Tourism in Perspective - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 12

role in determining the pro tability of individual firms. Although the system of governance of a
country or region may be viewed as an evolutionary dimension of overall culture, it is subject to
in uence and change within an observable time frame. Sometimes these changes can be quite
dramatic and can occur in a relatively short period of time in cultural terms. Recent high-pro le
examples include the worldwide phenomenon of deregulation and privatization and the more focused
process of economic (and eventually social) integration brought about by the formation of regional
trade blocs such as the European Union (EU) and the countries of North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA). Parallel initiatives in Asia are Asia Paci c Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the
Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). Even more recently, the events of September 11,
2001, have incited many governments to introduce new regulations concerning airline travel and entry
to countries that impact both domestic and international travel.

Operating Sectors of the Tourism Industry

The operating sectors of the tourism industry represent what many of the general public perceive as

'' sector (see Figure 1.2), comprising airlines, bus

companies, and so on, tends to typify the movement of people and travel (see Chapter 5). The
accommodation

tourism. '' First and foremost, the transportation

sector, which includes many well-known brands such as Hilton, Marriott, Howard
Johnson, Best Western, and so on, is highly visible to the public. Similarly, the sector also

contains a broad spectrum of brands and logos that have become part of everyday life in many
communities. Examples include world-famous fast-food chains (McDonald

food services

' s, Pizza Hut, Burger King,

KFC) and internationally known gourmet restaurants such as Maxim ' s in Paris and Alfredo ' s in Rome.

The accommodations and food service sectors are covered in Chapter 6.
The attractions sector also contains many well-known icons in the tourism industry. The
undisputed leader of the attraction world is Disneyland/Walt Disney World. Other world-famous
attractions include the upscale Louvre museum in Paris, France; the Hermitage in St. Petersburg,
Russia; Marineland and Knott

s Berry Farm in the United States; the pyramids in Egypt; Stonehenge in
the United Kingdom; the Acropolis in Athens, Greece; and Niagara Falls, Canada. Attractions are the
primary focus of Chapter 8.
Closely related to attractions is the

'

sector. Its icons include the Oktoberfest in Munich,
Germany; the Calgary Stampede in Canada; the Mardi Gras of New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
the Boston Marathon; and the Super Bowl in the United States, as well as such transient events as
World Cup Soccer and the International Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
The

events

sector is one of the most rapidly growing components of
modern tourism. Changes in demographics, values, and lifestyles are creating increasing demand for
activities such as gol ng, skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting, parasailing, hang gliding, mountain
biking, and mountaineering. Most of these activities are characterized by both an element of thrill
seeking and an element of being outdoors. An allied, related desire for closeness to nature has given
rise to the phenomenon of

adventure and outdoor recreation

, an ill-de ned and often abused term for any type of travel
activity in a natural setting (see Chapters 8 and 17).
At the other end of the

ecotourism

'' natural-manufactured '' spectrum is the equally fast-growing component

of . Certain destinations, most notably Las Vegas, Nashville, and Branson, Missouri,

have grown up on a heavy diet of world-famous entertainers. More traditionally, New York/Broadway
and Los Angeles/Hollywood have used various aspects of the entertainment industry to consolidate
their worldwide reputations as ''must see'' destinations.
Less glamorous, but still essential to the success and well-being of the tourism industry, are the
travel

entertainment

is composed of the retail
travel agent and the wholesale tour operator. Both of these entities are critical to linking

trade sector and tourism services (see Chapter 7). Travel trade

'' experience

suppliers and the tourist. The multifaceted travel industry services sector provides yet another type of

critical support for successful tourism. Computer support services, retail services, financial services,
specialized consulting services, and tourism educators all make an important and usually unique

''