Footsteps Ecolodge, Gunjur, The Gambia Case Study

Location and Context

A peaceful retreat located close to the village of Gunjur and 45 minutes south of Gambia's main tourist area. It is located on the west coast of Africa close to the North Atlantic Ocean. Footsteps was built in 2002. The Eco lodge consists of 9 individual round huts with en-suite facilities, a bar and a restaurant. 

How is this an example of sustainable development?

• They make the camp as ecologically efficient as possible. This includes providing electricity by used solar power, which has considerably reduced the use of propane gas. 
• 9 huts made from sustainably sourced wood.
• All toilets are composting toilets - harmful substances are removed and waste is used as compost. 
• Water for use in the huts comes from  tube wells and stored in water tanks. Solar powered pumps fill up the water tanks. Waste water from guests rooms is called 'grey water' and is filtered and reused to irrigate the fruit and vegetables. Hot water for showers is provided by a coil of black pipe full of water built into the roof and heated by the sun.
• 55% of all the food is grown on site and the rest is sourced locally. 
• The swimming pool is fresh water and filtered naturally through reed beds to rid impurities and remove the need for chlorine.
• All the staff are from the local village of Gunjur. Staff receive training and are paid for a whole year, unlike most locally employed staff who are only paid out of season. They receive medical and dental care and can further their careers. 
• Guests are informed of local markets and crafts. 

The need for stewardship and conservation

Ecotourism

Ecotourism aims to be a form of sustainable tourism. 

What does this mean?

The impact of tourists on the environment and local culture should be minimal and the feature/resource of interest will be considered for future generations to enjoy. 

Stewardship

The careful management of the environment on a large scale, regionally, nationally and globally. We all have the responsibility to be a steward. 

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is environmentally friendly tourism. Ecotourism should be sustainable and no waste should be generated that cannot be dealt with efficiently. Its primary concentration is on education, nature based activities and sustainability. The market for ecotourism is limited because the price paid by each tourist is high. It caters for a small but growing niche market of environmentally aware tourists. 

Antarctica Case Study

What are the attractions to tourists?

• Most affluent people who can afford to travel to travel to Antarctica live hectic lives in heavily populated areas. They are therefore attracted to Antarctica because it is one of the most untouched and unusual places in the world, and therefore offers a completely different experience to most mainstream holidays. 
• A great many of the tourists to Antarctica are looking for adventure in a remote and physically challenging environment. They like to take risks and are attracted to activities such as kayaking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, helicopter rides and the experience of camping in such a desolate environment. 
• Tourists are also attracted to Antarctica by the abundance of wildlife and the landscape. For example, it is the only place in the world that tourists can walk among massive penguin colonies in the wild. Antarctica also has 35 species of birds. 
• Lots of people travel to Antarctica to visit the beautiful and dramatic landscape. This includes cliffs, mountains, volcanoes and shifting icebergs to see and explore. 

Issues associated with tourism:

• There are no permanent residents in Antarctica and the region does not need to tourism to help fund the economy and provide jobs for local people as in other countries and regions. Whilst it is recognised that people must be able to region, tourism does raise some important issues.
• The eco system is very fragile and too many visitors can upset the balance. Wildlife colonies can be disrupted by a large number of visitors (especially arriving by motorised transport such as speed boats and helicopters) and this can effect breeding and behaviour patterns.
• Visitors can bring in bacteria, micro organisms, and seeds which can have an impact on the existing wildlife. 

How is tourism controlled?

• All activities are regulated by the Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic treaty, however many countries have not signed up to this.
• Tourism is largely managed by the international Association of Antarctic Tour Operators. It's members agree to practice and promote safe and environmentally responsible private travel to the Antarctic. This voluntary code regulates the type and duration of land visits, restricts access to certain areas and describes how people must behave. 

The attractions of extreme tourism to tourists

What is extreme tourism?

• Adventure or shock tourism
• Extreme environments 
• difficult places
• recent development
• niche market
• physical challenges
• fastest growing form of tourism

The main characteristics of extreme tourism include dangerous landscapes with limited access, difficult climates and areas which are usually sparsely populated. These areas could be coastal areas or cities. They could be holidays including snorkelling, hill walking or mountain climbing. Extreme environments are spread across the globe and cover a wide range of locations including mountains, deserts, rain forests, caves, and ice covered terrain. E.g travelling across the Chernobyl Zone of Alienation in Ukraine. 

Strategies for maintaining the importance of tourism in the area and reducing its negative effects

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is actively involved in the promotion of Thai experiences, the Thai way of life and Thai culture.They are focusing a balanced approach to tourism with an even spread across markets but with some emphasis on the emerging markets such as China which is developing at a huge rate. Also they are looking to promote a better distribution of visitors nationwide and also promoting travel in the low season.

