TYPES OF TOURISTS ON THE BASIS OF AGE GROUP, PURPOSE OF VISIT, DESTTINATION E.T.C

Types Of Tourists

There aren't any hard and fast rules for the classification of tourists. Tourist typologies are divided under different headings by different experts, researchers and the various scholars have tried to find out different categories of tourists covering most of the typologies based upon the tour type, age group, economy, purpose of visit, places of visit, or destination & duration of stay etc.

1. On the Basis of Tour Type, Tourist Category can be Categorized into 2 groups:

• FIT - Free Individual Tourist/Tour..
• GIT - Group Inclusive Tourist/Tour

      2. On the Basis of Age Group, Tourist Category can be Categorized into Following Groups:

• Student -  Travel for Education tour
• Youth - They are usually budget tourist with the interest if advance
• Old - The basic motivations for such tourist is city and luxury tours

      3. According to size of group:

• Individual tourist
• Group tourist
• Family group tourist

      4.  On the basis of Economy:

• Budget - Low expending tourist
• Standard - Medium class tourist
• Deluxe - High spending tourist

      5. On the Basis of Destination:

•  Domestic/Internal Tourist - Tourist traveling within the country i.e in bound tourist
• International/External Tourist - Tourist traveling out the country i.e The out bound tourist

       6.According to the Purpose of visit:

• Excursionist - An excursionist is the one day visitor to a place who does an act of excursion within the time less than 24 hours in the place of visit. The excursion is a short tour to a place of interest which involves stay less than 24 hours.
• Tourist - Tourist is a person who does the act of tour staying at least 24 hour but not exceeding one consecutive year in the place visited 

       7. According to the Definition Given by World Tourism Organization:

• Leisure Tourist - Traveling for pleasure on leisure
• Recreational Tourist - Travel for recreation, relaxation and entertainment
• Holiday Tourist - Travel for enjoying holidays
• Study Tourist -  Travel for educational research, tour and study etc.
• Special Mission Tourist - Travel for special mission like shopping, meetings, seminars etc
• Religious Tourist - Travel for pilgrimage purpose
• VFR ( Visiting Friends & Relatives) Tourist

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TOURISTS AND THE VISITORS

Introduction

Tourist is the one who spends at least one night away from home(normal place of living), no matter what the purpose of visit is, and should be away from the exercise of any activity of earning income or generating remuneration.

The origin of the world "Tourist" dated back to the year 1292 (Bhatia 1982). The word tourist is  derived from the latin word "Tornus", which means a tools for describing a circle or turners wheel. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word tourist was used as early as 1800 A.D. It defines tourists as "The person traveling or visiting a place for recreation" and the word tour is defined as "The journey through a place visiting things of interest".

The International Union of Official Travel Organization (IUOTO) in 1963 AD has purposed the most widely accepted and the technical definition of a tourist and was approved by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) in 1968 AD (Leiper, 1972). It states that - Tourists are those temporary travelers traveling 24 hours away from the home in the place traveled and for what they had traveled can be divided into of the following headings:

1. Leisure, Recreation, Holiday, Health, Study, Religion, Sports and Events etc.
2. Business, Family visit, Special mission, Meetings etc.

Among the various definitions, the most useful and the comprehensive definitions are given by Cohen and Smith. Cohen describes that, "Tourists are those temporary and voluntary travelers, traveling in the expectation of pleasure from the novelty and change experienced on a relatively long and non-recurrent round trip". On the other hand, Smith states that, "Tourists are the temporarily licensed person who voluntarily visits a place away for the purpose of experiencing the change".

According to the Australian economist Herman Van Scheullard, "Tourist can be defined as a person whose movement of operation is mainly economic in nature. Their activity is directly related to the entry, stay and the movement inside or outside the certain country, city or region."

