Tourism Study

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. There has been an up market trend in the tourism over the last few decades, especially in Europe, where international travel for short breaks is common. Tourists have high levels of disposable income, considerable leisure time, are well educated, and have sophisticated tastes. There is now a demand for better quality products, which has resulted in a fragmenting of the mass market for beach vacations; people want more specialized versions, quieter resorts, family-oriented holidays or niche market-targeted destination hotels. The developments in technology and transport infrastructure, such as jumbo jets, lowcost airlines and more accessible airports have made many types of tourism more affordable. WHO estimates that up to 500,000 people are on planes at any time. There have also been changes in lifestyle, such as retiree-age people who sustain year round tourism. This is facilitated by internet sales of tourism products. Some sites have now started to offer dynamic packaging, in which an inclusive price is quoted for a tailor-made package requested by the customer upon impulse.

Impact of Tourism on a Country

Tourism places a major role in a country. Tourism creates job opportunities for the citizen of that country. The sum of income in a country is called national income and the importance of tourism to a countries economy can be measured by calculating the proportion of national income created by tourism. In recent years tourism in India has shot up at lightning speed. India has succeeded in becoming the most preferred place amongst domestic and overseas traveler. Tourism exposes the international traveler to Indias diverse culture. According to some official estimates Indian tourism has surpassed global tourism as far as penetration of foreign tourists and revenue is concerned. As far as internal reasons are concerned, India tourism has progressed due to the rate of growth of Indian economy. The impact of tourism can be explained in three points of view, they are 1. Economic Impact 2. Social and Cultural Impact 3. Environmental Impact

Economic Impact
Tourism, a large, complex and fragmented industry which is still very difficult to define and measure, is a key component of the service economy. Its high growth and development rates, considerable volumes of foreign currency inflows, infrastructure development, and introduction of new management and educational experience actively affect various sectors of economy, which positively contribute to the economic development of the country as a whole. The main economic impacts are 1. It provides more fixed earnings than primary products
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2. The foremost advantage is the financial gain it brings to the locality and the region. 3. Tourism helps to get export earning rates at economic foreign exchange for several countries. 4. Tourists contribute to sales, profits, jobs, tax revenues, and income in an area 5. The most direct effects occur within the primary tourism sectors --lodging, restaurants, transportation, amusements, and retail trade. 6. Tourism industries are labor and income intensive, translating a high proportion of sales into income and corresponding jobs. 7. Changes in prices -- tourism can sometimes inflate the cost of housing and retail prices in the area, frequently on a seasonal basis. 8. anges in the quality and quantity of goods and services tourism may lead to a wider array of goods and services available in an area (of either higher or lower quality than without tourism). 9. taxes to cover the cost of local services may be higher or lower in the presence of tourism activity

Environmental Impact
The quality of the environment, both natural and man-made, is essential to tourism. However, tourism's relationship with the environment is complex. It involves many activities that can have adverse environmental effects. Many of these impacts are linked with the construction of general infrastructure such as roads and airports, and of tourism facilities, including resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, golf courses and marinas. The negative impacts of tourism development can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which it depends. Extensive damage to the environment caused by recreation and tourism, including despoiling of coastlines by construction of tourist facilities; pollution of the sea; loss of historic buildings to make way for tourist facilities; loss of agricultural land for airport development, etc. Negative impacts from tourism occur when the level of visitor use is greater than the environment's ability to cope with this use within the acceptable limits of change. Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires. It often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources. On the other hand, tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. It is a way to raise awareness of environmental values and it can serve as a tool to finance protection of natural areas and increase their economic importance.

Social and Cultural Impact

Nowadays the level of awareness is quite high that tourism has a general impact on the destination.Tourism also has another impact, namely the socio-cultural. This means that social structures, the culture and traditions can be influenced, changed or even completely substituted due to tourism. Social contacts between tourists and local people may result in mutual appreciation, understanding, tolerance, awareness, learning, family bonding respect, and liking. Residents are educated about the outside world without leaving their homes, while
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their visitors significantly learn about a distinctive culture. Local communities are benefited through contribution by tourism to the improvement of the social infrastructure like schools, libraries, health care institutions, internet cafes, and so on. Besides, if local culture is the base for attracting tourists to the region, it helps to preserve the local traditions and handicrafts which maybe were on the link of the extinction. Most jobs for local people in the tourist industry are as servants, house maids, waiters, gardeners and other menial work that may give people a sense of inferiority. At the same time the tourists come from other societies with different values and lifestyles, and because they have come seeking pleasure, they may spend large amounts of money and behave in ways that even they would not accept at home. Tourism has the power to affect cultural change. There are also both negative and positive impacts of tourism on the local ecology. Tourism often grows into mass-tourism. It leads to the over consumption, pollution, and lack of resources.

