TPC - 5 TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT

Week 1

INTRODUCTION TO TOURISM TRANSPORTATION

Transport is acknowledged as one of the most significant factors to have contributed

to the international development of tourism. It gives invaluable opportunity to the
local people as it gives them jobs and good economic upturn. In global terms, the
expansion of international tourism continues to generate an insatiable demand for
overseas travel.

Transport provides the essential link between tourism origin and destination areas and
facilities the movement of holidaymakers, business travelers, people visiting friends
and relatives (VFR), and those undertaking educational and health tourism.
Transport iss also a key element of the “tourist experience” (Pearce 1982) and some
commentators (Middleton 1988; Tourism Society 1990) view it as an integral part of
the tourism industry.

CONCEPT OF TRANSPORT

⚫ The term transport is derived from the Latin word trans meaning across a port.
Thus, the movement of people or goods from one place to another by a means of
transport is called transportation.
⚫ Each tourist has to move from place to place and needs transportation for his or
her movement. Transport helps people to move from tourist generating area to
tourist destination area. In between, there is a transit route.
⚫ There are different modes of transport like road transport, rail transport, water
transport and air transport. In earlier times road transport was more popular than
railways or waterways. For travellers, the states have taken keen interest and
extended some important facilities on these land routes.
⚫ To measure the distance from their destination point, kosminars were constructed.
Some of them still survive. Trees were planted on both sides and wells were dug
to provide drinking water to travellers and protect them against heat and thirst. In
addition sarais (accommodations) were constructed along the route.

Transport is one of the essential components of tourism activities. The relationship

between transport and tourism development is very important because it contributes
significantly in the development of tourism.

⚫ It overcomes the physical social and economic development of human beings.

⚫ It overcomes the physical constraints of distance and meets the human needs for
movement over the space.
⚫ It provides a link between the origin and destination of tourism.
⚫ The movement of human beings at national and international level is taking place
because of various means of transport. Millions of tourists are being transported
safely, quickly and comfortably to their destinations at a reasonable cost. In fact,
 transport and its associated infrastructure have facilitated human mobility on
large scale.
⚫ Tourism industry needs transports in other to take tourists from one place to
another because the aim of the tourist is to reach the destination. So in tourism
industry we find different modes of transports which consist of air, rail, road and
water. Hence tourists have a choice to choose which one of the transports it is
suitable for them. There are many reasons to choose modes of transport; tourists
might look at the following -speed, safety, price and convenience. So basically
these different kinds of transports have positive and negative side effects.

What is Tourist Transport?

(Collier 1994) provides an interesting insight into tourist transport, arguing that 3
things need to be fulfilled;
⚫ Transporting the tourist form the generating to the host area
⚫ Transport between host destinations
⚫ Transport within host destinations

Collier also classifies tourist transport on several bases;

⚫ Public or private sector transport

⚫ Water/land/air/rail transport

Water
Travel by ship was the main means to travel overseas until the middle of
20th century. The earliest type of boat was the raft, made of grasses, logs
and other light material. Now the quality of boats and ships has improved
a lot and most of the discoveries of the world were made through water
transport. This is evident as tourism through cruises is increasing day by
day and has an excellent potential. Lakes, rivers, canals, Backwaters Sea
are very important modes of water-based tourism all over the world.

Land

Road transport provides basic accessibility in connecting various places

and people. It also has a number of advantages like good flexibility,
reliability,speed, cheaper cost etc. It is accessible to a large number of
people and is more efficient than other means of transport. It can take the
tourist upto the final destination point. National and State Highways both
are very important in the development of a fine network of roadways.
Both flyovers and good conditions of road have helped to increase the
travel and tourism activities across the world. Different types of road
vehicles are used like car, taxi, coaches, buses and jeeps which can
connect rail, air and water transportation to each other.
 Air

At the global level, air travel is the second most popular mode of
transport after road. It is the fastest means of transport. One can reach the
destination in hours covering the distance of thousands of kilometers. Air
transportation has connected all nations of the world. It has transformed
the whole world into a Global Village. This mode of transport is free
from surface hindrances such as inaccessible mountains, dense forest,
marshy land, flooded areas, hot and cold desert.

