6 - Types of Destinations

Objective:
I can identify the different types of destinations and recognise different aspects of
appeal to different external customer types.

Key Concepts:
KC2: Change and Development
KC4: Customer Focus

Guided Notes:
A _destination__________ is a place a tourist decides to visit. A large-scale destination
such as a _country_________ or state will have smaller destinations located within it.
As a tourist, my destination may be Italy, but there will be smaller destinations that I will
go to in Italy such as Rome or Milan.
Florida examples of destinations within a destination include Orlando, Everglades
National Park, and the Florida Keys.
_resorts___________ are primarily visited by __leisure______ tourists. They are built
for fun and relaxation. Resorts are usually smaller scale than destinations.
__resort towns_________ are towns where leisure tourism is the main
_economic_________ activity. These towns depend on tourists for jobs and money.
Resort towns can include towns that are beach, seaside, ski and spa resorts.
Cancun, Mexico is a large modern beach resort town.
Whistler, Canada is a ski resort town.
Nice, France is a seaside resort town.
_spa resorts__________ attract tourists who want to experience __health_______ and
wellbeing treatments or activities, such as massages or beauty treatments. Spa resorts
offer _accommodation___________ and health and beauty related activities and
services.
Many spa resort towns have __not springs__________ that are known for their minerals
and health benefits.
Mariánské Lázne in the Czech Republic has 100 mineral springs, with over 50 that have
been developed as spas with buildings around them where tourists can enjoy
treatments with the mineral water.
__resorts________ provide accommodation and include __attractions_________ and
other facilities.
The Breakers at Palm Beach is a beach resort that has guest rooms, suites, beach
access, four pools, five whirlpool spas, a spa, a golf course, tennis courts, a shopping
center and many dining options.
__Purpose- built resorts_____________________ are built around a
____theme_________. This includes accommodation at __theme parks___________
and some all-inclusive resorts. (__all inclusive_______________ resorts include all
food, beverages, and activities in the price of accommodation.)
Disney resorts, such as the Pop Century resort are focused around activities and
services in Disney World.
Amenities include:
Resort transportation to Disney World, Disney Minnie Van service by Lyft, Merchandise
delivery and pickup, Two restaurants, 3 pools, Complimentary screenings of Disney
films, Jogging trail, Playground, Arcade, Campfire activities
__integrated resorts________________ - typically have accommodations, conference
facilities, and a casino.
Hint: Integrated resorts are usually __purpose- built__________ because they have a
theme.
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Fort Lauderdale is an example.
Amenities include:
Casino, Multiple forms of accommodation, Many dining establishments, A shopping
center, Golf, Meeting & Event Spaces, Spa & Salon, Performance space
_city destinations__________ - cities attract tourists for leisure,
__business__________, and VFR as well as other forms of tourism such as medical
tourism.
Visitors are attracted to cities to see landmarks, historic districts, waterfronts,
conventions & exhibits, _festivals_________ & events, to receive services that aren’t
available in their hometowns, or for shopping or dining.
Visitors to San Francisco will enjoy riding on Trolleys, visiting Chinatown and crossing
the Golden Gate Bridge.
_countryside destination_________ - include national parks, nature parks, and nature
reserves. These destinations appeal to _nature_______ tourists, ecotourists and
adventure tourists.

Tourists visit these areas to relax, see _traditional___________, and to see the
traditional way of life for local people.
National parks or Nature parks are usually protected by __governments_________ to
conserve natural landscapes, wildlife, and ways of life.
National park vs. Nature preserve - How do you tell them apart?
___national parks_______ are large natural areas protected by the government to
conserve the __landscape________. Acadia National Park in Main preserves rocky
coastal forests for leisure tourists to enjoy.
__nature preserves_____________ are natural areas that are protected to keep rare
_animals_______ and plants safe. The Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area is designed to
protect local wildlife including gopher tortoises.
__coastal________ destinations are places where tourists go specifically to visit the
coast. Palm Beach County is a coastal destination.
__island______ destinations are surrounded by water on every side and require
tourists to arrive by water or __air_____ transport. Most island destinations will attract
tourists because of their unique __culture_______. Hawaii is an island destination.
Why tourists choose one destination over another comes down to what they _______
and _need______.
___destination appeal____________ refers to the ability of a destination to interest
customers.
Destination appeal has several elements:

