Question 4: TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1.2 Sustainable and responsible management plans

Sustainable and responsible management entails sound management of both the financial and environmental aspects of the tourist attraction.

1.6 General appearance and upkeep of the attraction

A successful attraction a good appearance. This means that regular maintenance of the facilities must take place.

7. Name two things that can be done to ensure staff obtain the skills needed to do their jobs properly? (4)

7. Good induction programmes and continuous training. (4)

8. Name 7 things that make an attraction accessible? (14)

8. Transport to the attraction, Transport at the attraction, Parking, Accommodation, Toilet facilities, Information, Support facilities and services. (14)

9. Is the general appearance and upkeep of an attraction important? (2)

9. Yes. (2)

4. Give 10 examples of famous world icons (20)

(any ten of the following below) Australia: Sydney Opera House, Ayers Rock/Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Brazil: The Statue of Christ the Redeemer Canada: Niagara Falls Italy: The Colosseum, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice, Vatican City Egypt: The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Sphinx Germany: Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate, The Black Forest China: The Great Wall of China Israel: The Dome of the Rock, The Wailing Wall Greece: The Parthenon India: The Taj Mahal Turkey: The Blue Mosque France: The Eiffel Tower, The French Riviera Japan: Mount Fuji Mexico: Chichén Itzá (Yucatan) Jordan: Petra Nepal: Mount Everest Saudi Arabia: Mecca Switzerland: The Swiss Alps Netherlands: Mill Network at Kinderdijk, Elshout Peru: Machu Picchu (Cuzcu) Poland: Auschwitz Concentration Camp Portugal: The Algarve Spain: Alcazar of Segovia, Bullfights Thailand: Floating markets Russia: The Kremlin, Red Square United Kingdom: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, London Bridge United States of America: The Statue of Liberty, The Grand Canyon. (20)

QUESTIONS: 1. What is the difference between tourist attractions and icons? (4)

1. Tourist attractions are places that tourists like to visit, such as national parks and heritage sites. An icon is a tourist attraction that is world famous and comes to represent or be symbolic of the country or city in which it is located. (4)

10. What are the five main areas in attraction management that impact on the success of an attraction? (10)

10. Marketing, Income and financial management, Human resources, visitor management, Operation management. (10)

2. What is the reason why some attractions become icons? (2)

2. Icons are unique and tourists find them fascinating because they are the only one of their kind in the world. (2)

3. Give an example of an icon linked to a famous person? (2)

3. Robben Island and Nelson Mandela. (2)

5. List 4 characteristics of a successful tourist attraction (8) 6. What does the phrase multiplier effect mean? (4)

5. Actual number of visitors exceeds the target number of visitors, repeat visits, income generated exceeds target figures, positive impact on local community and environment. (8)

Examples of famous world icons include:

Australia: Sydney Opera House, Ayers Rock/Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Brazil: The Statue of Christ the Redeemer Canada: Niagara Falls Italy: The Colosseum, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice, Vatican City Egypt: The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Sphinx Germany: Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate, The Black Forest China: The Great Wall of China Israel: The Dome of the Rock, The Wailing Wall Greece: The Parthenon India: The Taj Mahal Turkey: The Blue Mosque France: The Eiffel Tower, The French Riviera Japan: Mount Fuji © Via Afrika Publishers Mexico: Chichén Itzá (Yucatan) Jordan: Petra Nepal: Mount Everest Saudi Arabia: Mecca Switzerland: The Swiss Alps Netherlands: Mill Network at Kinderdijk, Elshout Peru: Machu Picchu (Cuzcu) Poland: Auschwitz Concentration Camp Portugal: The Algarve Spain: Alcazar of Segovia, Bullfights Thailand: Floating markets Russia: The Kremlin, Red Square United Kingdom: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, London Bridge United States of America: The Statue of Liberty, The Grand Canyon.

3. Profiles of tourists visiting icons

Different types of tourists will visit different types of icons, depending mainly on their interests, age, professions and income. A young adventurous tourist might climb Mount Everest while an older wealthier tourist might relax on the beaches of the French Rivera.

1.2.2 Financial management

Financial management issues that must be well managed to ensure the success of an attraction are: • The budget • External issues such as inflation and tax laws • Controlling costs and income.

2. Reasons why some attractions become icons

Icons are unique and tourists find them fascinating because they are the only one of their kind. Many icons are also proclaimed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO because of their special cultural or physical significance. Sometimes an icon provides a sense of identity. An icon may be linked to famous people such as Robben Island and Nelson Mandela.

1.1 Marketing of tourism products locally and /or internationally

Successful marketing strategies are key to the success of tourist attractions. The strategy must make the tourist attraction stand out from all other available options.

Factors contributing to the success of tourist attractions

Successful tourist attractions are those that: • Continue to attract tourists • Give enough information about the attraction where applicable • Provide for the needs of tourists • Meet the interests of the tourists • Are easily accessible • Are well maintained • Provide a safe experience for tourists.

1.2.1 Environmental management

The environment on which the attraction is dependent to exist, must be looked after.

1. Factors that make a tourist attraction successful

The five main areas in attraction management that impact on the success of an attraction are: • Marketing • Income and financial management • Human resources • visitor management • Operation management.

1.5 Safety and crime prevention

The safety and security of tourists is the highest priority of any tourist attraction and a strategy must be developed to protect tourists and make them feel safe.

2. Characteristics of a successful tourist attraction

These include: • Actual number of visitors exceeds the target number of visitors • Repeat visits • Income generated exceeds target figures • Positive impact on local community and environment.

1.4 Positive experience of visitors

To ensure positive visitor experiences it is important that: • Visitor numbers are controlled • Opening hours are convenient • Pricing is right • Pathways are clear and signage is displayed • Informative brochures and leaflets are available.

1.7 Considering the needs of people with disabilities

Tourism attractions should be accessible to all including people with disabilities.

2.1 The economic significance of icons for a country

Tourism icons are used by the tourism industry as pull factors and are often included in tour packages. The economic benefits of tourism reach almost everyone in the region in some way. This is called the multiplier effect which is an effect in economics in which an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption.

1. The difference between tourist attractions and icons

Tourist attractions are places that tourists like to visit, such as national parks and heritage sites. An icon is a tourist attraction that is world famous and comes to represent or be symbolic of the country or city where it is.

4. Statistics of tourists visiting icons

• Marketing strategies • The time and level of maintenance and upkeep of the icon • Restrictions to protect icons from possible damage caused by mass tourism.

1.8 Universal access

• Transport to the attraction • Transport at the attraction • Parking • Accommodation • Toilet facilities • Information • Support facilities and services.