Advantages Of Tourism
Often the phrase “tourist trap” is heard when referring to an area that is frequented by visitors; in truth, the advantages of tourism are likely what keep those areas from becoming ghost towns.
It seems travel as a leisurely past time has always held an appeal for humans, as its history can be traced back to the Egyptian empires. People are, as a rule, curious; when an area has some attraction whether it is a natural wonder, a manmade structure or an interesting event, people who hear of it generally have a desire to view it. Tourism was often an activity for the wealthy; the social “season” of larger cities drew people from a variety of different areas in order to take in the atmosphere and sights. These same individuals bought new clothing, ate at distinguished restaurants and shopped for essentials, which increased profits for many establishments providing these services. Merchants soon recognized the value of inviting and supporting the events that brought tourists to their area, and began to advertise for their location with roadside signs and posters displayed prominently in windows. Over the years, tourism has grown to such a point that it is considered to be the world’s largest industry.
The majority of people love to travel. In the earliest days, travel was difficult and cumbersome; it could have been horse and buggy or boat initially, then later by rail. There can be little doubt that advances in the modes of transportation have thrown the doors wide open to increased tourism. When automobiles emerged on the scene, travel was made much more affordable and easier for the average family. In today’s world, people travel by car, cruise ship, train and airplane depending on the location of the destination and the amount of time the family has available. Areas which thrive on tourism make it easy for people to travel; offering great deals for families such as discounted hotel rates, free offers for children, bonus coupons for other attractions in the area and more. Airlines, bus lines, car rental agencies and railways are able capitalize on the travel fever as well by offering discounted tickets and rentals for families who visit particular areas. The traveler benefits by saving money while having the opportunity to visit the destination they desire.
There are obvious advantages of tourism for the destination host city and its inhabitants. Tourists need a comfortable place to stay while visiting the area, as well as food to eat. The competition for this business encourages quality for these services, which in turn provides a positive opinion of the area. This promotes repeat business for the tourist in addition to their word of mouth advertisement to friends and family. While visiting an area that is known for a particular point of interest, such as a natural wonder, people often take advantage of neighboring sights and activities also to further enhance their visit. It may include seeing a professional show or concert, shopping at local stores or enjoying outdoor activities such as golf, bike riding or boating. Like a domino effect, the advantages of tourism extend to most businesses and service providers in the area by increasing cash flow. Often, new businesses will be initiated to meet the demand of the tourist crowd which means more revenue for the city, more employment options for its residents and greater tax benefits from the government.
Often, residents of a popular tourist location lose sight of the advantages of tourism to their area because of the inconvenience they may suffer due to the increased number of people. In actuality, though, their “tourist trap” is the reason behind their very livelihood.