Global Tourism

Tourism is an important industry and is about people going on holiday and visiting new places. A holiday is defined as an overnight stay away from home. 

Tourism...  

• Is the world's largest industry 
• Has an annual revenue of around $500 billion
• Makes up 10% of total employment in the UK

In 2001, tourism was responsible for 207 millin jobs worldwide. The top ten countries for tourism are (in visitors per annum):

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          • France - 81.9 million
          • Spain - 59.2 million
          • US - 56 million
          • China - 54.7 million
          • Italy - 43.7 million
          • UK - 30.7 million
          • Germany - 24.4 million
          • Ukraine - 23.1 million
          • Turkey - 22.2 million
          • Mexico - 21.4 million

Social:

• More leisure time - Changing lifestyles
• Holidays to relieve stress
• Pensioners are healthier & Student Gap Years
• Increase in weekend and short-breaks - Bank Holiday Act 1871
• More educated - want to explore the world

Economic:

• Travel is cheaper
• Paid holiday - entitiled to 5.6 weeks
• The internet has made holidays cheaper
• UK workers earn 4 times more now than in 1980s - more disposable income
• Pensioners are richer
• Regional airports make it easier and cheaper

Primary resources are what people visit the place for and form the basis for a place's tourist potential.

• Natural Resources - climate, scenery, ecosystems

• Historical buildings and structures

These resources are built for the purpose of tourism and to meet the needs of tourists.The facilities provided by governments and people, without which mass tourism cannot take place.

• Entertainment
• Eating places
• Accommodation
• Infrastructure
• Determine the extent to which a place's potential rated