Rail

Railway is the most suitable and cheap means of transport for long
distance travelling. As compared to road transport, it is very cheap and
comfortable for longer distances. A huge number of people can travel
together from one part of country to another for the purpose of business,
education, sight seeing, pilgrimage, visit to friends and relatives. There
are various categories of coaches including General, Sleeper, A C Classes,
A C Chair Car etc. The railway provides basic infrastructure for
movement of tourists to nearly all parts of the country. In modern times,
an interesting development is the advent of high-speed trains with various
facilities like refreshment, berth, food, internet, and washroom etc. It has
created a significant increase in travel and tourism sector.

⚫ Domestic and international transport

⚫ Mode of transport - Mode of transportation (or transportation mode)

refers to different ways by which goods or people are transported from one
place to the other through land, air or sea. The other modes are via pipelines
(for gas/oil transfer), cable (internet, energy supply), and space (satellite). it is
used to distinguish between different methods of moving people or goods
from one place to another.

Transportation and Travel Evolution

Transportation and travel have undergone many changes. A review of the

history of transportation and travel shows that their evolution took seven eras.
These are the following:

⚫ Pre-industrial travel system era

⚫ Early-industrial travel system era
⚫ Mature-railway travel system era
⚫ Express-travel travel system era
⚫ Automobile-based travel system era
⚫ Modern-tourism travel system era
⚫ Post-mobility adjustment era

Pre-industrial travel system era

 This was the period before the widespread industrialization
in Europe and North America. It was before the development of
railways in two continents. There were few common carriers. There
were almost no regularly scheduled transportation services. There
was little travel. Travelers made their own arrangements with several
suppliers. It was the era of the stagecoach and the wayside inn. Only
few people had the money and reason to travel.

Early-industrial travel system era

During the era, road improvements such as railways,

cannals, and steamship services were brought about due to rapid
industrialization and advances in transportation technology. Common
carriers came into existence and began to offer regularly scheduled
transportation services. Travel increased because more people who
had money traveled.

Mature-railway travel system era

This era was characterized by railways which expanded

their operations by running hotels and providing other travel-related
services. The railways began to market their services more
aggressively. Travel agencies and tour companies were formed.
Thomas Cook, an innovator in this field during this era, began his
company’s activities in the United Kingdom in 1980.

Express-travel travel system era

During this era, express services increased. Trains and other

forms of transportation did not stop at every station or terminal but
only at the major ones. This increased the speed of travel and
encouraged more travel than before.

Automobile-based travel system era

This influence of the privately owned automobile was

enhanced in North America and Europe from the 1920s onward. Car
ownership boomed in North America. Motorways, interstate
highways, and other trunk highways were developed in the latter half
of this era which was from 1920-1974. The automobile was
predominant over other travel modes from 1920-1945.

Modern-tourism travel system era

The period from 1945-1974 is known as the modern

tourism travel system era. Car ownership continued to grow at a fast
rate, mainly at the expense of long-distance rail travel. Mass air
travel was another post World War II occurrence. The introduction of
wide-bodied jets in 1970 greatly increased air travel. The “mass
 tourism” philosophy and marketing approaches were prevalent
during the 1950s and 1960s.

Post-mobility adjustment era

This era began in 1973-1974 as a result of the oil embargo

generated by Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and
the resulting increase in fuel prices. The events of the energy crisis
basically changed the travel patterns throughout the world. The present
era is one which travelers continue to look to alternative, group-oriented
modes of transportation.

• Advantages and disadvantages of tourism transportations

Water transport advantages:

⚫ Economical,
⚫ Enormous carrying capacity,
⚫ develops international and coastal trades

Water transport disadvantages:

⚫ Slow Speed - It is a slow means of transport. Failure of monsoon results

into fall in the water level of rivers making navigation difficult.
⚫ More Risky - Water transport is more risky as compared to other means
because there is always danger of sinking ships or boats.

