UNIT 2 TOURISM INFORMATION: SOURCES

Structure
2.0 Objectives
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Importance of Information
2.3 Areas of Information Generation
2.4 Sources of Information – I
2.5 Sources of Information – II
2.5.1 Travel Agency and Tour Operators
2.5.2 Hotel Indus try
2.6 Sources of Information: Media
2.6.1 Newspapers, Magazines and Advertisements
2.6.2 Specialised Publications
2.6.3 Non-Print Media
2.7 Case Study : USA Eco-Tourism Statistical Fact-Sheet
2.8 Let Us Sum Up
2.9 Clues to Answer

2.0 OBJECTIVES
After reading this Unit you will be able to know the:
• importance of information on tourism for a professional,
• roles of the main government and non-governmental agencies which provide tourism related
information,
• role of private agencies and associations as sources of tourism information, and
• sources for such information at appropriate places in the print media and internet.

2.1 INTRODUCTION
Word of mouth or oral communication has been the most common source of information. When a
tourist comes back or a first time traveller pose a variety of questions like where can you stay? Which
airlines to fly with? What makes it better than the others? etc. But here one must remember that the
answers coming back are that of an individual’s experiences. It is possible that this individual was not
aware of the options available or in other words had access to only limited information. Yet oral
communication remains the initial information-seeking channel. However, tourism services and
operations involve specialised skills. It is, therefore, imperative for a professional working in the
tourism industry to acquire up-to-date knowledge and information in as many diverse forms as is
possible. It is no doubt a sure ingredient of success in tourism industry.
This Unit, therefore, is intended to serve as guidelines for both the beginner as well as a more
experienced hand in tourism industry as to the possible sources of information generation pertaining
to tourism markets. The learner, with a little bit of practice, will surely be able to grasp the technique
of culling similar information from a score of other sources.
Specialised information is generated by individual participant in the industry. For instance, World
Tourism Organisation, World Travel and Tourism Council, Hotels and Restaurants Associations, Tour
Operation Associations, Airline Operation groups, Tourism Marketing Associations, players of ICE
segment (information technology, communication and entertainment) as well as MICE segments
(Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions), etc. all generate and seek information. This Unit
is, therefore, designed to communicate to you generation sources of such specialised information
required for market planning and market research by these various components of tourism industry.

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2.2 IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION
There may be ample illustrations to suggest that collecting and possessing information is vital for a
successful career in tourism. However, some of the priority areas can be listed as:

1) Planning

Planning is the backbone of tourism services and operations. Even when you have to repeat the
operations year after year, there has to be fresh input of planning each year. In fact a four-pronged
strategy for planning in tourism services seems to work well. The elements of this strategy are:
• retrospective analysis,
• current perceptions,
• introspective analysis, and
• futuristic vision.

In each case a sufficient information base becomes inevitability. Because, if we plan well, we act
well; if we act well we get the desired results. It cannot be refuted that scientific and technological
developments have made it essential for the tourism organisations to act on the basis of a
scientific and intelligent plan and this calls for not only a thorough overhaul of information
collected at periodic intervals but also for a specific consideration to information collection from
as varied sources as you can actually tap.

2) Managing

Managing to satisfy the customer is the life of tourism industry. It is at this level that a tour can
make or break. “Admirable management” is the most common accolades for making a tour
memorable experience. Besides training, therefore, it is the different kind of information input
that tourism professionals require in managing his/her tour as an important component.
Some major areas under which information is generally needed while managing tours are:
• tourist profiles,
• kinds of tour packages available,
• different modes of travel that can be arranged,
• types of accommodation,
• knowledge of the destination area, and
• kinds of ancillary services that can be procured.

It is desirable that a variety of information on these subjects is collected by you to be a

professional. A successful management of the tours hinges, rather heavily, on the availability of
this information.

