Chapter 1

KEY CONCEPTS OF
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
M.A Dang Vu Minh
Thu
 Introduction
Tourism:
• Business providing transport,
accommodation, entertainment for
temporary travelers.
• Includes travel methods & activities at
destination.
• Valuable industry → big economic
benefits.
Tourists:
• Travel from place to place using
tourism services & facilities.
 Domestic tourism
is when a tourist travels within their
own country.
 Advantages for
tourists:
• No language barriers → allows the
tourist to travel around easily
• Same currency → no currency exchange
costs
• Similar culture → no culture shock
• No travel documentation (passport/visa)
→ saves money & time
• Use own transport (cars) → reduces
costs, increases convenience
 Other
advantages:
• Less environmental impact → avoid
flying, shorter distances, public
transport
• Less affected by global shocks → feel
safer & more certain when travelling in
own country
• Increase understanding → national
culture & heritage
Case study
 Inbound
tourism
when a tourist from one country
travels to another that is not their
normal country of residence
• Tourists in this category →
inbound tourists
• Example → Tourist from China to
Malaysia → inbound tourist to
Malaysia
 Inbound
tourism
Tourism industry role:
• Monitor countries inbound tourists are from → source
market for tourism
• Government/ministry responsible for tourism → create
detailed tourism statistics of tourist numbers and
trends
 Outbound
tourism
when a tourist leaves the country
where they normally live and
travels to another country
• Example → Tourist from China
to Malaysia → outbound tourist
from China
Activity 1.1
International tourism
 International
tourism
International tourism → travelling
internationally (inbound/outbound).
Requires more preparation than
domestic tourism:
• Currency exchange
• Transport booking (e.g. flights)
• Up-to-date passport
• Visa
• Prepare for different language &
culture
 Day trip
Tourist returns home same day → travel < 24h → no
overnight stay.
Reasons:
• Pleasure (e.g. beach, city visit)
• Work (e.g. meeting in another
city/country)
• Visiting friends/relatives

People may not realise they’re tourists

→ but if they travel away from where
they normally live/work/study → they
Day trip
 Short break
is when tourists take away from
home ≤ 4 nights (weekend/mid-week
trip).
Popular for:
• Second holidays
• People with limited time (work, health,
commitments)
Popularity factors:
• Easier access to transport
• Increased wealth in some countries
• Rising demand for tourism
Consider tourist’s home location:
• Large countries → domestic tourism may
need long-haul flights
• Small countries / near borders → can
travel internationally as day trip.
1.2 Main reasons
why people travel
• Leisure
• Business
• Visiting friends & relatives
(VFR)
 Leisure travel
is when tourists travel for the purpose of leisure,
enjoyment or recreation → widely known as a holiday
or vacation
• Travellers → known as leisure tourists
• Common types of holidays: sun, sea and sand
holidays; other types: sightseeing, shopping,
pilgrimages
• Leisure tourists: only able to travel for the time they
have available away from commitments (work, school,
family responsibilities)
 Leisure travel
• Main focus when away: enjoyment
• Length of leisure travel: short breaks (up to 4 nights)
OR longer (1–2 weeks)
• Distance travelled: significant influence on leisure
holidays
→ few willing to travel long distances for short breaks
(3–4 days) because journey can take a day of available
time
Case study
 Business travel
is when tourists travel for the purpose of work → they
are known as business tourists

• Business tourists: travel alone or with other work

colleagues
• Paid for by company the tourist works for
+ company usually chooses & organises transport
and accommodation
+ sometimes tourist given budget + freedom to
choose within budget
• Travel characteristics: throughout the year → less
 Business travel
• Business tourists → travel when company tells them to
OR when work-related need arises
• Return: once work is complete → rarely have time for
sightseeing
• Types of business travel → acronym MICE
• Each type has set of typical characteristics (see Table
1.1 and Figure 1.5)
 Business travel
Business Travel Changes
• Technology and COVID-19 have changed business
communication.
• Virtual meetings reduce the need for business travel.
• This trend will continue as technology and society
evolve.
 Visiting friends and
relatives
is when tourists travel for the primary purpose
other people (friends/family)
of visiting

