TOURISM

WHAT IS TOURISM?

Tourism is the activities of people

(tourists) travelling to, visiting and staying
in places outside their usual environment
for leisure, business or other purposes for
not more than one consecutive year.
 TERM DEFINITION

International Tourism Someone who visits the Caribbean from overseas/abroad (e.g.
someone from U.S.A visiting Dominica)

Regional Tourism One who travels within the Caribbean (e.g. Someone from Jamaica
visiting Aruba).

Domestic Tourism One travelling in his or her home country (e.g. Trinidadian going to
Tobago or a person from Florida visiting New York).

Excursionists Visitors to different places in the country they are visiting or living in
(e.g. Going to visit Maracas or the Museum).

Tourism Sector A part of the economy in which workers are providing a service for
(direct / indirect) tourists (direct) or marketing the product (indirect). For e.g. Direct –
Hyatt Regency or Indirect - Bunji Garlin advertising T&T Carnival
on 106 & park.

Tourism product The total package and experience which the tourist buys including
accommodation, food, transportation, activities, entertainment,
shopping, and other goods & services.
 TERM DEFINITION

Nature / Eco- Tourism for the purpose of watching wildlife (e.g. turtle-watching) or
Tourism visit natural attractions (e.g. pitch lake)

Sports Tourism Tourism in order to watch or participate in sports (e.g. Cricket World
Cup, Football or sailing)

Health Tourism Tourism to undergo health treatment or visit health spas

Cultural / Heritage Tourism to visit historical and cultural events and places (e.g. Carnival,
Tourism Tobago Jazz Festival, Fort George, Museums)

Special Events For the purpose of conferences (Caribbean Heads of Government

Meeting (CHOGM) or Americas Competitiveness Forum) or other
events such as Beauty Pageants (Miss World or Miss Universe)
 TERM DEFINITION
Economic linkage Joining or collaboration between two different industries, (e.g. tourism
& handicraft or tourism & transportation)
Economic leakage Revenue or money received from tourism is “leaked” out of the
country receiving the tourists to another country’s economy who is
supplying the hotels, imported food, etc.
All-inclusive resort A holiday or location where all or most of the services such as
or holiday transportation, accommodation, meals, beverages & entertainment are
provided within the price and normally paid for in advance.
Time-share Tourism Type of accommodation that is part-owned by a number of different
people who each take turns in staying in that condo, room or guest
house.
Marketing Tourism Identifying and satisfying the needs and wants of tourists in order to
encourage them to buy the products.
Home porting The main port in which the cruise ships is permanently based and
occurs when ships take visitors to and from that port for their holiday.
Host & Supply The country visited and the home country where the tourists came
Countries from. E.g. – in the case of a tourist from Canada visiting Grenada,:
Canada is the supply country (supplying the tourist) and Grenada is
the host country (receiving the tourist).
 REASONS FOR TRAVEL:
Traditionally, tourists visit the Caribbean
because of “Sun, Sea & Sand”
Tourists visit a destination for a number of
reasons. These include:
◦ Recreation/Fun
◦ Sightseeing
◦ Shopping
◦ Health
◦ Education
◦ Business
◦ Cultural or Heritage events / activities
◦ Visit family and/or friends
 FACTORS WHY TOURISTS CHOOSE THE CARIBBEAN:

The Caribbean region is one of the most

popular tourist destinations in the world.
There are many reasons why the Caribbean is
an attractive tourist destination:
1. Tropical Climate (warm weather, hot sun)
2. Physical Features: beaches with white sands,
clear blue waters cliffs, volcanic craters, caves,
reefs, springs
FACTORS WHY TOURISTS CHOOSE THE CARIBBEAN:
3. Exotic Flora (plants) & Fauna (animals)
4. Unique Festivals: Carnival, Crop-over,
Junkanoo, Jazz Festival, Reggae Sunsplash
5. Sports – Cricket, Football, Netball, Diving,
Swimming, Golf
6. Exhibitions – Crafts & Trade
7. Conferences – medical, educational, trade,
commerce or business
8. Religious Activities – Pilgrimages
 TYPES OF TOURISTS
 Stop Over/Stay Over – spend more than a day and less
than a night
 Same Day – less than 24 hours
 Domestic Tourists – travel within national boundaries of
homeland (e.g. Trinidadians visiting the pitch lake)
 Regional Tourists – travel within the region (e.g.
Trinidad to Jamaica or Venezuela to Brazil)
 International Tourists – cross international borders (e.g.
Barbados to Canada)
 Yachties – enter ports, repair yachts and stay for festivals
or other activities
 Returning nationals – return home from residing abroad
to visit relatives or festivals or national activities.
 BENEFITS OF TOURISM
 Major revenue earner – it brings in foreign exchange
(money) through:
◦ Travel
◦ Accommodation/Rooms
◦ Food
◦ Sightseeing
◦ Departure Taxes
 Job Creation / Increased employment:
◦ Many jobs are created (directly or indirectly) with the arrival of
tourists including pilots, taxi drivers, chefs, hotel managers, tour
guides, etc.
 Promoting country in the world wide market:
◦ If treated kindly, hospitably and welcomed warmly, visitors would
spread the word and encourage other tourists to visit the Caribbean.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE MORE TOURISTS TO VISIT YOUR COUNTRY?