3) Promotion

Promotion is what facilitates the selling of tours. The central objective of all promotional efforts is
to inform , generate interest and involve . Here again, interest and involvement may be generated
by providing the tourist with interesting, attractive and useful information as much as to convert
need in to a purchase.
Some of the more common and often repeated methods of promotion are:
• Presentation – introductory in nature and essentially aimed at providing information.

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 • Publicity – a more vigorous promotion and exercise, with the help of detailed information,
and
• Advertising – is a tool providing specialised information with promotional mix.

4) Future Orientation

Future orientation is possible. How do we manage our future is an important consideration.

Specially for getting the desired results at present, future orientation becomes an integral part of
development and expansion of your operations. Analysing forecasts about tourist movements,
emerging trends, nature of competition etc. all depend on information.

By knowing your past you can predict the developments in future. With the help of scientifically
and technically generated information your organisation finds it easy to adopt even an over
ambitious plan. The promotional efforts may be innovated, product mix can be restructured, the
tourist guides and hotel personnel can be properly trained; provided that the requirements are
known that too well in advance, i.e., through information generation.

5) Image Projection

The magnitude of image problem influences the intensity of success. It is difficult for any
organisation to exist if the image problem continues. The projection of a fair image thus becomes
the integral part of our marketing strategy. Since in tourism purchasing decision of buyer works
on impulses, i.e., if anything wrong with the image of the destination comes to the knowledge of
the buyer this negative image will gain ground as fast as fire spreads in the forest. Information
generated, with the support of graphic presentation of dev elopment trends, makes it is easy to
convince the target users of services about the standard and quality of facilities and services at the
destination. Besides, as a result of quality of information generated communicative abilities are
improved which sim plifies the task of advertiser in composing the sensitive organs to produce a
positive image. Since this is the process of influencing the impulse using the tourist services
which become easier when we succeed in persuading them. You also need information about the
methods used by your competitors in tourism markets for image projection.
You would notice that all aforesaid facts testify the significance of information generation in making
sensitive marketing decisions. It is against this background that alm ost all organisations either
producing goods or generating services attempt to institute and develop sources of information
generation. As you know that the entire drama of marketing is promoted by potential users of goods
or services, information generated pave the way for their transformation in to the actual users. The
tourist organisations are also required to manage the marketing information since the image problem
in tourism has been questioning their existence. Hence, information generation shall be seen as an
integral part of modern marketing management. In subsequent sections of this Unit you will learn
various areas for which specialised sources of information exist and which supplies information
related to statistics, plans, rules, regulation and laws covering different segments of tourism business.

2.3 AREAS FOR INFORMATION GENERATION

By now you must have realised that information generation is an essential activity for successful
operations of any activity or component of tourism industry. If you look at Table 1, it would be clear
that here the main purpose is to understand the nature and structure of markets both domestic and
international, so that tourist’s needs and services are fairly matched at the destination sites. The task
of choosing the right target markets is also simplified as the destinations, attractions and facilities can
be rightly matched. The information given in Table 1, if followed properly, would be convenient for
tour operators, travel agents, tourist organisations and hotels, etc., to practice marketing of tourism
services/goods effectively.

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 Table 1

On Tourists The information regarding options and attitudes and travel behaviour and
motivations. The important information covers image of destinations, products,
competitor’s offering, prices, quality and services, promotional and selling
activities, channel and experience of tour operators. Regarding travel behaviour
and motivation, the information one related to motivation for travel, location
accommodation, mode of transport, frequency of visits, services at hotels, actual
relations to prices, destination and products.

On Markets Regarding characteristics and trends, size, major segments, locations, details of
demography, market-share and developments. Trends by market segments, type of
product, methods of distribution, role of tour operators, travel agents, national
transport organisation and tourist information centres. Effects of centralised and
computerised reservation systems, effects of direct selling or selling via clubs,
universities, etc. Counters in departmental stores and supermarkets, effects of sales
of holiday homes, apartments, hotels, etc.

