Reasons for, and trends in, the growth of tourism
Revised
Tourism has developed into a major global industry, which is still expanding rapidly. International tourist arrivals reached a record of almost 900 million in 2007 and international travel receipts totalled over $800 billion. Between 2000 and 2007 international tourist arrivals rose over 40%. A range of factors have been responsible for the growth of global tourism. Table 13.2 subdivides these factors into economic, social and political reasons and also includes factors that can reduce levels of tourism, at least in the short term.
13 Global interdependence
13.3 The development of international tourism
Tourism is travel away from the home environment (a) for leisure, recreation and holidays, (b) to visit friends and relatives, and (c) for business and professional reasons. International tourist arrivals are tourists travelling to a country that is not their place of residence, for more than one day but no longer than a year. International tourism receipts are money spent by visitors from abroad in a destination country.
Table 13.2 Factors affecting global tourism Economic
Steadily rising incomes – tourism grows on average 1.3 times faster than GDP. The decreasing real costs (with inflation taken into account) of holidays. The widening range of destinations within the middle-income range. The heavy marketing of shorter foreign holidays aimed at those who have the time and disposable income to take an additional break. The expansion of budget airlines. ‘Air miles’ and other retail reward schemes aimed at travel and tourism. ‘Globalisation’ has increased business travel considerably. Periods of economic recession can reduce levels of tourism considerably.
Social
An increase in the average number of days of paid leave. An increasing desire to experience different cultures and landscapes. Raised expectations of international travel with increasing media coverage of holidays, travel and nature. High levels of international migration over the last decade or so means that more people have friends and relatives living abroad. More people are avoiding certain destinations for ethical reasons.
Political
Many governments have invested heavily to encourage tourism. Government backing for major international events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup. The perceived greater likelihood of terrorist attacks in certain destinations. Government restrictions on inbound/outbound tourism. Calls by non-governmental organisations to boycott countries such as Burma.
Figure 13.7 shows the regional share of tourist arrivals in 2007. Although the developed regions of the world remain the largest tourism destinations, their dominance is reducing. For example, Europe and North America accounted for 69% of international arrivals in 2000, but by 2007 this had fallen to 62%. Between 2000 and 2007 the fastest rates of growth were in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Many developing countries have become more open to foreign direct
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