What is a tourism system?

1. Components of the tourism system

a) key components include tourist generating regions, tourist destination regions and transit routes

b) volume and direction of travel between regions are influenced by transit routes

2. Relationship between tourist generating and destination regions

a) push factors at tourist generating regions and pull factors at tourist destination regions

b) interdependence of tourists, businesses and organisations at tourist generating and destination regions

What do you think attract tourists to Singapore?

What is a tourist?

A tourist is a person who makes a trip outside his/her usual environment which can be an overnight one or be completed within the same day. 

Tourists can be classified into:

• domestic tourists: tourists who travel within their own country

• international tourists: tourists who travel abroad to another country

There are many types of tourists. 

• Backpackers are tourists who travel light with a backpack and are often on a tight budget.

•  Business tourists travel to attend conferences or meetings. They may use their free time to participate in leisure activities. 

•  Pilgrims are tourists who travel to sacred sites, often to spiritually grow as a person. They may participate in religious rites and visit important religious places of worship. 

What is a tourist system?
A tourist system comprises of 3 interconnected components:

1. Tourist Generating Region - The region where tourists come from, and where people and businesses that offer tourism products and experiences (such as airlines and tour operators) may be based.

2. Transit Routes - The region or route a tourist travels through to reach the destination. This route links the tourist destination regions to the tourist generating regions. They include stopover points which might be used for convenience or because of the existence of attractions (such as stopover destinations [such as stopover destinations along a cruise route]

3. Tourist Destination Region -The region which attracts tourists. Attractions, amenities and facilities which cater to the needs of tourists are located. It is also the region that experiences the consequences of tourism development.

The movement of tourists from generating to destination regions occurs due to a combination of push-pull factors.

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3. Interactions between tourism and the environment

a) tourism activity interacts with nature, communities and economies in their local environment and beyond

b) changes to one part of the tourism system affects the local and wider environment, and vice versa

• There is an interdependence of tourists, businesses and organisations at tourist generating and  destination regions as each play a critical role in the tourism system. 

• They are mutually dependent as tourists would require the services of businesses, such as  hotels at the tourist destination regions.  

• When a tourist travels to a destination, they would need accommodation and lodgings.  The tourist is dependent on the provision of accommodations from the businesses.   The businesses in turn, are dependent on the tourists for revenue.  

• Tourists may require tour agencies, both at the tourist generating and destination regions.   Tourists will need tour agencies at the tourist generating region to make bookings for travel  tickets, hotels and activities and at destination regions for guides and information, booking of  tours and activities.  

• Tour agencies are reliant on tourists for revenue.  

• Tour agencies can also benefit hotels by sending tourists to use the services of the hotel as  the tourists make their reservations via the tour agencies. 

How does tourism interact with nature, communities and economies within the local environment and beyond?

• In a tourism system, tourism activity interacts with the environment.  Tourism activity interacts with nature, communities and economies in their local environment  and beyond. Changes to one part of the tourism system affects the local and wider environment, and vice  versa. 

•  Nature interacts with businesses when companies build and develop tourism-related businesses,  such as lodgings within the nature areas and attractions like lookouts, rest stops and even scenic  restaurants.  

•  Tourists require other services at the destination, giving the local communities an opportunity to  be a part of the tourism system and provide for the needs of the tourists.  

• As a result, the economy of the local community benefits from the arrival of tourists.  It is because of these interactions between nature, communities, and economies in their local  environment and beyond that shows the effect that each of these components of the tourist  system have on each other.