Unit 2 - Lesson 2.4

Travel and Tourism
Unit 02: Features of Worldwide

Destinations
Features of worldwide destinations
2.3 Investigate travel and tourism destinations
a) Nature of destinations, e.g.:
• perishable (they can be altered)
• multiple use (people other than tourists use the destinations)
• cultural appraisals (destinations are influenced by fashion)
• Ingredients of a successful destination, e.g.: location, attractions,
organisation, support facilities
b) Tourist destinations as amalgams (combinations) of specific environmental
factors such as attractions (natural and man-made), shopping centres,
support facilities, hospitality and organisation
c) Implications of viewing destinations as amalgams and the idea of
sustainability
2.4 Identify and describe the features which attract tourists to a particular
destination
d) Features of location (climate, location, cultural, religious, etc.) identified and
described, using reference sources
e) Reasons why certain tourists (e.g. disabled, young people, families, business
visitors) might be attracted to a location
f) Influence of physical features on the opportunities and constraints for the
development of tourism, e.g. mountains and hills, coasts and inland
Tourist Attraction Features
Reasons why certain tourists might be attracted to a location
► Their purpose of visit.
► We have already seen that there are several reasons for a visit and so
it is quite obvious that the needs of a leisure tourist will be different
than those of a business tourist or someone visiting relatives and
friends.
► In the same way, tourists travelling for medical
treatment will have different priorities than
those undertaking a religious pilgrimage or
someone travelling to watch a major sporting
event.
► However, it is important to remember that a
destination is a complex mix of attractions and
facilities, and that an individual tourist will make
choices about where to stay and where to visit,
according to their specific needs and
requirements.
► One of the ways in which international tourists can be classified is according to
their age and economic status. It is, therefore, quite common to see reference
being made to the following market segments:
 Backpackers: 18-24 years, no children. Often have a gap’ year before or
after college/university and are attracted to adventurous activity. Consider
themselves travellers not tourists. Generally well-educated but are very cost
conscious.
 DINKY: Dual Income No Kids Yet. These are younger couples, between 25
and 35 years of age, having no children means that
they are relatively affluent.
 Empty Nesters: Parents whose children have left
the family home. Between 45 and 55 of age, usually
quite well educated, high disposable income.
 Grey Market/Boomers: Members of the baby boom generation in the
1950s now retired and have disposable income from their pension and
savings.
 Youth Market: Between 18 and 25 of age, less well-educated, lower
disposable income, are used to travelling and like to ‘party’ in destinations
with a varied nightlife.
► Each of the above categories is likely to require different tourism
products and services compared to a family on their annual summer
holiday or a business tourist attending a major conference or event.
► It can also be argued that within each category of tourist, there is
likely to be a demand for particular facilities and indeed, there could
be overlap in terms of these requirements. The older tourists, for
example, may require ease of access in the same way as a visitor
who uses a wheelchair or a parent with a child’s push chair.
We can now look at some of the many different ways in which certain
types of tourist can be attracted to different types of location.
International tourism is evolving, partly as a result of the changes in
society and lifestyles. For example, some people travel to
experience culture, whilst others travel for different reasons, but may
become interested in the culture once at their chosen destination.
Reasons why certain tourists might be attracted to a
location
► Cultural tourism relates to individuals and groups of people
who travel to visit and experience things like heritage,
religion, art and customs to develop knowledge of a different
community’s way of life and tradition. This can, therefore,
include a very wide range of tourist experiences. It can
include, for example, visits to such things as:
 more general features such as local customs and cuisine.
 performing arts (music and dance) festivals,
 historic sites and monuments,
 museums and galleries,
 natural heritage sites,
 art and craft displays,
 religious events
Example
E
► To help illustrate the concept of cultural tourism, let us now briefly consider why
cultural tourists might be attracted to Kampong Ayer in Brunei. Kampong Ayer is
a unique water village where traditional houses and facilities are built on stilts.
► The Water village houses some 30,000 people, almost half the population of
Brunei’s capital, Bandr Seri Bagawan. All the buildings, built over the Brunei
River, stand on stilts and are connected by some 36 km of boardwalks.
