factors such as acquiring new ideas; personal factors such as visiting friends and relatives; status factors such as fashion and finally cultural factors such as sightseeing (Mahika, 2011). A tourist may be influenced to travel to a particular destination following word of mouth from a tourist who has been in this particular place before (Fedele, 2017).

The 6’s of a Tourist Destination

Access

Access is a major component when it comes to the development of a new tourist destination. The site must be accessible by all means. Access is the ability of a tourist to arrive at a given destination with no or minimal obstacles (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). The mode of transportation to use while accessing the destination should be verified by the management so as not to cause any inconvenience. The mode of transportation must be simple and convenient for tourists (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). A tourist destination may fulfill all the other requirements but if it is not accessible, then it is of no value to the developers.

Attractions

Any developer looking to develop a new tourist destination must ensure that the area of interest has attraction sites that will draw the tourists’ attention. Tourists are motivated to visit a particular destination by the fact that the area can offer what they are looking for and satisfy their needs and desires. The developer must also ensure that these sites of attraction are conserved by limiting the tourists’ access to them (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). Conservation of these attractions ensures that initiatives towards sustainable growth are achieved, in that the destination will still be of value even in the future.

Accommodation

Most tourists are not 1 day travelers. They move to a place and stay for many days, thus requiring accommodation. The developers of a new destination must ensure that there is availability of places to sleep such as lodgings (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). The lodgings must also be sanitary favorable to avoid bad reputation and to encourage the use of such a destination as a reference to new tourists.

Amenities

Amenities are the fourth category that should be considered while coming up with a new destination. The developer must ensure that all other competing services are made available (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). These services may include restaurants, shopping complexes, movie and sports centers and other related services.

Ancillary Services

Ancillary services comprise extra-curricular activities such as tours, camps, and excursions (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015). These activities will help attract more tourists and therefore developers of a new destination should consider incorporating them in their schedule. Ancillary services also include the provision of services such as mobile services, hospitals, mail offices, and offices allied to tourism such as the one for internal affairs among others (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015).

Assemblage

While setting up a new tourist destination, the developers must take into consideration the issue of assemblage. Assemblage means that they should maintain healthy relationships with all the other companies (tour operations and marketing organizations) they are affiliated with (Ibragimov and Xurramov, 2015).

Key Organisations Involved in the ‘Tourism Supply Chain’ of the U.K. Travel and Tourism Industry

There are various organizations that are involved in the ‘Tourism Supply Chain’ of the United Kingdom travel and tourism industry and they are dived into three major groups. They are classified as follows; private, public and voluntary organizations.

Private Sector

Organizations in this sector are owned by individuals or private companies and their major aim is to make profits. In the U.K., almost all travel and tourism enterprises are owned by private investors (Weebly, nd).  These businesses create a lot of employment opportunities for both citizens and non-citizens of the United Kingdom. Private sectors cooperate with other sectors to provide full packages for the tourists. For example, cooperation between the private sector and national museums. They are the backbone of the tourism industry. Here is a list of some of the major private-sector organizations in the U.K.,

1. Thomas Cook
2. Alton Towers

• Holiday inn

1. Virgin Trains
2. British Airways
3. London Eye (Weebly, nd).

Public Sector

The organizations in the public sector are funded by the U.K. government (Weebly, nd). These organizations are tasked with the role of providing meaningful information (which promotes tourism) to the public as well as providing the necessary services to their clients. Tourists visit places such as museums where they pay a certain fee which goes towards the development of the industry. The public sector also educates the customers through things such as the museum. The public sector can also be referred to as the Department of Culture, media, and Sports (Weebly, nd). Below is a list of some of the organizations that are found in the public sector that are involved in the ‘Tourism Supply Chain’ of the United Kingdom travel and tourism industry;

1. National Museums
2. Visitor Information Centers

• The National Gallery

1. The Regional Development Organizations (Weebly, nd).

Voluntary Sector

As the name suggests, these organizations can be classified as trusts or charities. They acquire funds from their members, donations, registration fees to main attraction sites in the U.K., and other non-profitable avenues. Voluntary sectors protect, preserve, and promote the goals and objectives they have set for their organizations; thus promoting the tourism industry (Weebly, nd). The people who work in these organizations are paid with proceeds from donations and other sources. Here are some of the voluntary sector organizations in the U.K. travel and tourism industry;

1. The National Trust
2. Tourism Concern

• Friends of Williamson’s

1. The Sealed knot (Weebly, nd).

All of the organisations discussed above promote the U.K’s department of travel and tourism and help in preserving the national heritage in their own specific way.

Conclusion

The tourism industry has changed since the olden days when people would travel and go back to their destination on the very same day. Some of the historical developments include traveling for leisure and educational purposes for the upper classes, to the middle class being a part of the tourist population. The difference between the two groups of tourists is their reasons for traveling and the type of package each group purchases. Various factors motivate a tourist to travel, some of which are inward motives while others are derived from the outside environment. These factors that facilitate new destination development have been identified as the 6’s of competitiveness. The United Kingdom has seen its travel and tourism industry grow to greater levels by incorporating all the sectors that have been mentioned earlier. The sectors work together to earn profit, educate the public, and conserve the attraction sites as well as the national heritage.

References

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