Importance of National Tourism Organization and Public Policy

The national tourist organization is the body responsible for the formation and the implementation of national tourist policy. It is the proper agency and the instruments for the execution of national government responsible for the control, direction and promotion of tourism. The objective of national tourism organization is to ensure that the maximum possible value from international tourism occurs to the country for its economic and social benefit. To achieve this objective the NTO has three main functions which are a) Control b) Direction c) Promotion NTO is responsible for overall policy planning marketing and promotion of countries, tourist products. The main responsibility of NTO can be grouped as follows a) b) c) d) e) Planning and control Marketing and Promotion Financial International relations Co-ordination

For any industry discipline to develop an organization is an essential pre-requisite as it plays a vital role in its proper planning, development and growth. An organization may consist of individuals whose primary role is the achievement of objective for which it has been set up

WTO (World Tourism Organization)

The World Tourism Organization (WTO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and practical source of tourism know-how. With its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, the WTO plays a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, with the aim of contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms. In pursuing this aim, the
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Organization pays particular attention to the interests of developing countries in the field of tourism. The WTO plays a catalytic role in promoting technology transfers and international cooperation, in stimulating and developing public-private sector partnerships and in encouraging the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximize the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimizing its negative social and environmental impacts.

IUOTO (International Union of Official Travel Organizations)

The only international organization IUOTO groups together the development of official tourist organization in all part of the world on the basis of one for each country and territory. The main aim is to stimulate and increase the free flow of persons in the interest of economic development and to strengthen social and cultural relations.

PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association)

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of the Asia Pacific travel and tourism industry. In partnership with PATAs private and public sector members, we enhance the sustainable growth, value and quality of travel and tourism to, from and within the region. The Pacific Asia Travel Association is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to building responsible travel to the Pacific Asia region through. The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)s advantage is that it continues to influence the direction the industry takes through its unique membership structure of public-sector tourism organizations; air, land and sea carriers; and organizations engaged in the production, distribution, financing, consulting, educating and other technical aspects of the travel industry. PATA Chapters are established throughout the world to assist in the fulfillment of the objectives of the Association. They are local community organizations of travel industry professionals who join in a co-operative endeavour -within the framework of PATA to develop travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific area.

WATA (World Association of Travel Agencies)

Formed in 1949, the World Association of Travel Agencies, commonly known as WATA, is the global network of professional travel agents operating throughout the world to provide customers with top quality service and expertise. Joining WATA, independent travel agents become part of the Global Network that gives them a recognized presence in all parts of the world, a network where costs are highly competitive and the services are excellent.The aim of WATA is to be a worldwide network of agencies of which the quality is indisputable. This level of quality must be the characteristic of all WATA members. When a WATA member has business for a certain destination, the WATA member of this destination must be given the opportunity to quote for such business. If this quotation is not accepted, the reasons for the refusal must be communicated, if requested. WATA maintains a permanent secretariat as its headquarters in Nyon - Switzerland - to cover the association's administrative needs. The Executive Committee is responsible for the administration and direction of the Association, its relationship with members and third parties, the fulfilling of the aims of the Association, compliance with the Articles of Association and Rules, resolutions of the General Assembly and ensures the legal representation of the Association.
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UFTAA (United Federation of Travel Agents Associations)

The United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA) emanates from the Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations created in Rome, Italy, on November 22nd, 1966. UFTAA was originally founded as a result of a merger of two large world organizations, FIAV and UOTAA, recognizing the need to unify travel agencies and touroperators into one international federation. It is a non-profit Confederation of international scope, representing Regional Federations comprising some 80 national associations. The Club will create an opportunity for members to interact socially and offer a platform for business networking exclusively for members only. The main objective of the Club is to create a global travel and tourism community for the benefit of the industry. UFTAA includes individual travel agencies, hotels, tourist offices, the national or regional associations of travel and tourism and, generally speaking, the stakeholders of the tourism and travel industry.