This marketing will emphasize on what they call creative tourism

where tourists can participate in and learn about unique Thai

experiences, such as Thai boxing, Thai massage, Thai cooking,

and Thai dancing and lifestyle.

More effort is also being made to increase the number of first-time

visitors and high spenders by promoting golf, health & wellness,

weddings & honeymoon, and green tourism.

More co ordination is also being put into creating a partnership between the public and private sectors to invest in better facilities including roads, hotels and sanitation and also improve the countries green credentials. Also a great deal of effort is being made to learn from the mistakes of the past, which have included overbuilding and too little regard to environmental issues.

           

It is also hoped that tourism numbers can be increased further with

the development of charter and low-cost carrier flights to

destinations where there is no direct access at present.

Of interesting note is the fact that a strategy is also in place to develop a tourism intelligence unit and a crisis management centre. This is designed to fine tune research skills to identify emerging trends and opportunities, and also react efficiently and promptly to the increasing number of global crises.

“Land of Smiles” advertising slogan promoted around the world, Thailand had become one of the best known and most sought after, international tourist destinations. High standard of service in Thai hotels and restaurants. Hotels are known for reasonable prices.

The positive and negative effects of mass tourism on the economy and environment

 Benefits

The major benefit is of course financial as tourism brings around £8 billion per year of revenue into the country and is therefore the countries greatest export.

The tourist industry has helped to create jobs. Tourism is labour intensive so it has brought many low skilled jobs with a low barrier to entry and therefore better opportunities for the poor and now accounts for around 13% of the total employment. Tourism has also benefitted the wider supply chain with the goods and services needed which helps local economies. It has helped Thailand move towards a more industrial service economy rather than one heavily reliant on agriculture.

Disadvantages

A lot of critics will say that tourism is promoted in Thailand on the basis of quantity rather than quality. As a result it is suggested that this has brought an uneven distribution of financial benefits, in favour of large corporate organizations whilst a lot of the costs have been shouldered by local people who gain little from tourism.

Also Thailand is suffering from the environmental effects of tourism development. While the Thai tourism industry actively markets the country's unique cultures, this commercialization of culture also causes its erosion or corruption. Some rituals, ceremonies and cultural events have become over commercialized.

Most tourism investment has been from the private sector. The public sector has not been so active in improving infrastructure—e.g., roads, telecommunications, water facilities that are often not fit for the local people let alone tourists. Heavy traffic congestion in Bangkok has become a major problem. Pollution generally has been a major issue for Thailand.

Also a great deal of natural habitat has been removed to make way for hotels, restaurants, shops and other commercial enterprises.

Interaction between rural Thai dwellers and sophisticated urbanities from more developed countries introduces values, behaviour and altitudes which may have corrosive or negative effects on local residents.

Thailand Case Study

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Whilst not being totally reliant on tourism it is a significant factor in the economy of Thailand and contributes around 7% to GDP. If one includes the indirect effects of tourism, it now accounts for around for 17% of Thailand's GDP.

The capital Bangkok is identified as the one of the top 5 most visited cities in the world and Thailand is the 10th most visited country in the World Tourism rankings with around 26 million visitors per year.

The meaning of Mass Tourism

Mass tourism is organised tourism for large numbers of people going on holiday to same place, often at the same time of year. 

Blackpool Case Study

Reasons for its growth as a tourist destination:

• Blackpool developed as a tourist destination primarily because it was situated on the coast and was also close to large cities such as Manchester and Liverpool.
• Around the mid-18th century it became fashionable in England to travel to the coast during the summer to bathe in sea water as it was thought to provide health benefits. 
• Stagecoaches began running to Blackpool from Manchester after a private road was built to the town. This meant Blackpool was easier to access than a lot of other coastal locations. 
• Around 1840 following the construction of a railway branch line to the town from Preston, Henry banks and his son in law John Cocker erected new buildings in Blackpool. 
• Starting in the 1850's Lancashire cotton mill owners in Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham would annually close their factories for a week to service machinery - and workers would go to Blackpool, a practice which became known as wakes week.
• The railway made it much easier and cheaper for visitors to reach Blackpool from the booming industrialised regions, triggering an influx of settlers. 

Strategies to cope with the impact of large numbers or tourists:

The huge numbers of people now coming to Blackpool provided the impetus for local business people and the municipal authorities to continue to improve recreational facilities. 

During this time the town was transformed by the construction of a Promenade in 1856, severe piers in the 1860's, the iconic tower in 1894 and the world famous pleasure beach amusement park in 1897. The town also pioneered the use of electric power in 1879 and was the first to have electric street lighting which ultimately developed into the famous illuminations. 