On Products National resources (Scenery, climate, flora and fauna, sporting events, e.g.,
skiing, golf, etc., protection of environment, anti-pollution needs or regulations.
Infrastructure – roads, rails, telecommunications, electricity, gas, water banks,
hospitals, food stores, police, courts, garages, book shops, etc.
Superstructure – hotels and other forms of acc ommodations, restaurants, travel
agents, car rental facilities, information offices.
Cultural heritage – historical monuments, handicraft centres, museums, art
galleries, ruins and other relics of past civilisations or cultures, local life styles and
customs, etc.
Access and transport facilities – airports, railway system, rivers, lakes, etc.

On Competition Competitors strategies, policies, products, prices, promotion, sales contribution.

On Environment Economic Stability – types of consumers, their behaviour, income patterns,

purchasing power, geographical markets, motivators employment levels.
Socio-ethical Population – life style, education, age patterns, socio-ethical
attitudes, standards, behaviour, cultural background, urban or rural family size,
spending habits, social institutions, travel and holiday tendencies.
Political and Legal – Political attitudes, Government involvement in tourism,
laws, regulations, controls, taxation, foreign exchange rates, etc.

2.4 SOURCES OF INFORMATION – I

As you have already read about these sources in TS-1, Unit 4, the tourism related information is being
largely generated by governments, both at centre and at state levels, at Centre, Department of Tourism
has a Statistical and Implementation Division to collect, compute, administer and manage the
information collected. This information generated is used by the Department in planning, production
and development of tourism goods and services both at national and international level. The
information generated by Department of Tourism broadly focuses upon:
i) Destination Information,
ii) Booklets on availability of hotels, restaurants and other services both primary and ancillary
available at destination.
iii) Tourist guides and maps showing sites and their accessibility.

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iv) Procedural formalities for international tourists, permits for entry in restricted areas, etc.
v) Specially developed tourism products like heritage properties,
vi) Tourist profiles and other related data, etc.
Department of Tourism provides this information free of cost. This enables you to select and pick up
information material of your interest and use the relevant information. In fact, for most of the
countries such information is available on their websites.
Besides, Department of Tourism at Centre, State Tourism Development Corporations have started
collecting and disseminating information on areas of tourist interest, available facilities and services,
government plans for the development of tourism in these areas, etc. For instance, state departments
of Kerala, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Orissa and U.P. have geared up to generate and use information
scientifically and technically. Information generated by these states on areas mentioned in Table 2, is
useful for the industry.
The tourism industry is a multi-segment industry in which different categories of users come to the
attraction. If the information is well generated and managed the marketing activities can be managed
well. Spotting the opportunity, however, is a difficult task but sources of information generation is
instituted properly, removes complexities and the marketer can succeed in reaching to the right target
users.

Table 2: Key Sources of Information in Tourism

Users Current, potential from current markets and those to be developed.

Industry Airlines, tour operators, travel agents, hotels and other accommodation units,
tourist transporters, etc. at home and overseas.

Competition At home and overseas

Trade Association At home and overseas and travel trade and t hose of hotels, carriers, etc.

Official Statistics Government Sources: Department of Tourism, State Tourism Departments,

Airlines, Railways, WTO, WTTC, etc.

Publications Trade and Government specialists media: Travel magazines for leisure and
business travellers.

The Firm Internal records (Bills, invoices, quotations)

Others Relevant Publications by Universities, banks, Chambers of Commerce

International bodies WTO, WTTC, EEC, UNDP, etc.

