FREE ESSAY ON TOURISM

TOURISM

Tourism
The French define tourism as "the art to satisfy the most diverse aspirations which
invite man to move out of his daily universe." The Webster's dictionary defines tourism
as "the guiding or managing of tourists; the promotion or encouragement of touring: the
accommodation of tourists." Both definitions are apt for tourism. The private sector of
tourism includes lodging, food, transportation, recreation facilities, attractions,
travel agents, and tour operators. These in turn are supported by a variety of
specialized services, such as research promotion and printing. In the public sector,
promotion of tourism on behalf of the state or communities is a major activity. In
addition, there is the infrastructure of travel and tourism-such as roads, bridges, and
utilities-and the public investment, federal, state in land and a wide range of
recreational amenities and facilities. Tourism consists primarily of travel for pleasure
purposes. It does not normally involve a large measure of physical exertion, nor does it
involve acquisition of new skills.
Tourism is oriented to the consumer rather than to the producer, and the economic impact
of tourism comes primarily from multiple retail purchases by the tourists in a variety of
establishments. 
The average household spends more on tourism as its real income increase (The National
Tourism Resources Review, 1976). 
The City as a Tourist Resource
The City's appeal is based on eight general categories of attractions: Business
opportunities, both work and personal; recreation; cultural/educational facilities;
contact with people; amusement and entertainment; special events; shops; and atmosphere.
The pull of these attractions is in turn affected by five variables; reputation, cost
overall quality of the urban environment (of which big-city problems, particularly crime,
congestion and inconvenience are a part) locations and climate. The strength of a city' s
appeal depends on a combination of some or all of these factors, measured against the
allure of other cities or alternative destinations. The broader the range of attractions
and the more positive the other variables in reinforcing them, the larger and more stable
will be the scope of a city's tourist business. For instance, a City like Miami Beach
which offers mainly recreational opportunities which depend on climate for their use
appeals primarily to discretionary market, and that only at those times of the year when
unfavorable weather elsewhere makes Florida desirable. Most visitors to Miami Beach come
from the eastern half of the country; similar resorts on the West Coast compete
successfully for the western market. 
Much of a visitor's decision is based on his expectations of the city and whether or not
it is likely to fulfill them. But how are those expectations formed? 
Urban Attractions:
Most tourists' attractions are inherent to the city; they exist because of demands and
support from local people, combined with the willingness of governmental and other
organizations to subsidize certain amenities when necessary. The diversity and quantity
of attractions relate closely to the makeup and size of resident population, the city's
historic past, and its national and international standing. Most attractions are not
geared specifically to the visitor, with some obvious exceptions. For example, the St.
Louis Arch was built expressly as a unique tourist attraction, and at the same time it
serves as a symbol of the city's historic past and present role as a gateway to the
West.
Atlanta is one of the most successful cases of a nontourist city developing facilities to
attract visitors. Concerned about the future of their city, Atlanta's decided about 15
years ago to take advantage of their location at the center of the fast developing
southeastern region of the country. Through extensive redevelopment and aggressive
promotion, they launched Atlanta as a business, communications and entertainment heart of
the area, until now it has a reputation of a progressive, Dynamic City with lots to offer
for everyone. Atlanta's recognize that tourism is a viable urban resource. Much of the
redevelopment of the city was carried out with the tourism in mind. For example, the
unusual Regency Hyatt Hotel was designed not just as a hotel, but as an attraction in and
of itself. The Atlanta Underground was a historic but decaying section of the city that
was rebuilt in large part to provide visitors with an attractive center for diverse
day0and night time activities. 
Atmosphere is also regarded as an attraction because a city with good atmosphere will
draw tourists. Atmosphere is an intangible quality that relates to such characteristics
as charm or quaintness, liveliness and excitement, friendliness and warmth, good vibes
and being with it. Visitors react to it subconsciously-it is a feeling, which the city
imparts. Every city has its own intrinsic atmosphere, which may act as a positive or
negative force. However, atmosphere can be enhanced or changed by promotion and
development activities. 
The strength of appeal of any attraction is closely related to quality. If an attraction
has a desirable uniqueness, its appeal may be relatively absolute. If it is one of a kind
and can not be missed (such as the White House or Congress). Elements involved in quality
are attractiveness, convenience and standards of maintenance. Quality can be used as a
tool in promoting tourism along certain desirable lines.
The final constraint in any development or promotion of a city and its attractions is the
tourist himself. Attractions are meaningless if the tourist does not respond favorably
towards them. His preferences and preoccupations are ultimately the factor on which
promoters must concentrate.
Quality and urban environment
Pollution, decay filth, decay coldness, confusion-crime, cost, stress, ugliness
Cities reflect the heights of human aspiration and the depths of human weakness. They are
every extreme of success and failure, of beauty and ugliness, of wealth and poverty, of
creativity and mediocrity. All that is found in a city, and all that happens in one,
together form a living environment. It is composed of people, buildings, attitudes, work
problems, etc. It is this total atmosphere that confronts a tourist when he thinks of
visiting a city. Is the environment desirable? The total tourist is most affected by
total environment in all its aspects, positive and negative, than any other group.
Because the tourist has freedom of choice and a wider range of wants and needs with
personal preferences, he will weigh more variables in selecting his destination. (Report
of the National Tourism Resources Review Commission, 1993). 
Bibliography
References
Destination USA Volume 3
Report of the National Tourism Resources Review Commission
June, 1976
Destination USA Volume 5
Report of the National Tourism Resources Review Commission
1973
References
Destination USA Volume 3
Report of the National Tourism Resources Review Commission
June, 1976
Destination USA Volume 5
Report of the National Tourism Resources Review Commission
1973
(Report of the National Tourism Resources Review Commission, 1993).