● Weather and Climate

● __leisure______ activities
● Accommodation and Catering are affordable

● The destination is easily __accessible________

● There are sustainable practices and provisions such as sustainable transport

__climate__________ plays a large role in destination appeal.

Many tourists will choose a destination that has either a _desirable_______ climate or
that has a __different_______ climate than they normally experience.
An example of this would be someone from Palm Beach flying to Colorado to ski.
Another example is for someone from Colorado flying to Palm Beach to enjoy the
sunshine and beach.
If a place has an _undesirable__________ climate less people will want to visit.
_technology_________ has made it easier to see statistics about the number of sunny
days or the amount of rain a place receives during a __season_____. This helps
tourists choose between destinations.
This has also led to more _independent______, short-notice bookings in destinations
such as Ski Resorts where the activities are extremely weather __dependent_______.
People can now check real-time data about the amount of snow before they decide to
book.
People choose __destinations________ based on what they can do at the destination.
I may choose to visit a ski resort to ski, or I may visit a coastal destination to snorkel, I
may visit a national park if I want to camp.
__built______ and _natural__________ attractions are part of a destination’s
_appeal_______. The type of attractions that are available determine the type of tourist
who will travel to the destination.
_natural________ attractions such as lakes, rivers, and mountains attract
_adventure__________, sightseeing, nature and ecotourists.
Breckenridge, Colorado is a ski resort in the winter. In the spring-autumn tourists can
__mountain-bike_______, hike, fish for trout, paddleboard, go white-water rafting, play
golf, or _photograph_______ scenery.
__built_______ attractions can appeal to tourists who are interested in the _________
or history of an area, or tourists who are interested in a specific experience such as a
___theme park________. Built attractions include architecture, monuments, museums,
theme parks, and restaurants. Anything __man made_________ is a built attraction.
Disney World is a built attraction in Orlando.
The Palm Beach Zoo is a built attraction in Palm Beach.
The Eiffel tower is a built attraction in Paris, France.
_historical____________ and __cultural________ attractions are part of destination
appeal.
There is more information available online than there ever has been before, this
combined with an increased interest in __sustainable__________ tourism has
increased the appeal of cultural and historic attractions.
95% of the time when we refer to accessibility in this class we will not be discussing
accessibility for those with _disabilities____________. If there is a question about this
type of accessibility it will generally be prefaced by defining what the disability is. An
example is ‘identify needs for a tourist who uses a wheelchair’.
This may also be referred to as _mobility_________ - which is the ability to move
around freely or Reduced Mobility
_PRMS________ are persons with reduced mobility.
__accessibility______________ is how easy it is to reach the destination or
__around__________ the destination while you are there.
Accessibility is determined by transport __infrastructure____________ including public
transportation, roads, airports, and ports. The more transportation infrastructure a
destination has the more _accessible__________ it is.
While accessibility is an important factor in appeal for any tourist, it will play a large role
in decision making about destinations for _PRMs_________. For example, The
Copenhagen airport in Denmark includes sustainable electric vehicles to transport
tourists with mobility needs through the airport. This makes Copenhagen more
__accessible__________ as a city destination for PRMs.
__sustainable__________ practices such as ecotourism products and services are
increasingly being sought after.
An example is New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty where the local tourism authority ________
tourists about responsible tourism and teaches them how to care for the environment
and __local culture____________. Online advice is also available so tourists know how
to behave respectfully and appropriately.