2.5 SOURCES OF INFORMATION – II

Private agencies have, over the years, acquired a greater share in tourism development and promotion.
Following are the sources of information from private sector:

2.5.1 Travel Agency and Tour Operators

Tour operators are intended at basically packaging or managing a tour. The promotional activities
were, in the beginning ancillary in nature. However, of late, the tour operators have become promoters
and managers together. In the process of operating a tour they generate information which would help
and benefit their clients. The main categories of such information are given below:
• Tourist Attractions: The Tour operators, just like the Department of Tourism and State
Tourism Department issue brochures on main tourist attractions in India. However, each one of
them confines to the area or interest on which he/she is doing business. The popularity of the
Golden Triangle (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur) or Emerald Triangle (Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty) is the
direct result of this kind of promotion.
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• Boarding and Lodging: Accommodation and catering is the next main concern. You will,
therefore, find an equally large number of books/brochures, serving the purpose of a hotel and
restaurant guide, flooding the book mart. The FHRAI in collaboration with DOT publishes every
year the Hotel and Restaurant Guide of India. This is the most informative source in the area.
Covering type of property, its location, services and above all at what price.
• Shopping: Tour operators also promote the crafts of India in a big way. You will thus find a large
number of boo ks describing the craft traditions of India. Additionally you may also come across
guides describing the Central/State Government Emporia as the shops for purchasing the craft
goods of India.

2.5.2 Hotel Industry

There are many hotels in the country which sell package tours to both the domestic as well as
international tourists. The information generated thus includes the following details of the area:
• Historical attractions,
• Craft attractions,
• Exotica,
• Cuisine,
• Room tariffs and services available, etc.
In many cases the information would appear to be just duplication of the one available in the
brochures issued by the Department of Tourism or by tour operators but they have specific focus on
features of hotel properties available in areas of tourist interest, e.g., closer to airport, on railway
station, road or facing the lake, etc. We, therefore, advice that for your area, try to scan through the
information available from the hotel industry and keep safely the new, valuable information.
Private businesses also hire consultants or marketing research firms to generate information about
tourism markets.

2.6 SOURCES OF INFORMATION: MEDIA

As a source of information the print/other media generally serves the purpose of addendum. The main
categories of print media information of your interest would be:

2.6.1 Newspapers, Magazines and Advertisements

The newspapers and magazines have today started publishing tourism related information in a big
way. In almost all the national dailies important magazines and in th e regional language newspapers
there is periodic reporting of special supplements on tourism. They contain information on the general
and specific destinations under the following heads:
• History,
• Geography and topography,
• Craft traditions,
• Accessibility and accommodation,
• Cuisine and catering,
• Shopping,
• Higher education opportunity, etc.
Most of these write ups are today done by reputed travellers/tourism experts and should, therefore, be
preserved by you. Advertisements are an important source of information on tourism. They tell you
about tariffs, off season discounts, tour packages, types of accommodation, view resorts, airline
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schedules and fares and above all in present scenario of ethical or unethical competition, competitive
advantages like hidden cos ts, etc. of each products over the others.

2.6.2 Specialised Publications

With the promotion of tourism as an important industry there have begun appearing specialised
monographs on various aspects of tourism. These can be categorised as under:
• Travel and Tourism Definitions,
• Tourism Management,
• Tourism Guiding,
• Cultural Tourism,
• Wildlife Tourism Studies,
• Island and Beach Tourism,
• Desert Safaris,
• Hill Resorts,
• Adventure Tourism,
• Convention Tourism, etc.
Some of these publications are a hotch-potch of information gathered from random sources. They
should be discarded. But the other books are a good source of information, as is evident from the
categories mentioned above, on specialised themes pertaining to the tourism studies. You must select,
from among several titles, the books you find as easy and intelligible reading. This will update your
knowledge and help you in evolving new skills pertaining to your profession.

