Passenger Transportation - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 120

OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION

Although tourists use planes, trains, motorcoaches, taxis, shuttle buses, boats, and cruise ships to
arrive at destinations, other modes of transportation are also an integral part of tourism. One of the
most important and easily overlooked is pedestrian travel, or walking. Tourists and locals alike depend
on their feet as a primary mode of travel. Tourists are great walkers, covering many miles sightseeing
or using their feet to arrive at an attraction, sidewalk caf e, or gelato stand. Thus, it is imperative that

pedestrian environments and the surface where tourists walk and the areas in which they move are
welcoming and safe. Tourism planners must make pedestrian travel part of their development plans.
The walking paths by the river in Brisbane, Australia, are an outstanding example of good planning
bene ting both tourist and locals with an attractive, safe, integrated transportation scheme. In
contrast, walking in Cairo, Egypt, or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a challenge.
In addition, walking tours around the world have proven popular, as evidenced by themany itineraries
offered by such firms as Country Walkers, whose slogan is '' 1

Cycling is another mode embraced by some travelers and tourist destinations. A number of
companies feature biking tours. The Hoge Veluwe National Park in Holland is laced with paths for cars,
bicycles, and walkers. There are more than 27 miles of paths speci cally designed for bicycling. While
most people visit the park for the Kroller-Muller Museum (famous for its Van Gogh paintings), the park
also contains a magni cent sculpture garden, forests, and sand dunes. It is possible to cycle your way
around the park, thanks to a thousand-plus fleet of free-to-use white bicycles. The fleet of bicycles
reduces bus and auto traf c in the park and allows tourists a convenient way to see all the sights.
Trams, cable cars, gondolas, and ski lifts are all additional modes of transportation that are
important to speci c resorts and destinations. They facilitate the flow of tourists and in many cases
bring them to places that would otherwise be inaccessible. Also, they can be tourist attractions
themselves.

'' Explore the world one step at a time.

SUMMARY

Transportation services and facilities are an integral component of tourism. In fact, the success of
practically all forms of travel depends on adequate transportation. Transportation services and
facilities are the arteries through which the lifeblood of the travel industry flows. Travel by air
dominates long- and middle-distance travel in the United States. But private automobiles carry the
bulk (about 80 percent) of all travelers on short trips. Automobiles are also very important on long and
international trips. Rental cars are popular, because they supplement air travel. Rail travel in the United
States has declined substantially since the 1950s but is still important in commuting and longer-haul
traf c. Motorcoach transportation is available in far more places than either air or rail, but it
constitutes a rather small percentage of total vehicle miles. Vacationing on cruise ships has become
the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. travel

industry. New and refurbished cruise ships are

appearing regularly.
Associations and groups of passenger carriers are important to their sectors well-being and

growth. Some of the most important are Air Transport Association of America; American Bus
Association; United Motorcoach Association; American Automobile Association (af liated with the
Canadian Automobile Association); World Touring and Automobile Association; Recreation Vehicle
Industry Association; Taxicab, Limousine, and Paratransit Association; National Limousine Association;
and the Cruise Lines International Association.
Increases in almost all forms of tourism automatically boost passenger traf c, sometimes creating
problems. Congestion can be especially bad on streets and roads and at airport terminals. Safety and
security are basic requirements, and successful tourism depends on these factors. The environment
will be affected by any form of transportation. Careful planning and increased awareness and
preventive measures are needed to minimize such undesirable effects.

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