► The image here shows the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery which is
an attraction managed by the Tourism Development Department. The new
gallery was established with the following objectives in mind:
 to revive the traditional industries of the villages,
 to create jobs and a source of income for residents,
 to diversify the economy and add value to the local economic activities,
 to revive the past glory of the water villages so
that it does not become extinct in the rapid pace
of modernisation,
 to make the water village a unique tourist
destination, and to support Brunei’s aspirations
 to make tourism the part of a diversified
national economy.
E
Example
► Tourists now have a chance to learn more about the background,
history, display, which also shows details about other nearby tourist
attractions.
► The five galleries contain background information on Kampong Ayer
from its historical origins to up until the present day, as well as a
number of photographs and artefacts loaned by the Museums
Department.
► The central hexagonal stage presents a ‘live’ exhibition of the
traditional manufacturing methods of the
Bruneian hand-woven fabric.
► The gallery is built in the style of a grand
Kampong Ayer house, and with a distinctive
observation tower that gives visitors a view
of Kampong Ayer and its surroundings.
► The Cultural and Tourism Gallery has thus
become a new landmark in Brunei.
► It is also important not to neglect the significance of business tourism
when considering destinations. In countries such as the UK, business
tourism is the most lucrative, highest growing, and yielding component of
overall tourism. In the UK, it is worth over £15 billion annually, nearly a
quarter of all tourism, of which £4 billion is inbound and £11 billion is
domestic.
► Business tourism represents 29% of all inbound tourism visits and 32%
all of inbound expenditures. However, the UKs global market share of
business tourism is declining as international competition grows.
► Business tourism is resilient, sustainable and creates quality
employment opportunities. It regenerates urban and resort areas, as up
to 40% of business visitors return with their families on leisure trips. It
stimulates inward investment and facilitates significant export earnings.
Over the last ten years, there has been a 53% growth in all business
trips, exceeding the overall tourism growth rate.
► The conference and incentive travel segments are predicted to grow at a
faster rate than other tourism sectors.
► Conferences, exhibitions and trade fairs are important components
of the tourism economy for many international destinations.
► It is to be expected that many destinations will try and maximise
their business tourism receipts. Conferences, exhibitions and
events can all be staged in a variety of venues, and it is now quite
common to find several types of host venues trying to attract these
types of business tourism. Examples of such providers include:
 Purpose built conference centres,
 Hotel facilities,
 Sports venues,
 Civic buildings,
 Stately homes,
 University and
academic institution facilities.
Tourist Attraction Features (DUBAI)
► In Dubai, the mixing of the leisure and business tourism environments illustrates the
growing trend particularly well. Dubai is well established as the leading exhibition
centre in the Middle East and it was recently voted the worlds best conference
venue.
► The city is one of the world’s major international business centers with all the
attractions of a top destination. This means that organisers and delegates alike can
count on effective and successful events staged in a luxurious environment offering
an outstanding range of recreational opportunities.
► The city now hosts more than 60 major exhibitions
annually as well as numerous conferences, seminars,
in-house corporate meetings and the like. This demand
is serviced by a range of business facilities including:
 Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry
conference venue,
 Major hotel venues, e.g. Jumeirah International’s
Emirates Towers and Burj A1 Arab properties,
 Dubai World Trade Centre’s 36,000 square
metres exhibition hall,
 Dubai Airport Exhibition Centre,
 Other special interest venues such as the new Meydan racecourse.
► Properties like the Emirates Towers in Dubai, have been designed with
business guests in mind. The hotel is perfectly designed to meet the
requirements of any event:
 12-boardroom style meeting rooms for conferences and seminars.
 Fully equipped business centre open 24 hours daily.
 Godolphin Ballroom with well-designed fittings and marble flooring.
 Extensive audio-visual, multimedia and teleconferencing equipment.
 Comprehensive outdoor catering service with Jumeirah Hospitality.
► The hotel also has a dedicated floor exclusively for business women,
designed to cater to the privacy and comfort of the lady travellers,
serviced only by female staff. These facilities have set the standard for
twenty-first century international business tourists.
► The business sector in Dubai is supported by major local companies that
are well-equipped with a full destination management service, covering
hotel bookings, airport transfers, ground transport and a daily program of
tours and activities with multi-lingual guides. They also offer the required
expertise for organising business-related travel, including original and
exciting incentive programs.
The influence of physical features on the opportunities and constraints
for the development of tourism
► We will now examine by means of the following case studies, some tourist
developments that are located in contrasting physical environments.
