Unit 6: Specialist Tourism 

🧳 Learning Aim A: Understand the Range of Specialist Tourism Options and Providers

🔹 A1 – What is Specialist Tourism?

• Specialist tourism = customised trips for people with specific interests.
  
  

• Examples: Adventure, eco, medical, film, ghost tours, LGBT+, slum tourism, gastronomy, volunteering, religious, spa, heritage, dark tourism, wildlife, e-gaming and more!
  
  

• Types of experiences: Rewarding, enriching, adventurous, educational.
  
  

• Attractions:
  
  

  • Natural: mountains, jungles, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, wildlife events.
    
    

  • Built: historic sites, museums, religious temples, modern architecture, festivals, farms.
    
    

🔹 A2 – Independent Tour Operators

• Small, niche operators that focus on a specific type of tourism.
  
  

• Benefits: personalised, authentic experiences.
  
  

• Issues: lack of resources, competition from big brands.
  
  

🔹 A3 – Mass-Market Tour Operators in the Specialist Market

• Big travel companies (e.g. TUI) now offer specialist packages.
  
  

• Benefits: More exposure and access for customers.
  
  

• Issues:
  
  

  • Smaller companies lose customers.
    
    

  • Quality may suffer if not truly specialist.
    
    

🔹 A4 – Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and Booking Trends

• OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com allow easy access to specialist tourism.
  
  

• Trends:
  
  

  • More people using online booking.
    
    

  • OTAs target niche markets through social media.
    
    

  • Growth in mobile app use and customer reviews.

🌍 Learning Aim B: Explore the Growth and Popularity of Specialist Tourism

🔹 B1 – Who Takes Specialist Holidays?

• Customers: Families, couples, solo travellers, retirees, ethnic groups.
  
  

• Profile depends on interests, age, lifestyle, income, culture.
  
  

🔹 B2 – Global Growth of Specialist Tourism

• Reasons for growth:
  
  

  • Internet = more awareness
    
    

  • Cheap flights
    
    

  • More disposable income
    
    

  • Changing family structures (intergenerational travel)
    
    

🔹 B3 – Destinations and Types of Holidays

• Key types: Eco holidays, wine tours, religious pilgrimages, photography trips, safari, medical tourism.
  
  

• Popular destinations: Africa (safari), India (spiritual), Iceland (nature), Italy (food and wine), Japan (culture).
  
  

• Why these places? Unique experiences, natural or cultural appeal, expert providers.
  
  

🔹 B4 – Media and Review Sites

• Social media & review sites help shape customer choices.
  
  

• People read blogs, watch videos, and check TripAdvisor before booking.
  
  

• Impact:
  
  

  • Word-of-mouth is global now.
    
    

  • Media can make or break a destination’s reputation.

⏳ Learning Aim C: Evaluate the Longevity and Impact of Specialist Tourism

🔹 C1 – Changing Trends in Specialist Tourism

• Some types stay popular for years (e.g. wildlife tourism).
  
  

• Others fade fast (e.g. eclipse tours, pandemic-specific holidays).
  
  

• Long-term popularity affects how sustainable a destination is.
  
  

🔹 C2 – Butler’s Tourist Area Life Cycle (TALC)

• Explains how destinations change over time:
  
  

  • Exploration → Involvement → Development → Consolidation → Stagnation → Decline or Rejuvenation
    
    

• Some specialist destinations stay popular, others don't.
  
  

🔹 C3 – Impacts of Specialist Tourism

✅ Positive Economic Impacts:

• More local jobs and income
  
  

• Growth in local services and infrastructure
  
  

• Tourism spending supports other industries
  
  

❌ Negative Economic Impacts:

• Seasonal jobs only
  
  

• Tourism replaces traditional jobs
  
  

• Higher living costs (e.g. house prices)
  
  

✅ Positive Socio-Cultural Impacts:

• Revival of traditions and festivals
  
  

• Better community services and pride
  
  

❌ Negative Socio-Cultural Impacts:

• Loss of local culture (staged events)
  
  

• Increased crime and tourist-local tensions
  
  

✅ Positive Environmental Impacts:

• Conservation and environmental education
  
  

• Reuse of derelict areas
  
  

❌ Negative Environmental Impacts:

• Habitat destruction
  
  

• Pollution and overcrowding
  
  

• Wildlife disturbance