• Tourist are known as VFR tourists → including

weddings and funerals
• Most of them will stay with friends/ family → less
beneficial for the travel + tourism industry
• Increased global migration + work/ study abroad →
more VFR travel and tourism.
Activity 1.3
 Special interest
• May not be simply fortravel
pleasure and enjoyment as with
leisure → travel for medical reasons (surgery)
• Other types:
⚬ religious reasons (to Jerusalem or Mecca)
⚬ adventure (trekking, climbing, kayaking)
⚬ sports (marathon)
⚬ health and well-being (spa tourism)
→ These categories of special interest travel are
forever changing as global situations, fashions, and
1.3 Sustainability in
travel and tourism
Our actions today can affect the future
• Cause air pollution
• Affect the natural environment
• Clear forests
• Pollute clean sea water
• Damage animal habitats
• Lost traditional ways of life
 Sustainability
is about trying to protect the future environment
and people’s way of life from harm
 Sustainable travel and
tourism
Travelling to destinations in ways that are
sustainable
→ Example: travelling by train instead of by air
Staying in and visiting destinations in ways
that are sustainable
→ Example: staying in eco-friendly
accommodation
 Ecotourism and Responsible
tourism
Ecotourism: tourism for visitors who want to visit the
natural environment
→ Example: overnight stay on an organic farm in France →
ecotourist
→ Eco-friendly accommodation if:
• Meals are made from organic food produced on the
farm
• Waste is recycled
• Electricity is generated on the farm using wind or solar
Ecotourism and Responsible
tourism
 Ecotourism and Responsible
Responsible tourism:tourism
behaving respectfully towards the
environment and local people
→ Any tourism can be responsible if visitors behave
respectfully towards the environment and the local
community
→ Example: in a city destination,
responsible tourists:
• Do not litter in the streets or make too
much noise
• Hire a local tour guide
• Spend money in locally owned shops
Ecotourism and Responsible
tourism
Case study
Activity 1.4
1.4 Characteristics of
travel and tourism
 Products
• Two types of travel and tourism products:
goods and services.
• Goods: tangible items (e.g., suitcase, travel
guidebook).
• Services: intangible actions done for you (e.g.,
taxi ride).
 Services
• Involves people doing things for tourists (e.g., ferry
captain steering for passengers).
• Wide variety: transport, accommodation, guided tours,
entertainment, attractions, food & beverage, currency
exchange.
 Intangibl
e purchase → rely on info provided
• Cannot test before
• Promise (enjoyable time, good customer service,
needs & wants met)
• Tourists have different needs (fast & efficient vs.
relaxing & scenic)
• Common needs: safe, comfortable journey
 Perishabl
e
• Cannot be stored for later use/sale
• Example: ferry tickets (max capacity, unsold
tickets perish) → Results: loss of sales,
money
Products: Goods and
Services
• Organisations may sell
goods alongside services
• Example:
⚬ Museum: sell/provide
guidebooks → increase
enjoyment,
understanding
⚬ Visitor attraction: sell
souvenirs → remember
experience
 Products: Goods and
Services
• Tangible (goods) vs intangible (service)
• Example: restaurant meal → food = tangible (goods),
cooking = intangible (service)
→ Can be both goods + service
Activity 1.5
 Seasonality
• Travel & tourism demand varies → seasonality
• High tourist numbers at certain times; low at others
• Weekly variations (e.g., busy weekend, quiet weekdays)

Factors:
• Weather & climate
• Religion
• School & national holidays
• Special events/festivals