All in all, the above mentioned definitions provide clear justifications regarding the following specific characteristics of tourists:

• Tourist is a person traveling and staying in various destinations which involves- entry, stay and the movement from one place to another or corresponding places.
• Travel to the destination from the origin including the stay and the activities at the destination
• The movement to the destination is of a short term or temporary character, i.e at least 24 hours but not exceeding one consecutive years or period of 12 months
• The purpose of visit is usually other than taking of permanent residence or employment
• The activities involve the economic in nature i.e the expenditure exists but neglects the exercise of earning or income generation

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IMPACTS OF TOURISM

The impacts basically involve the two aspects - the positive impacts or benefits and the negative impacts or costs. Impacts of tourism can be summed up in the following points:

• Economical Impacts
• Social Impacts
• Environmental Impacts 

Economical Impacts 

   Benefits

•  Regional Development
• Employment Generation in the tourism and resource management sector
• Income Generation
• Sources of Foreign Currency
• Tourism helps to diversify the local community
• Creates seasonal Employment
• Increased tax revenue from tourism
• Development of Secondary Industries

COSTS

•   Higher demand created by tourism may increase the price of land, housing, and commodities for daily life
• Demand on health service provision and police service can increase during the tourist  seasons at expense of the local tax base
• In equitable distribution of economic benefits among the local commodities
• Local inflation in price of local commodities.

Social Impacts

Benefits

• Cultural understanding
• Improving international understanding & botherhood
• Preservation of culture of the local community
• Tourism can enhance local cultural awareness
• Generate revenue for the preservation of archaeological & historical sites
• Quality life of locals through economic diversificationn

COSTS

•  Tourism can bring overcrowding & traffic congestion.
• Lack of proper planning and management of garbage, vandalism, prostitution, social crime etc.
• Community structure might be changed
• Illustrate effect - cultural illustration left by tourist imitated
• Cultural changes
• Can bring the changes in the local architecture of the village
• Xenophobia - Fear of stranger(like new disease in production)
• Authenticity of the social  and cultural environment can be changed to meet tourists demand
• New diseases might be introduced in the host community
• Rapid tourism growth may result in growing instability of local amenities & institutions to meet the tourism demand

Environmental Impact

Benefits

• Environment awarness
• Conservation & preservation of wild life and its habitat through the creation of national parks and wildlife reserves
• Enhances the nature based tourism through the conservation of flora and fauna
• Improved sanitation condition of the host village can be achivied
• Bio-diversity of the wild life and the vegetation will be preserved and maintained
• Proper waste management system can be enhanced
• Tourism can generate revenue for protected area management

Costs

• Environmental pollution
• Deforestation - soil erosion, landslide etc.
• Change in the behavior of wild life due to the impact of degradation on environment and their natural habitat 
• Problem in the waste disposal management system
• Pollution of water resources
• Negative changes int he physical integrity of the ares
• Degradation of parks as well as other natural attraction
• Littering in and around the trials

 

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IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM

INTRODUCTION

It is obvious that the tourism industry is considered as the world's fastest growing industry. Moreover, tourism is an activity which exists from the economic activities of a tourist related with the entry, stay and the movement within or outside the certain country, region and city. The tourism industry has significant contribution for the overall development of the nation as it is the major source of foreign currency.
                                  The income from tourism has a higher rate of increment which merchandise. The main economic significance of tourism is that the earning generated at the origin is spent at the places of visit or destination. Hence, tourism in every aspect has a wide dimensions and the in the importance are listed as below:

1) Regional Development
    Tourism is one of the major source of income for many individuals and the nations too. It however leads to the regional development. There will be a flow of economy or money from one region to another due to the tourist activities. The expenditure made by tourists in various activities has a great significance in those marginal areas which are relatively isolated, economically depressed, and having an excess problem of an UN-employment. The income from the tourism will be the source of prosperity to the local community. Basic infrastructures like- Road linkage, Drinking water, Electricity etc. and superstructures like Hotels, resorts, restaurants etc. along with the gradual establishment of other superstructures will however lead the regional development.

2) Employment Opportunity
    Tourism product is a non-material product and considered as an invisible trade. This industry is highly a labor intensive which involves a sale of service. It however creates an employment  to huge number of people ranging from UN-skilled to highly skilled. On the other hand, it also creates seasonal employments which lead to the source of income to most of the people. The infrastructures and superstructures developed such as roads construction, hotels and other accommodation units, and other industries however create a direct or indirect employment to large number of population.

