Tourism in Perspective - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 9

Tourism is engaging in
wonderful, fun, family
experiences while on
vacation. Visiting an
interactive zoological park
such as Jungle Island and
enjoying an encounter with
lorikeets is a memorable
experience. Photocourtesyof
JungleIsland.

purpose '' is an arbitrary concept because many journeys are undertaken for a combination of reasons,

such as '' business and vacation. ''

COMPONENTS OF TOURISM
AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT

Tourism is a complex phenomenon, one that is extremely dif cult to describe succinctly. Any model of
tourism must of the tourism system, as well as the key

processes and outcomes that occur within tourism. These processes and outcomes include the very
essence of tourism, the travel experience, and the supporting means by which tourism is made
possible. Figure 1.2 attempts to describe the complexity of the relationships among the many
components of the tourism phenomenon.

'' capture '' the composition — or components —

The Tourist

The very heart of the tourism phenomenon model is unequivocally the tourists and the travel
experiences that they seek when visiting a tourism destination. In order for a destination to provide
stimulating, high-quality experiences, it is critical that both policy makers and managers be able to
understand tourists

motivation for pleasure travel, as well as the multiple factors that in uence their
selection of a destination, their mode of travel, and their ultimate choice among the myriad activities
that may ful ll their travel needs. It is only when we understand the tourist as fully as possible that we
can proceed to develop the facilities, events, activities, and programs that will distinguish a given
destination, thus making it uniquely attractive to the tourist.

'

Natural Resources and Environment

A fundamental dimension of the model is the natural

resources and environment component. Any given destination is primarily and unchangeably
characterized by its

— indeed, the very basis of much tourism —

climate
(the kind of weather it has over a period of years; i.e., the conditions of heat and cold, moisture and

physiography (the nature and appearance of its landscape) and its