Road transport advantages:

⚫ Flexibility,
⚫ reliable,
⚫ door to door service,
⚫ economical,
⚫ supplements other modes of transport,
⚫ quick transit for short distances

Road transport disadvantages:

⚫ Slow speed,
⚫ carrying capacity limited,
⚫ accidents,
⚫ none- AC coaches are not so comfortable,
⚫ comfort depends upon the conditions of roads

Air transportation. Advantages:

⚫ Direct root,
⚫ high speed,
⚫ quick service,
 ⚫ social and political significance,
⚫ luxurious travel

Air transportation. Disadvantages:

⚫ High cost,
⚫ jet lag,
⚫ unsuitable for heavy bulk cargo,
⚫ accidents always fatal,
⚫ international rule to be observed

Railways advantages:
⚫ Long distance travel cheaper,
⚫ carrying capacity large,
⚫ dependable service,
⚫ quicker than road transportation,
⚫ ability to view scenery en route

Railways disadvantages:
⚫ Inflexible,
⚫ unfit to hilly regions,
⚫ difficulties in rural areas,
⚫ dining car facilities not always available

• Role of transportation in tourism development

The tourism sector is one of the main important sectors of the economy.
Many countries take advantage of covering the budget deficit with the help of
profits coming from tourism. That is why tourism sometimes is called a
factory without a chimney. It isn't easy to think of the tourism sector without
transportation. Transportation is the main means to carry passengers, that is,
the tourists, to the actual site where tourism services are performed.

The development of transportation, vehicles, infrastructure and using new

technologies in this sector speed up tourism development. If we pay attention
to the statistics of the World Tourism Organization, we may see that the
tourism dynamics have changed and increased rapidly between 2005 and
2015. In 2010 international tourist arrivals rose to 940 million. This, in turn,
brought the economies $980 billion.

Carrier can turn into a separate tourist attraction element; cruising, Orient
Express trains, boat trips along the river, etc., are the best examples of tourist
attractions. The effective factors in choosing the transportation mode in
tourism are given below (Westlake and Robbins 2005, 463):

• Time limit
• Distance
• Status
• Comfort
• Security
• Benefit
• Price
• Geographical position
• Competition

Transportation As An Attraction

Overcrowding should be avoided at all costs to prevent untoward incidents

and to maintain the beauty of the place. Tourist can cover the entire park in a
shorter duration with the help of these modes of transport.

Unusual forms of transportation are also an attraction such as the cable cars in
hilly terrain, the funicular railway, or jet boating. The choice of mode of
transport is vast and tourists can choose a mode to suit their budget. They can
opt for scheduled or non-scheduled transport such as the hiring of vehicles,
boats, coaches or trains so that they can travel with their group.

To sum up, to develop and increase the role of transportation in tourism the
countries should pay attention to the following points:

• The transportation modes specific to the regions must be developed

• The transportation costs must always be kept competitive

• The passengers must be attracted to sea and railway modes of transportation

• New embarkation ports must be established to develop cruise travel

• New fast train lines must be established, and new fast trains must be bought,
and foreign experience must be applied

• The distance from stations must be kept less

• New coaches must be brought to the country

• New technologically advanced aircraft must be put into airlines

• The personnel must be trained

• The governments should allocate financial support for the development of

transportation
 Certain measures are also needed to boost tourism:

i. Clear information on location, distance, and fare for tourist sites should be
given along with a timetable and information about connecting buses, rail and
air modes of travel.
ii. Updated arrival and departure information should be available on
information boards, internet and telephone.
iii. Aged and physically challenged tourists should be treated well.
iv. A system of standard signs and symbols should be developed and installed
on road, railway stations and air terminals.
v. Infrastructure in tourist transportation should be created and improved.
vi. Eco friendly transportations should be developed.
vii. All terminals and stations should be neat, clean and tidy.
viii. Strict action should be taken against the persons who mislead and cheat
tourists. ix. Tourist Police should be there to help especially for female tourist

Assignment/Activity: Answer the following questions:

1. What are kos minars?

2. What is the reason behind the construction of Kos Minars?
3. How can you describe the historical development of the transportation systems?
4. In the era of globalization, how is transport contributing to the tourism industry?
5. What are some of the environmental impacts of the transportation sector? Name
three. How might these be lessened?
6. Give any five suggestions for better transportation system.
7. What do you think are the transportation problems faced by the tourists in the
tourism industry?

Font: Times New Roman, 12

Size: Short bond paper
Deadline of submission: February 14, 2022 (Monday) on or before 11:59 pm
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