3) Income Generation
    The employment in the tourism has a multiplier effect on income. Tourism will create an employment opportunity and the people employed will however generate sources of income in return. The seasonal employments lead to the generation of  seasonal income.E.g. people involved in trekking, expedition, tour and travel etc. will generate a considerable amount of money as seasonal income during the tourist season i.e. August to November.

4) Cultural Understanding
    Tourism is only the key factor for maintaining the cultural understanding between the hosts and the guests. The guests normally dominate the hosts who easily influences from the guests. This may cause a serious problem also. In fact the host culture, traditions, customs, norms and values should be exchanged in such way that will develop a cultural understanding and there will be less chances of xenophobia and domination effect. The tourists will be able to understand the host culture and the host will also have an honor to develop an endless international brotherhood.

5) Educational Significance
    Tourism helps to explore the similarities of human feelings and knowledge without discriminating the country and culture. It has a direct access to exchange a direct knowledge and emotions, ideas and views of other however has an educational significance.

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EVOLUTION AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM (3rd Epoch)

3. Third Epoch (Period After Second World War)
    After second world war, the standard of living of the working and middle people class has been raised. Tourism became a need in the countries where tourism had been practically unknown. Enormous expansion of tourism has been seen primarily in the advance & industrial countries, where travel becames a part of the life style. Third pahse of tourism and development however summarized the following points:

a) Introduction of Motor Car/ Bus/ Coach: The provision of luxury motor cars, buses, coaches has a significant on accessing the tourism activities through transportation. The boom in tourist movements in twenty century & twenty first century linked to the introduced of luxury coaches & private motor cars.

b) Introduction of Paid holiday & Mass tourism: The concept of mass tourism emerged along with the introduction of paid holidays. During the last quarter of 19th century, cheap holidays with pay for working class people had been developed, through the paid holiday was very largely of English origin, developed the inter-wars. The concept really got underway, when ILO adopted it at their first convention.

c) Air Transportation:  Introduction of civil aviation has brought a revolutionary changes in the history of travel after 1950's, when aircrafts were introduced for the commercial purpose carrying a mass of people at a time,  with tremendous increase in speed, safety & comfort. It also gave access to the package holiday, which subsequently became a model for most of the present tourism.


d) Introduction of Jet/ Jumbo Jets: The most dramatic change in mass tourism/ travel to its present level was the introduction of jet in the year 1958. This mode of travel introduced an entirely new medium of speed, comfort & efficiency & maximum carrying capacity.

e) Introduction of Inclusive Tour: It is an another interesting idea developed during this period. In this type of tour, all relevant costs are added up and sold in a package. The system of package tour is also responsible for mass tourism.

f) Introduction of IT: The latest achivement int the field of tourism in 21st century is the application of information technology for various promotion of any place of product via internet. One can easily operate a tour or any reservation can be made from one point to the next point of the world through Internet or Central Reservation System (CRS). Any information can be collected within a single hour. This indicates that the globalization is accessing speed of travel and tourism with the place of technology.

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EVOLUTION & THE HHISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM (2nd Epoch)

2. Second Epoch - The time period beween First & second World War

During this period  there was a significant developmet of private motor cars, bus and coaches e.t.c The following points have a significant role on development of tourism during second epoch:

a) Introduction of Railway Transportation:  The introduction of railway transportation had propounded effect on transport. The first link between liverpool and manchester was started in the year 1830. The birth of organized rail travel and concept of tourism came into existence in the year 1841. The man behind this idea was  Thomas cook, who is also regarded as Father of Modern Tourism. He had organized a tour of 570 pax at a time by train from leicester to loughbourgh. The evolution of railway system affected the quantity of the accommodations and also the urbanization.

b) Introduction of Steam Engine:  During this period, introduction of steam engine by James Watt has a great  contribution on accessing the travel/transportation means. Many big ships were invented which carried a huge mass of people at a time, where steam engine was used to operate a ship. The shipping technology played a significant role in the development of travel and trade. The railway transport contributed in the inland travel where as the ships opened the way for intercontinental travel by crossing the boundaries via sea. The opening of Suez Canal in 1869 brought a revolution by shortening the cruise route.



