Sunday 8 June 2008

Accommodation

wide range of facilities:
hotels, motels and guesthouses,
timeshares
youth hostels
holiday centres
bed and breakfast
caravans and camping sites

Eating arrangements:

B&B = Continental plan bed and breakfast only
Self catering accommodation only is provided together with facilities for preparing and cooking own food
Half board = Modified Bed and two meals - usually breakfast and evening meal
Full board = American plan Bed, breakfast, lunch and evening meal
All inclusive Bed, breakfast, lunch,evening meal, snacks often includes drinks and entertainment



Hotel Grading schemes

Help tourists to distinguish different types of accommodation.

E.g. English Tourism Council, AA, RAC

Properties are visited annually by trained impartial assessors.
Hotels and self catering accommodation are given star ratings * = poor ***** = higher quality and greater range of faclilites and level of service provided.

Guest accommodation are rated between 1 and 5 diamonds . The more diamonds awarded, the higher the overall quality in areas such as cleanliness, service and hospitality.

Different customer types (tourism)

  • Families
  • tourists
  • OAPs
  • organised party groups
  • disabled people
  • day trippers
  • overseas visitors
  • businessmen and women
  • people living outside area - domestic market

Tourist information and guiding services

Tourist information centres
Regional tourist boards
Guided tours on open top buses
tour guides
VisitBritain

Tourist information centres are located in:
City centres
town centres
historical towns
popular tourist destinations

Local tourist information centres: Library Solihull

  1. give advice about accommodation, car hire, visitor attractions, restaurants, transport.
  2. provide maps of town and region they serve
  3. Funded by local authority
  4. located in centre of towns or cities
  5. information as to what is on - theatres, concerts
  6. sell souvenirs

Guiding Services
e.g. guided tour of a castle, stately home, city

Aim
To make the tour as informative and interesting as possible

Cities like London, Stratford upon Avon, Bath have touris on open top buses. The tour guide gives a running commentary which usually includes interesting stories about people and places on the route. Often head sets are provided for non-English speaking visitors.

Some guides are volunteers who have a special interest in the history of a place


Blue Badge Guide Scheme
The Blue Badge is the British national standard guiding qualification, every guide has the same background of national core knowledge combined with in-depth local knowledge
Blue Badge Guides have a wide range of languages (40!), specialities and interests, and can guide on foot, in cars, on coaches, on trains and on boats.

Professional, qualified tourist guides for sightseeing.

Products offered by Tourist Information Centres

  1. information leaflets
  2. maps
  3. brochures
  4. audio tapes

Services

  1. coaches
  2. help and advice
  3. speaking foreign languages
  4. booking accommodation and catering
  5. car hire

Coach companies

Case Study Johnsons - Henley in Arden


• Family owned – independent
• Build a close relationships with customers
• Have a good reputation based on high quality and service
• Highly regarded by competitors

Characteristics of service provided:
• Door to door holidays
• Uniformed drivers
• Modern fleet
• Caring attitude
• Award winning company

Services provided
  • School runs
  • Educational visits
  • Day trips
  • Short break holidays
  • Coach holidays in Europe
  • Door to door holidays

Components in the travel industry

G Guiding and tourist information services
O On line travel services
T Transportation
A Attractions
T Travel Agents
T Tour operators

Saturday 7 June 2008

How can you reduce the negative impacts of tourism?

1. Manage visitor numbers
2. Park and ride systems
3. Better signposting
4. Using off peak car parking charges
5. Managing traffic
6. Code of conduct for visitors

££££ ECONOMIC

+ve
Creates jobs
Regeneration of area
Local businesses profit
Bringing money into area
Better public transport systems

-ve
Tourism can take away from traditional jobs
Loss of local services – shops turn to gift shops etc.
Lots of seasonal work which is low paid
Prices for goods are raised which means higher prices for locals.


ENVIRONMENTAL

+ve
Derelict areas improved such as old barns in rural areas
Town centres pedestrianised
Flowers and landscaping

-ve
Litter
Noise
Air pollution
Congestion traffic
Disturbing wildlife
Loss of wildlife habitats
Altering landscapes
Physical erosion of footpaths
Overcrowding
Wear and tear on the countryside
Sea pollution in seaside areas

SOCIAL IMPACTS
How it affects people and their lives:
+ve
Refurbished buildings, conversions, B&B’s etc
Friendly people like interacting with tourists
Better social life
Better facilities
Better infrastructure and transport

-ve
Local residents putting up with drunken or loud behaviour from tourists
Congestion on local roads – leading to delayed journey times for local people

Explain the appeal of a UK town or city....

Explain the appeal of a UK town or city you have studied to inbound tourists

London
Main appeal is the cultural (Tate Gallery), and historical buildings (Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Palace of Westminster) and to see the heritage of Britain. Many overseas visitors come to the UK to see Buckingham Palace.
There are many visitor attractions such as Millennium Wheel, Madame Tussauds, the London Dungeon all in very close proximity.
There is a wealth of arts and entertainment opportunities in London including the National Theatre, Tate Gallery, Her Majesty’s Theatre, and concert venues such as Wembley stadium, Royal Albert Hall.
Transport links in the capital are excellent with three major international airports, Heathrow, Gatwick and Stanstead. This means that the capital is easily accessible. The public transport is excellent with surface and underground rail networks, buses etc.
There is a wide range of accommodation available ranging from top 5* hotels like the Savoy Hotel and Ritz Hotel, through smaller hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfast and youth hostels.
London is also famous for its shopping (e.g. Harrods, Knightsbridge, Oxford St, etc)
There are also many famous sports venues close to the capital city – Wimbledon (tennis) Twickenham (Rugby) and Wembley (football)

There are many guided tours, city sightseeing tours which offer overseas visitors audio tape guides in different languages. London has a diverse range of plates to eat including specialist restaurants from all over the world which cater for every culture.