Case Study 3: Coastal Tourism in Mauritius

► Mauritius is a volcanic and mountainous
island in the Indian Ocean. It lies 2,000 km
off the southeastern coast of Africa, due
east of Madagascar. With 330 km of
coastline, Mauritius’ sandy beaches are its
key attraction. All are public, although the
best have been subtly claimed by hotels.
► The warm waters that lap the islands
shores are popular with underwater divers
of all levels who enjoy year-round diving
holidays in Mauritius.
► A coral reef extends around the
entire island creating an underwater
playground. If you are a beginner,
you can explore the shallows close
to shore, or take help from an
expert.
► The more adventurous underwater
explorer can head out to one of the
many wrecks or caves around the
island.
► Mauritius used to be a French colony
until the early 1800s and was a
strategic point in the Indian Ocean.
► ‘The Cathedral’ is a popular diving site located
off Flic en Flac on the western coast of Mauritius
as shown here.
► South of the capital Port Louis, Flic en Flac has
a 5 km long coastline. It is an area where the
beach, lagoon and coastal strip are used by
both Mauritian visitors and foreign tourists.
► It is a big tourism zone accommodating several
hotels and many other tourism residences, and
it has the most popular public beach in
Mauritius.
► As Flic en Flac became more popular as a
destination, wealthy Mauritians living abroad
bought land in the area to build bungalows
where they intended to stay during their
holidays. During their absence, they rented the
property to visiting tourists and Flic en Flac
rapidly became known for its range and variety
of self catering accommodation.
► However, the Flic en Flac beach
represents a stark contrast in terms of
destination evolution, and the pictures
below highlight some key differences
between the hotel zone and the public
access zone of the beaches.
► There are several major
environmental issues in Flic en Flac
like beach erosion, flooding,
destruction of habitats in the lagoon,
pollution from run-off and submarine
discharges into the lagoon (nitrates,
phosphates, etc.).
► This has the potential to damage the
reef ecosystem and, in turn, this will
have an impact on the destinations
diving site reputation.
Mountain tourism
► After coasts and islands, mountains are
the most important destinations for global
tourism. More than 50 million people visit
mountains each year. Tourists are
attracted to mountains for many reasons:
 the climate and clean air,
 varied topography,
 scenic beauty,
 local traditions,
 ‘simple’ lifestyles, and
 the opportunities to practise sports
that require steep slopes or winter
snow.
► Read the following case study to
understand development of tourism in
mountainous regions.
► 728,000 people visited Petra in Jordan during 2009,
a sevenfold increase compared to when with 1990.
Petra is the most significant tourist site in Jordan
and it will continue in be in demand internationally,
after being elected one of the “New Wonders of the
World” in 2007.
► It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock
face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people
who settled there more than 2000 years ago, turning
it into an important junction for the silk spice and
other trade routes that linked China, India and
southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria and Rome.
► Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow
gorge, over 1km in length, which is flanked on either
side by soaring 80m high cliffs. Just walking through
the Siq is an experience in itself. The colour and
formations of the rock are dazzling. As you reach
the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of
the Al Khazneh treasury.
► For most visitors, following the route is an
awe inspiring experience. There is a
massive citadel 30m wide and 43m high,
carved out of sheer, dusky pink, rock-face
and dwarfing everything around it.
► It was carved in the early 1st century as the
tomb of an important Nabataean king and
represents the engineering genius of these
ancient people.
► Motorised vehicles are not permitted to
enter the site. However, visitors can hire a
horse or a horse-drawn carriage to take
them through the one 1km Siq.
► For the elderly and/or handicapped, the
Visitors Centre, close to the entrance of the
Siq, will issue a special permit (at an extra
fee) for the carriage to go inside Petra to
visit the main attractions.
► Once inside the site, visitors can hire a donkey, or for
the more adventurous, a camel – both come with
handlers and take designated routes through the site.
► Petra has much to offer to its visitors and is a must-
see attraction for anyone interested in history, scenic
hiking trails and amazing archaeological relics.
► This helps enrich the tourism experience, new
interpretation signs have been produced and are
being installed along the main tourist trail inside
Petra.
► The existence of numerous religious sites within
Petra indicates the spiritual and sacred rituals of the
Nabataeans. There are several high places of
sacrifice, indicating that animal sacrifices to the gods
were common.