c) Contribution of Thomas Cook: Cook, Thomas (1808-92), was an traveling agent for tourists, born in England. In 1828 later became an hard worker at tourism industry. Thomas Cook not only regarded as a father of modern tourism, but is the first person to establish a travel agency and a first travel/tour agent. After a trip from Leicester to Loughbrough 1843, he took a trip of nearly 300 children, by chartering a train. From (1848-63) he started a circular trip to scotland with almost 5000 travelers on a season. After this he extended his tour agency to various other countrie and published Guidebooks, Periodical Cooks Excursionist & Tourist Advertiser.

                                                     Not only this, Mr. Cook's significant idea was for selling excursions or holidays as a single transaction/ Package. The growth of railways, shipping & hotels etc, however accept this idea gradually. Mr.Cook was also associated with pleasure travel. The large scale movement of people to various pleasure spots was an organized  idea of Mr. Cook. Cook  himself started taking tourist to different places inside the Europe for their pleasure, and Cook himself arranged accommodation (Hotels) for tourists to stay where they can spend their holiday trip making independent trips. He also provided traveling services to the travelers throughout the Europe and provided all necessary Kits of traveling to the travelers under the British government for many occasions, and arranged the last trip for British General Charles George Gordon to Sudan in 1884.

d) Industrial Revolution:   As industrial revolution gathered its momentum, the cities and their

population increased. They felt the need of some relief from their work. The increased income helped them to fulfill their desire. To filfill the growing demand, a large number of accommodation units and leisure place had been developed. The people in the industrial countries felt the urge to travel for the purpose of rest & relaxation. The trend of traveling for pleasure lead to the phenomena of tourism. The industrial development increased the material wealth and increased number of workers who could offer to travel.







                           

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EVOLUTION & THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM (1st Epoch)

         

THOMAS COOK(Father of Modern Tourism)

INTRODUCTION

The trend of travel begins since from the beginning of  the human civilization, which gradually becomes a basis for the evolution of travel and tourism. During the stone age of human civilization people used to travel for the sake of food, shelter e.t.c. After passing the several stages of human civilization the traveling practice of human had achived great significance.
                      Then the first Olympic was held in Greece in 776 B.C. People started going to watch Olympic games. Since then it is thought to be the milestone  in the history of tourism industry. In medieval period (12-17 A.D) the Europeans started visiting Rome recognizing it as a birth place of Europe & religious pilgrimage. In 18th century again, the mode of traveling was changed. Whonever became sick, they used to travel to SPA to get recovered. It is belived that modern tourism began from SPA. The credit to word Tourism goes to Thomas Cook, a british citizen. He was the first person to provide package tour in Europe in 18 century.
        
Before the industrial revolution, travel was primarily related to trade, commerce and pilgrimage. The travelers, during those periods were the merchants/traders looking for merchandise & the time was really suitable for aristocaratic, which laid the foundation for the modern tourism. Evolution of tourism can be really traced through the three phase, which are also regarded as epoch. One of the three phases is mentioned as below:

1) First Epoch (Period before 1840)
     This phase is the period before the industrial revolution, during which period; people basically traveled form one place to other for the sake of trade, commerce and pilgrimage puropse. Usually, motivating factor to the place for traveling during this period may be as follows:

a. Travel for trade and commerce: It was the strongest force/ motivating factor throughout the history that traders/ merchants have traveled for trade with other nations. The invention of money, during 300 B.C was the most significant development, which became a medium for various business dealing and als used by various accomodations.

b. Travel for seeking knowledge: The urge to explore new lands/ world, to seek knowledge was another motive of travelers. Some examples of such explorers are: marco polo, Alexander the Great.

c. Travel for religious purpose: During this period travel for the religious purpose was of significant importance. The spread of Christianity led to numerous pilgrimage tours in this regard.

    NOTE: Next two phases of the evolution of tourism will be given in next articles.

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