2.6.3 Non-Print Media

Today TV serials, sponsored programmes, films, commercials, documentaries, prom otional films, etc.
are important sources of information on tourism. With the help of video films and CD ROMs one can
show the tourists the type of services available or one can have a look at the quality and size of rooms
in a hotel before packaging them in the tour and so on. In fact non-print media is fast picking up. It is
a reported fact that ever -since our filmwalas have started marketing destinations like London,
Mauritius, Switzerland and many more outbound travel movements have increased manifold in these
destinations.
Internet as a source of information: The fact that internet is growing in usefulness and importance
is compounding. What started as a research project has rapidly become an important information
source for many people in both their personal and professional lives. Some people now use internet
many times each day in their work and then go home and continue to use it for private communication
and information generation for pleasure purposes. The same internet can give you travel information
for your next big or holiday trip to London or Singapore. At present there are hundreds of sites of
travel companies providing information on wide areas of tour operations, besides getting information
of general nature you can also book your self an airline ticket or hotel room in any part of the world
after going through the details and dimensions of airlines and properties that you are going to use at
destination.
The internet is replacing many other entities the way it is used. People now turn to int ernet in the way
they turn to libraries, encyclopaedias, newspapers, magazines, catalogues, brochures, travel agents,
maps with weather conditions at different times, governmental pamphlets or even physical locations
for advises. Inbound and outbound data, new trends, etc. can also be found on websites.
Today availability of statistics both national and international is not difficult. The statistical analysis
of satellite account and tourist arrivals and their receipts worked out by World Travel and Tourism
Council as well as World Tourism Organisation are now readily available on the internet for the use
by researchers as well as enterprises. Many marketing agencies put their findings also on the websites
and charge a fee for accessing them.
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Check Your Progress

1) Discuss the importance of information for a tourist service provider.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2) What are the various sources of information?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2.7 CASE STUDY: USA ECO-TOURISM STATISTICAL FACTSHEET

We give you here a case study of USA Eco-tourism Statistical Fact -sheet. This is a reproduction of
the report on the website of The Eco-tourism Society. It tells you how information is generated and
used.

United States
The U.S. ranked second among most visited destinations in 1997 (TIA) with 48.9 million arrivals. The
Travel Industry Association also found in 1998, 1.305 billion one-person trips 100 miles or more
away from home were made by U.S. residents and that U.S. resident and international travellers to the
U.S. spent more than $495 billion in 1998 on travel-related expenses within the U.S., up 2.8% over
1997. During 1998, spending by U.S. resident and international travellers in the U.S. averaged $1.36
billion a day, $56.6 million an hour, $941,971 a minute, and $15,700 a second (TIA).

The Eco -tourism Market

Market Placement
Eco-tourism is a nature and culture based form of speciality travel defined by The Eco-tourism
Society (TES) as “responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and sustains
the well-being of local people”. This definition has been widely acce3pted, but does not serve as a
functional definition for gathering statistics in the United States. Only nine U.S. government tourism
agencies provided written definitions of eco-tourism, and six were “homegrown” definitions
(Edwards , 1998). A homegrown definition is one that the agency has written or adapted to meet their
need or understanding of eco-tourism. No national initiative presently exists for the gathering of eco-
tourism data. Eco-tourism should be considered a niche within the larger nature tourism market.
Nature tourism involves travel to unspoiled places to experience and enjoy nature (Honey, 1999). It
usually involves moderate and safe forms of exercise such as hiking, biking, sailing and camping.
Existing nature tourism and outdoor recreation statistics on the U.S. allow us to understand the
potential market of eco-tourism domestically. These statistics are collected by various agencies within
the United States. It should be noted that no one agency is solely responsible for collecting national
statistics on any segment of nature or cultural tourism.

The Size of the Market

In 1998, a survey of 3,342 households designed by produce a representative sample of the 47
mainland states outside of Florida found that regardless of the destination of their vacation,
respondents had an even chance (48.1%) of participating in nature-based activities during their trips
(Bruskin Goldring, 1998). Thirty per cent of respondents planned trips that focussed on some or a
majority of time on nature-based activities.