_destination appeal_____________ also includes:

● _events____________ that take place in the destination, such as SunFest or the

Palm Beach International Boat Show.
● _leisure activities_______________ that are available in the destination or
surrounding area.
● __MICE facilities_______________ that are available for business tourists
(Business tourists are less likely to go to destinations without MICE facilities)
● _accommodation___________ and __catering__________ facilities that are
available in the destination. (Tourists are less likely to visit destinations that don’t
have accommodation or that don’t have catering options they like)

There are different types of __external_______ customers. When we think about

_WHY______ a customer chooses a destination, we need to think about what type of
customer they are and what they _NEED_______ and _WANT_______.
_external _________ customers use the products and services of a travel and tourism
business. They are NOT members of the staff or part of the business.
_families__________- Some leisure and ______ tourists travel with their families. This
means they have different age groups such as children, teenagers, young adults,
mature adults, or older adults. Each ____________ will have different needs and
wants.
__individual tourists___________ - Tourists may travel alone or as a couple. Tourist
couples may include life-partner couples or pairs of friends or relatives (such as two
sisters). _individual__________ tourists can belong to different age groups or
generations.
Visitors with _language__________ and Cultural ___differences_______ - Inbound
tourists may have language and cultural differences from the _local_______ population.
This can make it difficult to read signs and menus. English is widely used as an
international language and pictograms can assist these visitors as well. Translated
_menus_________ may also be offered by some catering organizations, and translation
apps may be of huge assistance as well.
People with Specific Needs:

● _mobility and accessibly needs_________________________ - these external

customers have difficulty moving around tourist destinations, facilities and

attractions. This is reduced mobility. Providers have to consider mobility needs to
ensure accessibility to these individuals. They may include wide doors and gates,
_stairless_________ buildings, _elevators___________, ramps, support rails,
and e-mobility _vehicles___________. (Like the electric carts at Wal-Mart)

● __sensory needs_____________ - Includes sight and hearing difficulties.

Guidance aids including textured paving or flooring and audio hearing loops can
assist these customers.

● __dietary needs_____________- Allergies and food-intolerance such as nuts,

gluten or dairy, and __religious_________ or cultural avoidance foods such as

pork or shellfish, and personal health choices are all dietary needs. These
individuals benefit from menus that list __ingredients__________ or from the
ability to speak with the person preparing their food.
If you have a food allergy or dietary restriction, print cards in the language of your
destination that explain your needs. This makes it easier to order food.
The way that tourists choose to travel to destinations or move around the destination is
changing.
__air transport___________ - didn’t become common until 1941. The growth of air
transport allowed the spread of __mass_________ tourism to destinations around the
world and increased the amount of _international_____________tourists and long-haul
tourism.

Air travel was continually growing until the COVID-19 pandemic caused a
_decline_________. At the same time, there are increasing environmental concerns
with air travel which has led to an increase in short-haul trips using rail travel.

Before air transport became common, traveling across water was the primary way to
cross oceans. While you might think of the Titanic as a cruise ship, it was actually an
__ocean liner_____________. A large passenger ship that traveled a regularly
scheduled route. The passengers on board ranged from the extremely wealthy to third
class passengers who paid the equivalency of about $860 for their ticket. This is pretty
comparable to the price of a flight in economy between the US and Europe today.

Since _flights_________ have become more common, water transport primarily

involves __cruise ships___________ or ferries. Leisure tourists may choose to use
cruise ships to travel between destinations, or they may just want to enjoy the cruise as
a __holiday_________.

Small ferries may only carry people while others also carry cars. Other destinations may
have other forms of water travel that allow tourists to rent boats or go on short
sightseeing cruises.

__overland transport __________________ includes rail and road transport as well as

bridges and tunnels. __Tunnels____________ can go underground or underwater.

The demand for__sustainable___________ transport has increased rail travel. Trains

carry large numbers of passengers and produce fewer ___emissions___________.
Infrastructure improvements increase the number of passengers that are able to travel
by rail. Rail transport also includes __Mass rapid transit__________.

__fixed links__________ are created by combining bridge, tunnel and

_causeway________ connections.

Traditionally, road transport includes rental cars, taxis, buses, coaches, shuttle vans,
motorcycles and scooters.