TAAI (Travel Agents Association of India)

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) was formed towards the end of the year 1951 by a group of twelve leading Travel agents, who felt that the time had come to create an Association to regulate the Travel industry in India. The primary purpose was to protect the interests of those engaged in the industry, to promote its orderly growth and development and to safeguard the rights of the traveling public. TAAI represents all that is professional, ethical and dynamic in our nation's Travel related activity and has been recognised as the voice of the Travel and Tourism industry in India. With a membership data base of over 2400 Active; Allied and Associate members comprising of IATA accredited Travel Agencies; Airlines & General Sales Agencies; Hotels and Tour operators. TAAI is the largest Travel Association of India. The manner in which TAAI conducts itself on issues of trade principles and practices will determine its contribution to the Travel and Tourism industry.

IATA (International Air Transport Association)

Air transport is one of the most dynamic industries in the world. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is its global trade organization. Over 60 years, IATA has developed the commercial standards that built a global industry. Today, IATAs mission is to represent, lead and serve the airline industry. Its members comprise some 230 airlines - the worlds leading passenger and cargo airlines among them - representing 93 percent of scheduled international air traffic. IATA seeks to improve understanding of the industry among decision makers and increase awareness of the benefits that aviation brings to national and global economies. It fights for the interests of airlines across the globe, challenging unreasonable rules and charges, holding regulators and governments to account, and striving for sensible regulation. IATAs aim is to help airlines help themselves by simplifying processes and increasing passenger convenience while reducing costs and improving efficiency. Another main concern is to minimize the impact of air transport on environment. IATA ensures that people and goods can move around the global airline network as easily as if they were on a single airline in a single country. In addition, it provides essential professional support to all industry stakeholders with a wide range of products and expert services, such as publications, training and consulting.
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ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents)

American Society of Travel Agents(ASTA) is the world's one of the largest association of travel professionals. ASTAs mission is to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. Its members include travel agents, intermediaries, and supplier companies who offer travel products and services such as tours, cruises, hotels, destinations, tourist bureaus, ground transport, car rentals, local guides and hosts. ASTA calls itself the leading advocate for travel agents, the travel industry and the traveling public, and has over 20,000 members in 140 countries. It is governed by a 15-member US-based Board of Directors drawn from members eligible to vote.

Preparation of Itinerary of Tourists and Package Tours

Itinerary: An itinerary is a detailed list of what you will be doing and where you will be while you are away. Include information about transportation methods, places you will be staying, attractions you will be visiting, meetings you will be attending etc. It serves as guide book for travelers which explain the proposed route of travel. An itinerary should be prepared according to time, date, location, purpose of travel and finally considering the need of consumer Package tour: A package tour means a fully organized vacation tour. A tour organized in advance by a travel company to whom the vacationer or tourist pays a single fee covering transportation, accommodations, meals, and often entertainment.

Ecotourism
Perhaps the most over-used and mis-used word in the travel industry. But what does it mean? The Ecotourism Society defines it as "responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people". A walk through the rainforest is not eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and the people who live there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and funds to help protect the watershed. A loose interpretation of this definition allows many companies to promote themselves as something that they are not. If true ecotourism is important to you, ask plenty of questions to determine if your trip will help "conserve and improve" the places you visit. As a thoughtful and responsible traveler there are several things you can do before, during and after your journey to ensure the experience is in line with the values of "ecotourism" and minimize your impact on the host country. Ecotourism involves natural destinations which are often remote areas, whether inhabited or uninhabited, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection at the national, international, communal or private level.