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 Table 3: National Incidence Levels of Nature-Based Activities on the Last Vacation
(Nation-wide mainland survey by Bruskin Goldring for Visit Florida, August 1998)
Response Option National Incidence
(“Heavy Users ”) The trip was planned so that nature-based activities, like hiking,
biking, animal watching, canoeing and going to parks, would account for the majority 14.5%
of the time on vacation
(“Moderate Users ”) The trip was planned so that nature-based activities, would
15.8%
account for some of the time on vacation.
(“Spontaneous Users”) Some nature-based activities, were enjoyed on the vacation,
although they were not planned before the trip. 17.8%

Net Sub-Total of Users on Last Vacation 48.1%

(“Not on Last Vacation”) No nature-based activities were part of this vacation 47.7%
Don’t know 04.2%

The same survey found that visiting parks and hiking were the most common nature-based vacation
activities.

Table 4: Type of Nature-Based Activities Vacationers Participated in During Last Nature -Based Vacation
(Nation-wide mainland survey by Bruskin Goldring for Visit Florida, August 1998)
(List was read; “other” was an option)
Activity Vacationed Anywhere Incidence Rank
Visiting Parks* 55.8 1

Hiking* 55.0 2
Explored a Preserved Area* 47.8 3
Wildlife Viewing (non-birds)* 45.8 4

Nature Trails in Ecosystems* 37.1 5

Unique Natural Places (sinkhole, dunes)* 27.5 6
Environment Education* 20.3 7
Bird Watching* 19.5 8

Biking* 18.7 9
Freshwater Fishing* 17.9 10
Snorkelling or Scuba Diving* 14.7 11

Explored a Major Protected Swamp, Marsh* 12.0 12

Mountain or Rock Climbing* 11.6 13
Canoeing or Kayaking* 09.2 14
Ranching* 04.0 15
Swimming 03.6 16
Boating 03.6 17
Beaches 03.2 18
Visiting Ocean 02.8 19
Camping 02.0 20

Sightseeing 01.2 21
Walking 01.2 22
* Appeared on List Read to Respondents
No * means was volunteered by respondents after hearing prompt – “Anything else?”

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Eco-tourist Profile

Based on data collected by a survey completed by HLA and ARA consulting firms of North America
travel consumers, TES has constructed the following eco-tourist market profile.
Age: 35-54 years old, although age varied with activity and other factors such as cost.
Gender: 50% female and 50% male, although clear differences by activity were found.
Education: 82% were college graduates, a shift in interest in eco-tourism from those who have high
levels of education to those with less education was also found, indicating an expansion into
mainstream markets.
Household Composition: No major differences were found between general tourists and experienced
eco-tourists.
**Party Composition: A majority (60%) of experienced eco-tourism respondents stated they prefer
to travel as a couple, with only 15% stating they preferred to travel with their families, and 13%
preferring to travel alone.
Trip Duration: The largest group of experienced eco-tourists (50%) preferred trips lasting 8-14 days.
Expenditure: Experienced eco-tourists were willing to spend more than general tourists, the largest
group (26%) stating they were prepared to spend $1,001 - $1,500 per trip.
Important Elements of Trip: Experienced eco-tourists top three responses were:
• Wilderness setting,
• Wildlife viewing
• Hiking/trekking
Motivations for Taking Next Trip: Experienced eco-tourists top two responses were:
• Enjoy scenery/nature,
• New experiences/places
**Experienced Eco-tourists: Tourists that had been on at least one “eco-tourism” oriented trip. Eco-
tourism was defined in this study as nature/adventure/culture oriented travel.

Green Travel Products

The Travel Industry Association of America (1997) states that 83% of U.S. travellers are inclined to
support “green” travel companies and are willing to spend on average 6.2% more for travel services
and products provided by environmentally responsible travel suppliers. Clients have appreciated the
green policies developed by the Boston Plaza, in Boston Massachusetts. For example, an additional $2
million in new business and a higher occupancy rate was achieved (Rocky Mountain Institute, 1997)
after the hotel implemented environmentally conscious initiatives, energy efficient lighting, water
efficient showerheads, comprehensive re-cycling programme, installation of thermopane windows and
a filtration system allowing the hotel to recycle 2/3 of its wash water and retain most of its heat.