→ Organisations split year into peak season & off-peak

season to manage demand
Seasonality
Activity 1.6
 Overcoming
• Lower prices seasonality
to encourage tourists
• Offer facilities/activities for different
weather
• Provide all-weather facilities
• Host events & festivals
• Target tourists willing to travel in off-
peak season
Case study
 Dynamic
• Always changing to meet customer needs, external
influences, and technology.
• Adaptable/personalised products in demand.
• Example: Air travel → Book seats, meals, lounges
online.
 Increasingly
sustainable
• Growing demand for sustainable tourism.
• Awareness of travel’s impact on environment,
economy, people.
 Resilient
• Can recover from shocks (pandemic, attacks,
disasters).
• Dynamic nature enables quick adaptation and
survival.
1.5 Types of
tourists
Classification of tourists by:
• Reason for travel (leisure, business, special
interest)
• Preferences (independent, responsible,
ecotourists)
• Needs (families, individuals, couples, groups,
special needs)
 Leisure tourists
• Price sensitive; have a set budget.
• Aim for enjoyment and value for money.
• Often time-constrained → cause seasonal
demand.
• Products used depend on travel purpose:
⚬ Sun, sea, sand holiday → affordable hotel
near beach.
⚬ Day trip → visit museum or use local
 Business tourists
• Travel for specific work tasks → time
sensitive.
• Little/no choice on when & where to travel;
often short notice.
• Prefer locations near transport & restaurants.
• Need products fitting work schedule (e.g. early
breakfast).
• Expenses paid by business → spend more than
leisure tourists.
Activity 1.7
 Special interest
tourists
• Travel for a special purpose/interest.
• Requirements depend on reason for travel:
⚬ Cultural tourism → experience & learn local culture
(events, festivals, museums, cuisine, music, dance).
⚬ Adventure tourism → physically challenging & safe
activities (instructor, equipment).
• Must identify tourist’s specific interest to provide
suitable products.
• Many options available due to increasing variety in
special interest travel.
 Independent tourists
• Book travel & holiday themselves; prefer freedom to
choose.
• Plan itinerary based on own preferences; book transport &
activities separately.
• Enjoy flexibility & independence.
• Increasing in number due to demand for variety.
Responsible tourists
• Travel respectfully toward environment &
local people.
• Preferences vary, but all aim to minimise
negative impacts.
• Focus on responsible tourism practices.
 Ecotourists
• Travel to experience the natural
environment
• Make as little impact on the
environment as possible
• Focus on nature and natural elements
of the place
 Ecotourists
Characteristics
• Enjoy specific natural elements of the
place
• Minimize negative environmental
impacts
• Seek education, raise environmental
awareness
• Provide financial benefits to
 Families
Family Group Variations
• parent(s) with babies and/or
young children
• parent(s) with teenage children
• parent(s) with young children and
teenagers
• grandparents, parents and
children
• grandparents and grandchildren
• adults and senior/older relatives
 Families
Family Travel Purpose
• Travel for leisure, special interest, or VFR
• Excludes business tourists
• Prefer products suitable for all family
members
• Regardless of combination or size
 Individuals
• Travel alone

• Any age, leisure, business, VFR, or

special interest
• May join guided tours or group-based

activities
• Prefer solitude in tourism activities and

products
Couples
• Two adults travelling together

• Focused on spending time together

• May travel with other tourists or on

their own
• Products: romantic hotels,

restaurant tables apart, well-being

 Groups
• Include people of different

ages
• Each person has individual

needs and preferences

• May require large table in

restaurant or hotel rooms

 Specific needs
• Mobility disabilities (wheelchair user to unable to

walk/stand)
• Sensory disabilities (hearing, visual impairments)

• Medical condition

• Dietary requirements (allergies, religious beliefs)

• Language, religious, or cultural differences

• Equal access to products as common requirement

Case study
1.6 Types of
destinations
 Beach and Coastal
Destinations
• Places tourists visit near the sea
• Grand Baie (Mauritius, Figure 1.19) is a beach
destination
• Port Louis (Mauritius, Figure 1.20) is a coastal port
town/city
• Coastal not always beach destinations (port towns or
cities)
Rural or Countryside
Destinations
 Resorts
• Places for fun, holidays, relaxation, tourism activities
• Purpose-built resorts (ex: theme parks) for tourist
visits
• Seaside resorts, some with integrated hotel, restaurant,
entertainment
• Eco-resorts are environmentally friendly
 Island Destinations
• Islands tourists visit
• Mauritius is an island

destination
• Grand Baie and Port Louis are

beach/coastal on the island

• Different scales: Black River

Gorges, Seven Coloured Earth

Geopark (Figure 1.22) are
 Case study
• Breckenridge green destination
(page 24)
Activity 1.9
Thank You