Bicycles and __e-scooters________ are a form of road transport that is increasing in

popularity because of the demand for sustainability. Many destinations now offer
rentals of these.
Exam Style Questions:
Explain two ways city destinations appeal to international visitors.

1 Many metropolitan destinations have a rich cultural legacy and historical significance, which
appeals to foreign travelers looking to immerse themselves in different cultures. Cities frequently
feature prominent landmarks, museums, galleries, theaters, and architectural marvels that
highlight the region's distinct history, art, and culture. For example, cities like Paris attract
millions of tourists each year because of attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum,
and Notre-Dame Cathedral, which provide visitors with a glimpse into France's cultural past.
These cultural sites offer immersive experiences, educational possibilities, and a sense of
belonging to the city's culture, making them appealing locations for international visitors looking
for enriching experiences.

2 City destinations cater to international visitors by offering a wide array of entertainment and
leisure options to suit diverse preferences and interests. From vibrant nightlife districts and
world-class shopping avenues to theme parks, theaters, concerts, and sporting events, cities
provide a plethora of entertainment opportunities that appeal to tourists seeking relaxation,
excitement, or leisure activities. For instance, cities like Las Vegas are renowned for their
entertainment offerings, including casinos, live shows, and nightlife, attracting visitors from
around the globe seeking entertainment and leisure experiences. By providing diverse
entertainment options, city destinations offer international visitors the chance to unwind, explore,
and create memorable experiences tailored to their preferences, enhancing the appeal of the
city as a tourist destination. [4]
 Explain three political factors that may affect the number of tourists visiting a city
destination.

1 The ease of acquiring visas and the entry conditions set by a city's administration can
have a significant impact on tourist arrivals. Stringent visa laws, lengthy application
processes, and hefty visa fees may discourage potential travelers from choosing a
country. Relaxed visa laws, visa waivers, or simplified visa procedures, on the other
hand, can boost tourism by making it easier and more comfortable for people to come.
Political actions affecting visa laws, such as changes to visa requirements or the
implementation of visa-free travel agreements with specific nations, can have a direct
impact on the flow of tourists to a particular destination.

2 Political stability and security are paramount factors influencing tourists' perceptions of
safety and confidence in visiting a city. Instances of civil unrest, political instability,
terrorism, or conflicts can significantly deter tourists and lead to a decline in visitor
numbers. Conversely, cities that are politically stable, have effective law enforcement,
and maintain a safe environment tend to attract more tourists. Political decisions related
to maintaining peace, addressing security concerns, and implementing effective crisis
management strategies are crucial for sustaining tourism in a city destination.

3 Government policies and activities to promote tourism can have a significant impact
on tourist numbers. Investments in tourism infrastructure, such as transportation
networks, lodging facilities, and tourist attractions, can help a city become more
appealing and accessible to tourists. Furthermore, government financing for marketing
campaigns, tourism promotion, and cultural events can help enhance awareness of the
city's tourist potential and attract visitors. Political decisions about budget allocations,
tourism development plans, and promotional techniques can all have an impact on a
city's competitiveness in the global tourism industry, and thus the amount of tourists it
attracts. [6]
(d) Discuss the likely characteristics of coastal destinations which would appeal to
different types of visitors.

Coastal resorts have a wide selection of attractions that appeal to a variety of people. For
adventurers, rough coastlines with options for surfing, snorkeling, and cliff diving give an
adrenaline rush. Nature lovers are drawn to coastal habitats rich in biodiversity, which provide
chances for bird watching, whale watching, and investigating marine life in tidal pools. Those
seeking relaxation are drawn to peaceful beaches with smooth sand and clean waters, ideal for
sunbathing and leisurely strolls along the shore. Cultural travelers are drawn to historic coastal
towns and villages with lovely architecture, unique cuisine, and vibrant arts scenes.
Furthermore, coastal destinations frequently offer chances for eco-tourism, which promotes
sustainable practices and the preservation of vulnerable marine habitats, appealing to
ecologically aware travelers. Whether it is