Recreation Activity

The Recreation Roundtable’s Fifth Annual National Survey (1998) based on 2009 in -person
interviews with Americans 18 and older reported that nearly six in ten Americans participate in
outdoor recreation at least monthly. Their motivations for participation vary, but the top objectives are
fun, relaxation, stress relief, experiencing nature and exercise. Mid-westerns remain th e most active in
recreation with 60% taking part in outdoor recreation. North-easterners 59%, West 56%, and the
South up 6% from 1997 at 51%.

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Wildlife-Watching
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (1996) found 62.9
million U.S. residents representing, 31% of the U.S. population 16 years and older, enjoyed a variety
of wildlife-watching activities. People who took a primary interest in wildlife around their homes
numbered 60.8 million, while those who took trips away from their homes for the primary purpose of
participation in wildlife-watching recreation numbered 23.7 million people. Wildlife-watching
participants spent $9.4 billion on trips to pursue their activities. An example includes the expansion of
bird watching tourism in South Nebraska associated with the migration of the Sandhill Crane. It
currently brings up to 60 million dollars to the area every year during the spring (Walle, 1997).

Adventure Travel
According to Adventure Travel Society (ATS) adventure travel is a $200 billion business in the
United States (including transportation, meals, lodging and equipment), representing half of the
nations $400 billion tourism industry. In the U.S. there are 10,000 adventure travel companies and
147 million people have experienced some form of adventure travel (ATS).

National Park Service

Americans continue to visit national parks in abundance. Twenty-nine million U.S. adults (15% of all
U.S. residents) took a trip of 100 miles or more, one-way, to visit a national park during 1997 (TIA),
while 70% participated in outdoor activities. Among these outdoor activities, hiking (53%) was most
popular. Residents from the Mountain region of the U.S. are most likely to visit a national part with
37% (TIA) saying they include a park visit while travelling. The Recreation Roundtable (RR) reported
that one in three Americans (1998) visited a federal recreation site over the past twelve months.
Visitors to federal recreation sites continue to believe that they receive good value for the fees they
pay. In fact, Americans would have been willing to pay an average of $9.20 in additional fees for their
most recent visit to a federal recreation site (RR, 1998).

Cultural and Historical Travel

A California tourism study, sampled 45,000 U.S . households per month in 1998 and found 480
million people took a trip involving cultural activities. In California, 44.3 million Americans travelled
for cultural activities in 1998. Of these 44.3 million Americans, 37.8 were California residents.
Visiting museums and/or historical sites is the third most popular activity for travellers in America
(National Travel Survey and Travelscope, 1998).

2.8 LET US SUM UP

Information is the key to success for any organisation at both pre-production and post-production
stages. When any organisation decides to launch any product/service, it needs information pertaining
to customers’ demand, liking, affordability, loyalty, competitor’s products, their features, prices,
market strategies, distribution systems, so on and so forth. Even when a product is launched after
careful collection and synthesis of information, post-production information (feedback) is required to
incorporate change(s) as desired by the consumer. Tourism is, however, not an exception from this
established principle of Management Information System. Though lot of information sources are
discussed in the Unit yet travel portals on internet deserve a special mention. Information related to
destination, it’s accessibility, it’s people, it’s culture, it’s weather, operating intermediaries, etc. is
available on the click of fingers at all times irrespective of distances and geographical boundaries. But
here comes the question of reliability of information put on various websites provided by service
providers. There are no laws yet under which a false information provider can be put to task. Hence,
one needs a very cautious handling of these otherwise wonderful sources of information.

2.9 CLUES TO ANSWERS

Check Your Progress
1) Refer Sec. 2.2. 2) Refer Sec. 2.4.

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