► Visitors can climb the steps to the High Place of
Sacrifice inside Petra to get an idea of this ancient
ritual, as well as gaining a spectacular view of the city
below and the surrounding landscape.
Sport Based Tourism
► Sport-based tourism in particular has
boomed in mountain regions over the past
30 years. It has expanded from the
traditional areas of North America and the
European Alps to largely untouched
mountain regions, including parts of Central
Asia, the Himalayas, Karakorum, Caucasus,
► Andes and even Antarctica. Typical
mountain activities include hiking, siding,
snowboarding, climbing and birdwatching. ▲ Fig. 2.11 - Mountain tourism
► However, extreme sports, such as bungee jumping, hydro speeding, rafting,
paragliding and cannoying are becoming increasingly popular, especially with
affluent urban thrill-seekers. Another growth area for alpine tourism focuses on
mountains as a source of well-being and health.
► An ever-increasing number of mountain tours offer opportunities for
contemplation and meditation.
► Fig. 2.11 shows one such mountain environment that has been developed for
tourism purposes.
Sport Based Tourism
► The Swiss ski resort of Lenzerheide
began its life as a tourist destination in
1882, when a former alpine dairy was
opened as the 30-bed Hotel Kurhaus.
► Other hotels and holiday residences
gradually made an appearance as
Lenzerheide became a much-
frequented summer holiday resort.
► Switzerland’s first regular skiing courses were organised here in January
1903, with the participation of the best skiers then available in Central Europe.
This created an instant recognition for Lenzerheide as a top ski resort.
► In 1942, a ski lift was built up to Piz Scalottas, and it was to remain
Switzerland’s longest for a considerable time. More ski slopes were developed
as the years went by. Today, the main skiing areas rise up on both sides of
Lenzerheide, to the west up to Piz Scalottas at 2,323 metres which has the
benefit of the morning sun whilst the east slopes up to 2,865 metres at the
Rothorn which has the benefit of the afternoon sun.
Sport Based Tourism
► The possibilities for alpine skiing has been
extended through expertly prepared pistes
for cross-country and classical skating. The
destination provides:
 155 km of slopes for downhill skiing;
 With pistes above 2500 metres, skiing
and snowboarding is assured throughout the season;
 40 Ski lifts that are able to uplift 39,510 skiers/snowboarders per
hour;
 Switzerland’s longest illuminated run for night skiing;
 52 km of cross-country runs;
 A network of over 80 km of trails with the frozen Heidsee lake at its
centre for winter hikers and Nordic walkers;
 In summer, 170 km of signposted hiking routes and Nordic walking
trails;
 Over 300 km of signposted cycle routes;
 The Heidsee lake with its water sports centre and lido with children’s
Sport Based Tourism
► Since 1952, Lenzerheide has had one of the loveliest
18-hole alpine golf courses in the summer months.
There are numerous tennis courts, attractive strolling
and walking trails in the valley and at higher altitude.
There are many other attractions on offer from the
Tourism Association, such as the children’s holiday
program and the ‘Dolce far Sport’ holiday sports.
► The tourism boom has undoubtedly brought benefits
to many of the world’s mountain regions. Thanks to
tourism revenues, mountain people, many of whom
are economically disadvantaged, can aspire towards
improved living standards.
► Mountain tourism has given young men and women
the option of building a future in their home
community, instead of becoming part of the rural
exodus to the cities. The influx of visitors has also
created a market for products made by local crafts
workers, as well as for produce from the land.
Sport Based Tourism
► Although tourism - and mountain tourism in particular - is one of the
fastest growing economic sectors in the world, it is also one of the least
regulated. Short-term profits need to be balanced against long term
losses if the industry is to become a lasting source of benefit for
mountain people. There are many examples of tourism development
producing conflicts in the mountain regions.
► In the Mount Everest region of Nepal, visitors have increased from 20
trekkers in 1964 to over 17,000 in 1996 and 27,000 in 2000. Today, 80
per cent of the households derive their income from tourism. The high
density of trekkers means that 12% of the trail network is severely
degraded and damaged.
► It is estimated that there are 17 tons of garbage along every kilometer of
the trail. About 25 per cent of firewood consumption is due solely to
tourism - almost 1,000 tonnes of firewood are burned daily during the
peak tourist season in 225 lodges. As forests in the national parks are
protected, this means high levels of deforestation outside the parks.
