Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination

CAPE
Tourism Unit 1

Module 1: Concepts and Issues

1.0Definitions and Key Concepts

1.1 Definition of Tourism

- Tourism: is a social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the

movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for
personal or business professional purposes. These people are called visitors (which
may be either tourists or excursionists; residents or non-residents) and tourism has
to do with their activities, some of which involve tourism expenditure. (UNWTO)

- Mathieson and Wall (1982) defined tourism as “the temporary movement to

destinations outside the normal home and workplace, the activities undertaken
during their stay and the facilities created to cater for the needs of tourists.”

- Goeldner and Ritchie (2009) suggest that: Tourism maybe defined as the processes,
activities and outcomes arising from the relationships and the interactions among
tourists, tourism suppliers, host governments, host communities and surrounding
environments that are involved in attracting and hosting visitors.

Burkart and Medlik (1981) identified five characteristics associated with tourism that
lay the foundation for defining the concept.

 Tourism arises from the movement of people to, and their stay in, various
destinations;
 There are two elements in all tourism; the journey destination and the stay
including activities at the destination;
 The journey and the stay take place outside the normal place of residence and
work, so that tourism gives rise to activities which are distinct form those of the
resident and working populations of places through which tourists travel and in
which they stay;

Prepared by: Chrisel Shepherd

 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination
CAPE
Tourism Unit 1
 The movement to destinations is of temporary, short-term character, with the
intention to return within a few days, weeks or months; and
 Destinations are visited purposes other than taking up permanent residence or
employment remunerated from within the places visited.

1.2 Interdisciplinary Nature of Tourism

Tourism embraces all aspects of our society. The study requires an understanding of
tourist behavior; the sociocultural, economic and environmental impacts of tourism
development on destinations; the provision of transport services; the marketing of
tourism; the host-guest relationship and much more. Therefore, tourism is a
multidisciplinary field of study. Several disciplines contribute to the study of tourism:

Ecology

Sociology
Agriculture

Centre of
Toursim
Anthropology
Studies
Marketing

Economics
Geography

Prepared by: Chrisel Shepherd

 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination
CAPE
Tourism Unit 1
The dependence on several disciplines has presented some challenges in the development
of tourism as a field of study and has led to tourism being approached through a variety of
methods.

Activity 1: Briefly 1.3 Definition of a Tourist

explain the relationship - Tourist: people traveling to and staying in places
between Tourism and outside their usual environment for not more than
one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purpose. (WTO)

2.0 Classification of Tourism and Tourism

 Domestic Tourism: when people engage in leisure activities within their own
country.
 Regional Tourism: when people engage in leisure or entertainment within a
particular region.
 International Tourism: when people travel from one country to the next leisure that
is outside their region
 Inbound: Non-Resident or foreigner visits a given country.
 Outbound: when resided of a given country laves that country to visit another one.

2.1 Push / Pull Factor

Although a universally agree-upon conceptualization of the tourist motivation construct is

still lacking (Fodness, 1994), the push/pull model is accepted by many researchers (Dann,
1977; 1981; Crompton, 1979; Zhang and Lam, 1999; Jang and Cai, 2002; Hsu and Lam,
2003). Push factors are defined as internal motives or forces that cause tourists to seek
activities to reduce their needs, while pull factors are destination generated forces and the
knowledge that tourists hold about a destination (Gnoth, 1997). Most push factors are
instrinsic motivators, such as the desire for escape, rest and relaxation, prestige, health and
fitness, adventure and social interaction. Pull factors emerge due to the attractiveness of a
destination, including beaches, recreation facilities and cultural attractions (Uysal and
Jurowski, 1994). Traditionally, push factors are considered important in initiating travel

Prepared by: Chrisel Shepherd

 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination
CAPE
Tourism Unit 1
desire, while pull factors are considered more decisive in explaining destination choice
(Crompton, 1979, Bello and Etzel, 1985).

Activity 2: Identify and

discuss two pull and
push factors in

Prepared by: Chrisel Shepherd