Environmental Issues on tourism

Tourism is almost wholly dependent on the environment. Natural resources (beaches, seas, mountains, lakes, rivers etc) and manmade resources (historic cities, heritage buildings and sites, monuments etc) constitute the primary source of tourism. Any degradation of the primary sources is likely to lead to a decline of tourism. The main environmental impacts of tourism are (a) pressure on natural resources, (b) pollution and waste generation and (c)
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damage to ecosystems. Furthermore, it is now widely recognized that not only uncontrolled tourism expansion is likely to lead to environmental degradation, but also that environmental degradation, in turn, poses a serious threat to tourism. Like other economic activities, tourism consumes resources. Today, tourism is one of the major economic activities in the world. It contributes roughly 6 per cent of the world income. Naturally, it has a marked impact on the demand for exhaustible and renewable resources. It generates significant wastes and thus disposal problems. The environmental effects, widely defined, include cultural and social elements, and are probably the biggest problem of tourism. Areas where overcrowding and overdevelopment occur are often relatively small and possess fragile environments. At peak season visitors can outnumber the resident population. Hosts, tourism firms are seldom aware of the unintentional damage being caused to monuments, paintings, ecosystem. Excess numbers also increases the demand for secondary resources, water, energy which might be scarce at certain destinations (Romeril, 1998). Loss of flora and fauna occurs due to tourism expansion. The influx of tourists with a different life-style, large financial resources, and nonindigenous services can not only disturb existing economic life but also can destroy the cultures (Pearce, 1989). Environmental impact of tourism is most visible in tourist destinations. But effects are also visible at points of origin and transit. For example, the output of aircrafts, ferries, buses, cars equipment and promotional material consumes productive and energy resources and generates waste in origin areas while travel creates pollution in the atmosphere and adversely effects the environment of areas traversed. Besides the consumption of large amounts of natural and other local resources, the tourism industry also generates considerable waste and pollution. Improper disposal of liquid and solid waste generated by the tourism industry has become a particular problem for many developing countries and regions that lack the capacity to treat these waste materials properly. Disposal of such untreated waste has, in turn, contributed to reducing availability of the abovementioned resources at the local level. Tourism can cause the same forms of pollution as any other industry: air emissions, noise, solid waste and littering, releases of sewage, oil and chemicals, even architectural/visual pollution

Water Pollution
Tourism development results the pollution of water, lakes and rivers. Water, and especially fresh water, is one of the most critical natural resources. The tourism industry generally overuses water resources for hotels, swimming pools, golf courses and personal use of water by tourists. This can result in water shortages and degradation of water supplies, as well as generating a greater volume of waste water. Apart from the contamination of freshwater from pollution by untreated sewage, tourist activities can also lead to land contamination from solid waste and the contamination of marine waters and coastal areas from pollution generated by hotels and marinas, as well as cruise ships. It is estimated that cruise ships in the Caribbean Sea alone produced more than 70,000 tons of liquid and solid waste a year during the mid-1990s.23 The fast growth of the cruise sector in the region may have exacerbated this problem in recent years. Furthermore, a particular cause of concern for coastal areas and small islands is the illegal disposal of sewage, solid waste and cargo residues by merchant ships, which cause marine and beach pollution. Tourists can place a burden on the aquatic environment or ecosystem by: demanding higher availability of water for accommodations thus reducing stream flow, developing roadways and built-up areas with increased run off, discharging materials not native to the environment (chemicals), contaminating groundwater supplies with dumpsites, requiring improved depths on near

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shore areas for vessels, depositing trash or litter in the water , changing the flow of groundwater or surface streams ,discharging hydrocarbons from fueling depots etc.

Air Pollution
Transport by air, road, and rail is continuously increasing in response to the rising number reported that the number of international air passengers worldwide rose from 88 million in 1972 to 344 million in 1994. One consequence of this increase in air transport is that tourism now accounts for more than 60% of air travel and is therefore responsible for an important share of air emissions. One study estimated that a single transatlantic return flight emits almost half the CO2 emissions produced by all other sources (lighting, heating, car use, etc.) consumed by an average person yearly. (Mayer Hillman, Town & Country Planning magazine, September 1996. Source: MFOE). Transport emissions and emissions from energy production and use are linked to acid rain, global warming and photochemical pollution. Air pollution from tourist transportation has impacts on the global level, especially from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to transportation energy use. And it can contribute to severe local air pollution. Some of these impacts are quite specific to tourist activities. For example, especially in very hot or cold countries, tour buses often leave their motors running for hours while the tourists go out for an excursion because they want to return to a comfortably airconditioned bus. Noise pollution from airplanes, cars, and buses, as well as recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles and jet skis, is an ever-growing problem of modern life. In addition to causing annoyance, stress, and even hearing loss for it humans, it causes distress to wildlife, especially in sensitive areas. For instance, noise generated by snowmobiles can cause animals to alter their natural activity patterns.

Habitat Destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms which previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of harvesting natural resources for tourism. Habitat destruction is currently ranked as the most important cause of species extinction worldwide. It is a process of environmental change important in evolution and conservation biology.

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