Island Tourism
► Let us look at an example of the way in
which an inland waterway has been
developed for tourism purposes. It is well
known that major rivers such as the Nile
in Egypt and the Rhine in Europe are
used by cruise companies for scenic
holidays, and that passengers get to
experience a variety of historic sites on
their trip.
► Similarly, individual cities can make use of
their local river as an attraction for visitors
in various ways. The case study
presented below illustrates the ways in
which Dubai Creek is being developed as
an attraction for visiting tourists.
Case Study 5: Tourism in Dubai Creek
► The 14 km Dubai Creek is a natural seawater inlet that provides one of
the few safe anchorages along the southern coast of the Arabian Gulf,
and has served as a haven for traditional Arab sailing dhows despite its
hazardous entrance.
► The Creek runs northeast-southwest through the city. It therefore divides
Dubai into two parts, Deira Dubai in the east and Bur Dubai in the west.
► In 1961, the creek’s shallow areas were dredged and development
started. The breakwaters were built and the beach area became a
quayside suitable for loading and unloading cargo.
► The creek was dredged again in the 1970s so that it could offer
anchorage for local and coastal shipping of up to about 500 tons.
However, redevelopment work has transformed parts of the Creek’s
banks.
► On the Deira side, a broad and well-lit, paved promenade extends from
the Corniche, which faces on the Arabian Gulf, to the attractive purpose-
built dhow terminal constructed beside Maktoum Bridge.
► The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary covers 6.2 sq kms of
the land and is one of the few urban-protected areas in
the world. The sanctuary, which was established in 1985
and officially protected in 1998, is located at the end of
Dubai Creek and preserves the natural ecosystem of the
region. In fact, it has also been identified as a globally
Important Bird Area (IBA) by Bird Life International.
► It provides a safe breeding ground for some birds, and
the most visible and attractive feature of the sanctuary is
the flock of graceful flamingos feeding in water. A
maximum of 2,300 flamingos have been recorded in this
area.
► Visitors to the site have access to conveniently located
Bird Hides for a closer view of the 88 species that
frequent Ras Al Khor. Each Bird Hide offers a panoramic
view of the sanctuary and is equipped with telescopes
and binoculars.
► There are many other types of attraction around Dubai Creek as well. The
Creekside Park is one of the most scenic parks in the city. The beautifully
landscaped green areas perfectly blend in with waters of the Arabian Gulf.
► The park offers visitors a range of recreational activities to choose from. One of
the most popular attractions is the view of Dubai from the cable car which runs
parallel to the Creek for 2.5 kms. This is the first of its kind in the United Arab
Emirates and offers an unrestricted view of the city from a height of 30 mts.
► The Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, voted as one of the worlds ‘Top 100 Must-
Play Golf Courses’, is a resort that incorporates an 18 hole championship golf
course, a 9 hole Par 3 course, golf academy, six restaurants and bars,
gymnasium, tropical swimming pool, the
225-bedroom Park Hyatt Dubai, 92 residential
executive villas and a 121-berth marina.
► The Creek is also home to one of Dubai’s
most significant mega-projects, Dubai
Festival City. This is a large residential,
business and entertainment development
area on the eastern bank of the Dubai Creek.
► Promoted as a city-within-a-city’, the Festival City
is the regions largest mixed-use development and
now contains all the amenities needed for work,
living, and leisure.
► The project was started in 2003 by the Al-Futtaim
Group covering 3.8 kms of Dubai Creeks water
frontage. Dubai Festival City is formed by three
distinctive districts; Marsa Al Khor, Festival Centre
and Al Badia which are connected by an
impressive 30 km internal road network and a wide
creekside promenade.
► Distinctive residential communities provide homes
to over 50,000 residents living in 20,000
apartments and villas. In addition, 50,000 office
personnel work daily at Dubai Festival City.
► The Festival Marina is located approximately 5
nautical miles from the sea, within the historical
and fascinating Dubai Creek.
► In keeping with its international appeal, Festival Marina
offers quayside mooring, as is found in the Mediterranean
destinations such as Cannes and Nice. This feature allows
visiting yachts to moor directly at the quayside so
passengers can go ashore and enjoy a day at Dubai
Festival City.
► Visitors to the Creek have every opportunity to be
captivated by the colour and bustle of the loading and
unloading of dhows which still ply ancient trade routes to
places as distant as India and East Africa.