 Advertising / promotion through social media

 Treating visitors politely, hospitably, fairly, willing to
help
 Ensuring there is an adequate number of security or
police patrolling well known tourist attractions and
during major events (safety)
 Ensuring the country has a clean and healthy atmosphere
 Providing sufficient facilities (water, roads, electricity,
accommodation, entertainment, food and transportation)
 Providing adequate recreational activities and reasonable
opening hours
 Expanding educational facilities
 On August 5th 2014, the Huffington Post described Maracas Bay in T&T as one of the most
perfect beaches in the world!
 This positive advertisement and reviews could definitely promote T&T as a popular tourist
destination!
 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/05/maracas-bay_n_5634399.html
Picture of Maracas Bay taken from the Huffington Post (see link on previous slide)
 WHAT CAN DETER TOURISTS?
People would not want to visit a host country for a number of
reasons. Some of the problems that scare off tourists include:
 Crime (robbery, rape, kidnapping, murder)
 Natural Disasters
 Terrorism
 War
 Social & Infrastructure problems – bad roads, drains, airports, no
water, bad health care, etc.
 Political Unrest (problems with the government and religious or
ethnic persecution)
 Harassment and unwelcoming behaviour towards tourists
 Availability, cost & quality of tourist services
 Environmental problems
 Accessibility (how easy it is to reach the country)
TRAVEL ADVISORY FROM SUPPLY COUNTRIES:
 CHALLENGES FACING THE TOURISM
INDUSTRY IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION:
 Security of funding for investment
 Marketing
 Research
 Training
 Shortage of labour
 Water Supply
 Global Terrorism
 Lack of direct air access for major tourist-generating
markets
 Emerging destinations
 Cruise ship policies
WHAT AFFECTS DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM?
 Re-entry of other islands in the tourism arena will
affects some islands that depend heavily on tourism
 Need to increase room accommodations and upgrade
facilities
 Need for trained personnel
 Increase in skilled technicians
 Promote careers within the tourist sector from as early
as primary and secondary school
 Public utilities have to be expanded and improved
 Income levels of tourists have to be researched
 Need to increase flights and to provide proper airport
facilities to accommodate incoming tourists
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TOURISM ON ENVIRONMENT:

Damage to coral reefs in a variety of ways:

◦ Tourists walking on corals or taking them as souvenirs
◦ Hotels along the coast have polluted the beaches by
sewage which adversely affects the nutrients of coral
reefs
Improper disposal of sewage by hoteliers can also
transmit deadly diseases such as dysentery,
typhoid and cholera
Pollution of beaches by tourists
Depletion of fishes to maintain food supplies to
hotels, guest houses and airlines
Beach erosion and destruction of mangroves in
order to build hotel resorts
Crime – such as human trafficking, drug
trafficking, pornography rings, kidnapping,
prostitution, etc.
 GOVERNMENT POLICIES THAT INFLUENCE
TOURISM
Government policies that influence the
development of tourism:
1. Meeting infrastructure requirements
2. Providing a well-trained workforce
3. Addressing environmental concerns
4. Addressing social problems such as crime to
reduce travel advisories against host country
5. Creating a favourable investment climate
6. Providing an overseas marketing and promotional
presence in key markets (supply countries) such
as Tourist Boards or Ministry of Tourism.
 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR TOURISM
Role & Function of:
◦ Hotel Associations
◦ Tourist Boards
◦ Ministry of Tourism
◦ Caribbean Tourism Organisation
◦ Hospitality Schools
 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR TOURISM
Role of Donor Agencies:
◦ Caribbean Development Bank
◦ European Union
◦ Organisation of American States
◦ Canadian Inter-Development Agencies
 PROMOTING REGIONAL CO-OPERATION &
INTEGRATION THROUGH TOURISM BY:

Marketing the Caribbean as a single destination

Recognition of the tourism products packaged
by each Caribbean country
Common economic and marketing policies
Create linkages within the Caribbean
(communication)
Concept of aviation hubs (a major airport
serving a region to more remote areas that may
not have official airports)
IMPACT OF COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
ON THE TOURISM INDUSTRY:

E-ticketing
InternetBooking (reservations)
Information Gathering
Advertising
Feedback