Lecture 1

Introduction- Manifestations of Transport and Tourism

Introduction

• Transport has emerged as one of the more complex global economic sectors.

• It forms the backbone of national & international commerce by acting as a mechanism for the movement of freight & people.

• As a result, growth in transport systems share with growth in tourism & vice versa.

Introduction (Continued 1)

• Developments in transport can & will have an enormous impact on people’s mobility, motivation & demand.

• Tourists benefited from the introduction of new technologies in transportation which have affected the rise in demand of travel.

Definition of Modes, Networks and Flows

• Modes: (means of travel), transport modes (types) are manifested in three ways: ground transport, air transport and marine transport (a future mode, space transport, is considered in Chapter 9).

• Networks: ability of a mode or type of transport to profitably provide service and facilitate mobility.

• Flows: Traffic flows represent tangible measures of accessibility; they are captured in arrival statistics, load factors and demand models, and are governed by ability of modes and types of transport to service demand for traffic flow.

Correlation and Dependence between each concept:

1. Networks determine flows and flows justify networks:

• The ability of an airline to offer services to a particular destination, for example, plays an integral role in tourism development as it is the vector by which some tourists will arrive.

• The servicing of networks & flows is subject to numerous externalities, such as; market economics or simple demand, war & natural disasters. These will affect cost, demand & supply. Thus, the scope and size of networks can change.

1. Networks determine flows and flows justify networks: (Continued 1)

• Operators of modes of transport are therefore constantly reviewing the viability, in financial terms, of their networks.

For example; “Rail providers may choose to cut services where

demand is low due to the introduction of air services, and airlines may change their own network structure in response to decreasing demand along one or more network segments”

2. Patterns and intensities of flows determine viability of networks:

• When image and perception change to the extent that demand is reduced, the viability of a transport provider’s networks may be threatened if the pattern and/or intensity of flows is diminished.

• Transport providers often have a financial interest in ensuring a destination is marketable & thus attractive to tourists.

3 .Regulations govern modal operations:

• Despite movement toward deregulation of some transport modes (e.g. passenger air transport), transport remains a highly regulated economic industry.

• Transport services is still governed by policies and laws relating to safety, operations and competition.

4. Transport networks play a key role in development of

destinations, especially in context of accessibility and

connectivity:

• The pattern & scope of tourism is governed by the degree of accessibility & connectivity within a transport network.

• The ability of a destination to attract tourists is largely dependent on the availability and efficiency of transport needed to travel to that destination.

5. Growth in tourism and transport is bi-directional اإلتجاه and reasonably ثنائىsymbiotic تعايشى:

• Transport growth is not the only determining factor in tourism development, favorable conditions of demand & supply in both the origin & destination must also be present.

• The fluctuation in tourism amenities, attractions and new forms of mobility, have contributed to global and regional transport demand.

• Growth in both tourism and transport, of course, is not universally welcomed because of; the impact of tourism on the environment and local populations.

INNOVATION AND TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT

• There have been five ways in which innovation in transport has affected tourism:

1. Time reduction; (reduction in travel time, is a reduction in cost)

2. A reduction in financial cost 3. Improvement in comfort and safety for passengers4. Increased convenience; (through increases in

connectivity of destinations)5. Increased accessibility of destinations

Three critical aspects that frame the transport/tourism relationship:

1. Tourists ultimately travel to and from a destination (or several destinations).

2. Understanding supply and demand characteristics in relation to tourism is critical in the planning and management of transport infrastructure.

3. The dynamic nature of transport can have significant impact on tourism in a destination; (disruptions can be political, natural or business)

TRANSPORT IN THE TOURISM SYSTEM

• Positioning transport within the tourism system is useful in that it demonstrates how transport modes, nodes and networks interact to facilitate tourism.

There are a number of highlighted features and assumptions within this model:

1. It suggests that specific flows of tourists use networks and routings that link origin and destinations (or nodes; points & contract).

2. The model suggests that tourists might take advantage of various modes of transport within a particular destination, such as taxis, public transport, rail and air.

3. The model suggests that more than one destination is involved in any particular trip, and this has an impact on the use of various modes of transport.

Text book

• Duval D. (2007). Tourism and Transport: Modes, Networks and Flows. Multilingual Matters & Channel View Publications. (Chapter 1)