► An attractive way to view the Creek and the dhows is from
an abra, one of the small water taxis which criss-cross the
Creek from the souks of Deira to those on the Bur Dubai
side. However, another way for visitors to experience the
sights and sounds of the area is to take a dinner cruise
excursion. The figure provided here shows the cruise map
that is provided to guests on board Bateaux Dubai.
► After more than five years of cruising along Dubai Creek,
Bateaux Dubai has established itself as a desirable
dining destination for local residents and visitors to Dubai
alike.
► Specifically designed for the flat waters of the creek, the
boats flat bottom design and four independent engines
mean that the boat glides seamlessly through the water.
The smoothness of this luxurious floating restaurant
allows guests to freely move around and enjoy their time
on board.
► This sightseeing and dinner cruise is a good way for
visitors to identify and locate the main attractions that are
to be found at the lower end of the creek.
► The traditional heritage village, located near the mouth of
Dubai Creek in the Shindagha district, features potters
and weavers practicing traditional crafts, as well as
exhibits and demonstrations of pearl diving.
► It is a place where the visitor can take a step back in time
and experience some of Dubai’s culture and heritage.
► Sheikh Saeed’s house was the official residence of Sheikh
Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai (1912-1958) and
grandfather of the present ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum. The house, which dates from 1896,
today holds a rare collection of historic photographs, coins,
stamps and documents that record Dubai’s history.
► The Doha Old Souq is Dubai’s largest souq. In this
fascinating maze of alleyways, visitors can find a variety of
trinkets, kitchenware, glassware and textiles at very low
prices. In the tiny lanes of the Spice Souq, visitors can
smell the wafting aromas of spices, nuts and dry fruits.
► Here, visitors can observe how sacks overflow with
frankincense, dried lemon, ginger root, cardamom, nuts,
pulses and traditional medicine, giving them an authentic
feel of Dubai’s trading past.
Waterfall Tourism
► Waterfalls have long been popular tourist attractions,
with a few outstanding examples becoming tourist
destinations in their own right.
► Niagara Falls attracts some 14 million visitors per
year and Victoria Falls, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe
border is the African equivalent.
► Apart from giving aesthetic pleasure, waterfalls also
provide opportunities for a wide range of, sometimes
incompatible, outdoor leisure activities. Typically
found in difficult and remote areas, waterfalls are
often made easier to reach and enjoy by the
construction of footpaths and other amenities.
► These developments and the increased number of
visitors they encourage can spoil the aesthetic
enjoyment of the waterfalls. Many tourists dislike the
commercial development taking place at some of the
waterfalls and so are encouraged to go to other, less
developed ones.
Case Study 6: Victoria Falls
► Victoria Falls is approximately 1700 m wide and varies in
height from 80-108 m. It is one and a half times wider than
Niagara Falls and is twice the height, making it the biggest
curtain of water in the world.
► The falls have a seasonal pattern and mid-April is when the
River Zambezi’s peak flood waters occur. At this time, roughly
625 million litres of water flows over the edge per minute. This
huge volume of water produces a spray that rises up to 1650
feet into the air.
► The number of visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls has
historically been much higher than the numbers visiting the
Zambia side, due to the greater development of visitor
facilities there.
► However, the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe began to
decline in the early 2000s as political tensions between
supporters and opponents of President Mugabe increased. In
2006, hotel occupancy on the Zimbabwean side hovered at
around 30%, while the Zambian side was at near-capacity.
► The rapid and reckless development has even prompted
the United Nations to consider revoking the Falls’ status as
a World Heritage Site.
► The advertisement provides clear evidence that Victoria
Falls has become an important destination for adventure
tourism activities.
► There has been a growing interest in pursuing outdoor
activities on holiday, due to a variety of factors such as an
increased concern about health and fitness, an ageing
population that is becoming more active, and the fact that
outdoor pursuits are now more mainstream and
fashionable than they used to be. Activities are also seen
as a way in which to relax and mentally unwind during a
holiday.
► Victoria Falls has been acclaimed as the best one-day
whitewater run in the world, and the Zambezi River is also
recognized by rafting and kayaking enthusiasts as one of
the top ten paddling rivers in the world.
► The Batoka rapids below Victoria Falls were run
in a raft for the first time in March 1981. Ever
since then whitewater rafting has become the
most popular tourist activity in the entire Victoria
Falls area. It is estimated that these rapids see
over 50,000 adventurous visitors every year.