The strategies put in place were very effective to cope with the increased number of visitors. This included the construction of a second railway station in the town, several piers, a substantial increase in the number of guest houses and the development of holiday parks. Also a lot of thought was given to what people would do and many theatres, a zoo, winter gardens and opera house were provided. However, several factors unrelated to Blackpool itself led to a reduction in visitor numbers by the 1960's. Both the decline of the Lancashire textile industry and the rise of package holidays took many of blackpolls traditional visitors abroad, where the weather was more reliably warm and dry. Improved road communications such as the construction of the M55 motorway in 1975 made Blackpool more attractive as a day trip rather than a long holiday destination. 

Attempts to rejuvenate:

• Acquisition of the Winter Gardens complex, The Blackpool tower complex and Louis Tussaud's Waxworks by Blackpool council and £10 million redevelopment programme. 
• A Brand new tourist Information centre, cutting edge wedding venue and beach cafe' restaurant. 
• A remodelled seafront with expanded promenades, compromising of a series of sculpted spaces with 'spanish steps' improving beach access. 
• Upgrade of Blackpool's Tramway - new tram fleet.
• In 1975 Blackpool was linked to the motorway by the M55 to the M6 and the rest of the UK network 
• The airport has expanded and people travel abroad and arrive in the region. In 1995 a new £2 million terminal building was declared open and in 2006 a £2 million refurbishment of the passenger terminal.
• Blackpool also hosts major conferences including those of the main political parties and trade unions. The conferences create jobs and bring important income into Blackpool's hotels, bed and breakfasts and other businesses, which extends outside the summer season. 

Tourism area/resort life cycle model

Exploration: Small numbers of visitors are attracted by something particular. For example; good beaches, attractive landscape, historical or cultural features. Local people have not yet developed many tourist services. 

Involvement: The local population sees the opportunities and starts to provide services for the visitors. 

Development: Large companies build hotels and leisure complexes and advertise package holidays. Numbers of tourists dramatically rise. Job opportunities rise.

Consolidation: Tousrism is now a major part of the economy. Numbers of visitors are steadily making employment more secure.

Stagnation: The resort becomes unfashionable and numbers of visitors decline. 

Rejuvenation: Attempts are made to modernise the resort and attract different people to enjoy new activities. 

Decline: Visitors prefer other resorts. Day trippers and weekenders become the main source of income. 

The growth of tourism in the UK

1950

• Rapid growth in domestic tourism due to higher pay and more time off

1970 - 1980

• Cheaper to go abroad than in the UK
• UK seaside holidays peaked 

1980-1990

• Britain's seaside resorts declined as package holidays abroad grew
• Many small coastal hotels were forced to survive by housing the homeless - this decreased their reputation

2004

• 100 new hotels open in the UK

2009 - 2010

• 30.1 million visitors to the UK
• 55.7 million trips abroad

How does tourism benefit countries in contrasting parts of the world?

• Creates large amounts of jobs - waiters, cleaners, tour guides
• Foreign exchange (spend money in dollars/sterling - valuable to country)
• Many countries charge a tourist tax - this can be used to improve health care, water supply, roads 

Reasons for the global increase in tourism

The Tourism industry is one of the greatest providers of jobs and income in countries at all stages of development. It is the worlds largest industry, worth $500 billion in 2007. 

Factors affecting global tourism: 

Social:

• It is considered a 'normal' thing to go on holiday or abroad
• Media - people are now booking holidays online and using websites such as Tripadvisor. 
• The cost of living and the working week has changed. People are getting more time off - British minimum 28 days per year. This has lead to an increase in leisure time. 
• Older people are travelling more due to longer life expectancy - many have good pensions and can afford several trips a year.
• More families own a car - this gives greater freedom to choose when and where to spend time.
• People have become wealthier - most families have two working parents and can afford luxuries such as tourism. 
• Many people chose to visit cities to enjoy culture associated with museums, art galleries, architecture, shops and restaurants. Big cities have a huge amount to offer tourists of every age. 

Economical: 

• Able to build more resources - airports, docks, hotels (means of travel)
• The average income and benefits are higher disposable income
• Air travel has advanced - better planes and cheaper air travel. Better road and airport infrastructure.
• Availability and more choice due to increased holiday companies and facilities. 

Political:

• Political and religious unrest in certain countries or regions will effect peoples willingness to go there, such as Egypt which used to be a popular holiday destination. 
• Some countries are inclusive and do not encourage visitor, such as North Korea. 
• The world has changed since the 9/11 attack and issues related to the war on terrorism has impacted on tourism, especially to muslim countries. 
• A countries political stand on crime or drugs can have a positive or negative impact on peoples wish to visit that country.
• The opening up of the former iron curtain countries and the integration of these into the EU has increased tourism to these countries. 

      

What is Tourism?

Tourism is the commercial organisation and operation of holidays and visits to places of interest.