Niche National Tourism Strategies (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Briley Habib
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Adventure tourism
What is niche tourism?
Niche tourism is special interest tourism:
Eco-tourism
Agro-tourism
Adventure
Heritage tourism
Dark tourism
Movie location tourism
Tourist numbers in niche tourism tend to be low
Often, these tourists are willing to spend more
Challenges of niche tourism
Competition from other tourist destinations may affect tourist numbers
Some niche tourist activities can fall out of fashion or in the case of movie and TV tourism there may be a decrease in popularity
The economic advantages are limited due to low visitor numbers
In some areas, too many visitors are attracted which impacts the environment
Adventure tourism
Adventure tourism has increased in popularity in recent years
Attracts high-value customers who are willing to spend more money on their holiday
To climb Mount Everest, there is a cost of £50,000
Not all adventure tourism is expensive
Adventure tourism supports local economies more than mass tourism
Adventure Tourism Trade Association suggests that 66% of revenue spent on adventure tourism remains in the destination
Encourages sustainable practices due to the involvement of local communities and promotes environmental protection for future use
In 2021, the global market share was $282.1 billion
Who participates in adventure tourism?
Couples, solo travellers and groups make up 80% of adventure tourists
Those aged 51-60 years make up the largest group of adventure tourists
According to the World Tourism Organisation, 85% of visitors aged 30-40 get their inspiration from social media groups like Facebook and Instagram
Types of adventure tourism
Soft adventure tourism is relatively safe and hardly requires skills and experience
Camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and safaris are all examples of soft adventure tourism
Hard adventure tourism requires some experience and more skills than soft adventure tourism
Caving, rock climbing and trekking are all examples of hard adventure tourism
The UK has the largest adventure tourism market in Europe, according to the World Tourism Authority
The UK receives 19% of the world’s adventure tourists
A recent Visit Britain survey suggested that 40% of British tourists prefer sports and active holidays
The Brecon Beacons
The National Showcaves Centre for Wales in the Brecon Beacons National Park is one of Wales's top attractions
There are three different caves Dan-yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave
The caves have 40 feet high waterfalls
In Bone Cave, there are the remains of 42 humans
BikePark Wales offers a variety of bike tours based on ability
Black Mountains Gliding Club offers tours 970 metres above sea level
Muddy Boots Hiking Tours offered tailored walks throughout the Brecon Beacons
Movie tourism
Many people like visiting places shown on television and in movies
Many theme parks have also been set up based around a movie series, such as Harry Potter in Universal Studios and the Harry Potter Studio tour
Location | TV series or movie |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | Downton Abbey television series (Highclere Castle) Harry Potter (Durham Cathedral) Coronation Street - television series (Manchester) The Great - television series (Belvoir Castle) Game of Thrones - television series (Northern Ireland) |
New Zealand | Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie series Avatar: The way of water |
USA | Gossip Girl tv series (New York) Vampire Diaries (Georgia) |
Movie tourism in Georgia, USA
There have been various impacts caused by movie tourism
Georgia, USA is an example of an area impacted by movie tourism
Georgia is known as the ‘Hollywood of the South’ due to a film tax credit program established in 2005
The tax incentives have transformed Georgia into a bustling hub for the movie industry
Douglas County is home to the Douglas Film Trail, which highlights filming locations of various movies and TV shows
The trail offers a self-guided tour of nine film locations throughout the area
Over 700 movies and television productions have been filmed in Douglas County
Projects include Stranger Things, Marvel’s Avengers Endgame, The Hunger Games, The Have and Have Nots, The Walking Dead, The Founder, and Smokey and the Bandit
Between 2011 and 2021, Georgia gained over 15,000 jobs in the movie industry
In 2022, the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition reported that there were nearly 60,000 jobs and more than $3.5 billion in labour value
$8.55 billion in total economic output and $5.54 billion in added economic value for the state of Georgia
Heritage tourism
Heritage tourism is sometimes referred to as cultural tourism
People are attracted to a place or area to see historical monuments or buildings, visit museums or experience the cultures and traditions of the communities
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu along with Cuzco, show the heritage of the Incas in Peru
The site is a 15th Century Incan citadel (fortified settlement)
A site of archaeological importance
It is a World Heritage Site, and in 2007, it was selected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World
The site is 2430 metres above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Andes and covers 32,500 hectares
It is culturally significant because the local communities adopt a traditional lifestyle that resembles that of their ancestors
Costs and Benefits of Tourism at Machu Picchu
| Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|---|
Economic | Revenue Generation: Significant revenue from entrance fees, guided tours, and the sale of souvenirs and local products. Revenue can contribute to the maintenance and preservation of Machu Picchu Job Creation: The tourism industry creates employment opportunities for local residents, ranging from tour guides and hotel staff to transportation providers and artisans Economic Diversification: The presence of tourists encourages the development of supporting industries such as restaurants, accommodations, transportation, and entertainment, leading to economic diversification Infrastructure Development: The influx of tourists may lead to investments in infrastructure, including roads, transportation, and facilities, which can benefit the local community beyond tourism | Infrastructure Strain: A sudden surge in tourism can strain local infrastructure, leading to issues such as traffic congestion, waste management problems, and pressure on public services Economic Dependence: Over reliance on tourism can make the local economy vulnerable to fluctuations in visitor numbers, external economic factors, or global events, posing risks to the stability of the community Leakage due to the multiplier effect takes place when money does not stay in the host country and when local workers are not used Tourism is volatile, as shown by the COVID-19 pandemic |
Social | It encourages pride for Peruvians that many people want to learn about their history and culture Encourages celebration of customs and cultural events Improvements in infrastructure, such as electricity and water, benefit local people | Abandonment of local cultures as local people become influenced by Western tourists Increase in local crime |
Environmental | Tourism has conserved the local environment because the government understands the economic benefits that take place due to tourism in this area | Visitor numbers have been increasing, which causes environmental issues such as footpath erosion and waste pollution Local infrastructure cannot cope with the number of tourists The Urubamba River is overloaded with untreated sewage and its banks are covered with garbage |
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