► The Victoria Falls bungee jump is a heart-
stopping thrill second to none, giving visitors the
bungee experience of a lifetime.
► The bridge, where the jump takes place, crosses
between the border posts of Zambia and
Zimbabwe, in what is known as no man’s land’.
► As such, jumpers and spectators must indicate
to the immigration officials that they are only
proceeding onto the bridge and then returning
through the same border post.
► Immigration officials will then issue two
Gates Passes, one of which must be kept
for re-entry through the same border post.
The BV (Bridge Visit) gate passes do not
entitle you to visit Zambia or vice versa.
► Imagine the adrenalin rush travelling at a
speed of 106 km per hour as you hurtle
425m across the Batoka Gorge, while
suspended 12m above with the Zambezi’s
waters below you. As the river zigzags
down the Batoka Gorge, a cable has been
suspended across from one side to the
other creating the longest zip line ride in
the world.
Cave Tourism
► Many destinations around the world have
underground cave system have been developed
into different types of tourist attractions.
► Essentially from the tourism point of view, the
caves can either be used for general sightseeing
of underground landscape features or adventure
tourism activities. We will now briefly look an
example of each.
► New Zealand’s Waitomo Caves are situated on
State Highway 3, a two hour drive south of
Auckland. Waitomo has developed a tourist
industry around the caves, with local Maori people
acting as the guides.
► It has been the centre of commercial caving since
around 1900. The government purchased land in
1904 and in 1905 the Tourist Department took
over the management of the caves.
Cave Tourism
► In the 1920s, female cavers embarked on tours
bedecked in smocks, bloomers and boots, and
carrying lanterns. Small boats floated visitors into
the Waitomo glow-worm cave, and walking tours
took people into dry areas of the caves. In 1981,
the Waitomo Museum of Caves was opened.
► Black-water rafting - wearing a wetsuit and
floating through a cave on a rubber tube - began
at Ruakuri cave in Waitomo in 1987, offering
tourists more than just a sedate walk through the
cave.
► In October 2008, the inventors of this unique
adventure sport celebrated 20 years of guiding
half a million intrepid tourists through Waitomo’s
underground rivers.
► Tourists come from all over the world for the
Legendary Black Water Rafting Company
Cave Tourism
► The Black Labyrinth is a 3 hour cave tubing
excursion that calls on you to weave, jump and
gently float your way through Ruakuri Caves.
► To complete the Black Labyrinth cave tubing
tour requires a moderate level of fitness and
minimum age restrictions apply.
► All equipment is provided, including footwear,
tubes, wetsuits, helmets, abseiling devices and
safety equipment.
► The Black Abyss takes a slightly more vigorous
approach to the same underground experience
by mixing abseiling, climbing and cave tubing
into a physically demanding 5 hour adventure.
► The Waitomo caves attract around 400,000
visitors annually, including around 30,000
rafters.
Case Study 7: Sudwala Caves
► The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in
the world, and as such, are a ‘must-see’ on the
itinerary of any visitor to Mpumalanga in South
Africa. These incredible caverns lie in the
Drakensberg escarpment which separates the
Highland from the lowlands of Mpumalanga.
► The caves were used as shelter by the Prehistoric
men in the form of ‘Homo-Habilis’ the
approximately 1.8 million years ago. They mainly
used the cave entrance as shelter during bad
weather.
► Excavations are still in progress and have thus far
yielded a fine collection of stone-age tools which
are on display at the cave entrance.
► On arrival at the cave entrance, visitors are met by
a tour-guide who takes them 600m in and 150m
underground.
Case Study 7: Sudwala Caves
► The route forms a complete round trip, the entrance
and the exit being the same. The cave embraces
many aspects of life and allows history, geology and
nature conservation to become tangible, and the tours
are informative and fun.
► The normal one hour tour is not physically demanding
and is therefore, suitable for young and old alike.
► The chambers inside the cave complex are spacious,
well illuminated and there is a good air-flow which
comes from an, as yet, unknown source.
► The caves do offer an alternative Crystal Tour’ that
takes the more adventurous Crystal visitor 2,000
metres underground. This tour is moderately difficult,
meaning there are stretches of crawling involved,
through tunnels, some of which contain water, so you
must be prepared to get a little wet.
► The duration of the tour is approximately 5 hours.
Cave Tourism
► Key issues that need to be addressed by destinations for the future development
of adventure tourism:
 Improved accessibility because the development of many adventure activity
sites are currently constrained due to limited access to suitable water,
countryside and coastal sites.
 Adventure activities need to be managed effectively to ensure that they do
not cause conflict or other negative impacts. This is vital if the development of
adventure tourism is to be environmentally sustainable.
 There is a need to educate adventure tourists about safety.
 Many adventure activities require further and improved facilities to enable
and support participation.
 Adventure sports can cause damage and disruption, so events need to be
staged in locations that have the capacity to accommodate them.
 The adventure tourism industry has many small scale independent operators
so booking and information services need to be made more user-friendly to
encourage growth.
 There is a need for more discrete coverage of adventure activities in
destination marketing, particularly for destinations with a strong adventure
tourism product.
Case Study 8: Costa Rica’s Arenal National park
► Let us consider a destination with an active
volcano.
► Costa Rica’s Arenal National Park is home to the
most active volcano in the country. The volcano was
believed to be dormant until a major eruption
shocked the area in 1968.
► The Arenal volcano provides the typical volcano
tourism experience. The entire economy of the
nearby town of La Fortuna is based on tourism.
► There are hotels, lodges, restaurants, tours, hikes,
and adventure tourism activities of every description
that cater to people who make the long drive to the
area.
► These visitors come to hear the volcano rumble and
catch a glimpse of spewing smoke, ash and lava.
The most famous attraction besides the volcano
itself is the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort and Spa.
► Arenal continues to be active, with minor eruptions

many times a day. By day there are puffs of smoke
accompanying the menacing rumbles, and on clear
nights visitors can often see orange streaks running
down from the peak.
► Such is the popularity of the volcano that enterprising
developers have decided to erect an elaborate resort
on the site of the former town of Tabacon (which was
destroyed in the 1968 eruption). The developers’
reasoning is quite simple: where was there a better
location to experience the sights and sounds of
Arenal?
► Earth movements at the Arenal volcano remains high,
with continuing rock-fracture earthquakes caused by
magma movement within the volcanic system.
► Monitoring was stepped up at Arenal in 2009, and
warnings were issued to tourists visiting the Arenal
National Park over the Easter holiday that year.
► However, it seems to have made no difference. The Costa
Rican newspaper La Nation reported that Costa Rican and
foreign tourists were entering dangerous areas in the
vicinity of the crater of Arenal, despite the presence of
notices warning of the increased seismic activity that could
cause avalanches. Visitors were apparently getting in via
neighbouring private property to evade police and park
ranger controls, or they were brought into the park by
people masquerading as official guides in order to earn
money, regardless of the risks.
► Although Arenal and its surrounding park form a popular
tourist attraction, the volcano is potentially lethal and has
to be treated with respect. E.g., in August 2000, three
people died on Arenal when they were engulfed by a
pyroclastic flow from the volcano; they were in an area
identified as dangerous at the time.
► It is imperative that tourist destinations are developed with a consideration of
the issue of sustainability.
► Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are
applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass
tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer
to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism
development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three
dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.
► Therefore, sustainable tourism should:
 Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key
element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes
and helping to conserve the natural heritage and biodiversity.
 Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of the host communities, conserve
their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to
inter-cultural understanding and tolerance.
 Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socioeconomic
benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable
employment and income-earning opportunities, and social services to host
communities contributing to poverty alleviation.
► Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all
relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide
participation and consensus building.
► Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant
monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/ or corrective
measures whenever necessary.
► Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and
ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about
sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.
► It is the role of sustainable destination managers to make the most of local
circumstances. They should make use of partnerships to create plans to:
 Welcome, involve and satisfy visitors;
 Achieve a profitable, prosperous and high-quality industry;
 Involve and benefit all host communities;
 Protect and enhance the local environment.
► This approach has been adopted by Ministries of tourism of many international
destinations. Policies have been established that make tourism an industry
capable of playing a significant role in the economic advancement of the country
whilst preserving cultural values, ethos and environment; thereby winning the
approval of both the local population and the international community.

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Travel and Tourism

Unit 02: Features of Worldwide

Case Study 3: Coastal Tourism in Mauritius

► Arenal continues to be active, with minor eruptions

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