What does Birmingham have to offer?
Shopping: Bull Ring, Mail Box
NEC / NIA: entertainment venue
ICC - conference venue
Theatre: Repertory theatre, Hippodrome Theatre, Alexandra Theatre
Museum and Art Galleries: Art Gallery, Thinktank museum
Visitor attractions - Cadbury World, Sea Life Centre
Wide range of Hotels, Raddison, Crowne Plazza
Jewellery Quarter

Exam on Monday 9th June - final preparations!

I've added to the section on Theatre on the blog. Please check it out!

Make sure you learn all of the jobs in both the leisure and tourism section.
Learn how leisure provision has changed in the local area over the past 20 years
Be able to discuss links between components in the leisure industry
Be able to discuss links between leisure and tourism
Learn your case studies!


Think social, economic and environmental advantages and disadvantages of tourism

Case Studies for Tourism
Case study of a city - use Birmingham - you know it well!!!
Case study of a seaside - Blackpool
Case study of a national park - Peak District. Remember the Year 9 Geography field trip to Dovedale!!!
Coach company - Johnsons, Henley in Arden


Case studies for leisure:
Leisure Centre - Tudor Grange
Health club - David Lloyd Monkspath
Childrens play - Wacky Warehouse, Olton Tavern, Brueton Park
Theatre - Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Cinema - Cineworld, Touchwood
Museum - Thinktank
Visitor Attraction - Drayton Manor, Cadbury World

Friday 6 June 2008

Bingo

Jan 06
Bingo halls are part of the leisure industry and many people choose to spend some of their leisure time there.
Explain the appeal of playing bingo at a bingo hall.


Stacey Dutch
Firstly you can play all year round as it is inside. It is competitive as everyone wants to win the money. Furthermore it is cheap and you can win your money back and a lot more. Also it is socialising with other people as you have the opportunity to meet new people. Although it is quiet when playing bingo it is lively and fun for everyone after. Also it caters for most people. It is appealing as it is enjoyable, fun and exciting.

Wednesday 4 June 2008

Museum case study: Think Tank

Where is it?
Think-tank at Millennium Point, Curzon Street,BirminghamB4 7XGUK
What is it about?
Think-tank is Birmingham's museum and science attraction. It examines the past, investigates the present and explores what the future may bring.Think-tank’s job is to help us all understand how science and technology shape our lives.
What can you see there?
you can see the Imax theatre and scientific gadgets to make it fun. There are different areas three of them are: power up, city stories and the street
What are the prices?
Ticket prices for Think-tank museum, IMAX cinema and the Planetarium. See website for details of adult prices, children (3-15), Adult, concession, family of 5, family of 4



Discounts or any special offers?
Season ticket gives you unlimited entry into Think-tank, a free Planetarium showing with each visit and on-site savings at the IMAX Cinema, Think-tank shop and Level G2 café.

What facilities does it offer?

Facilities it offers are a café, shop and toilets

What products can you buy there?

Products you can buy there are stationary, toys and books

What does museum offer groups?

The museum for groups offers lower prices

Does it offer any support for teachers and pupils?

All of its 10 areas are relevant to the national curriculum

What does it offer children and families?

Everything in the museum is on offer for children. A café is on offer for adults and most activities there

What does it offer for adults?

A café, some scientific activates

Is there an age group which it does not cater for?

Yes, for teenagers as they would not find it interesting

What does it offer for businesses?

Think business is able to provide a 1,000sqm temporary exhibition hall suitable for events from a Royal luncheon to a car launch, whilst our three suites are able to offer a choice of formats ranging from boardroom to banqueting. Meanwhile, for bigger events, we're delighted to offer the spectacular 3,600sqm open air Millennium Square.

Does it cater for people with disabilities?

Yes, wheelchairs are for hire, hearing aids and sign language

Are there any job vacancies?

Work experience for year 11

Airline case study

Virgin Atlantic!
Services that we provide:

Airport transfers and park including trains and parking spaces, making your holiday stress free from the start

Issuing tickets

Planning itineraries, meaning you get the most from your holiday

Arranging visas and passports, meaning that you have a hassle free holiday

Fast track check in service, jump the queue and go through to departures as quick as possible

Health information making sure you are as safe as possible whilst away

Helping to choose the destination that would suit you most Flying to over 20 destinations world wide

Helping with arranging your car hire

Destinations that we fly to:

Chicago Las Vegas
Los Angeles Miami
New York Orlando
San Francisco Washington DC
Cape Town Johannesburg
Lagos Nairobi
Delhi Dubai
Hong Kong Mumbai
Shanghai Tokyo
Antigua Barbados
Cuba Grenada
Jamaica St Lucia
Tobago Mauritius
Sydney

City Case study - tourism

York!
Location!
York is a historical riverside city which is home to number of attractions. It is located in the North East England and is very near to numerous national parks such as Peak District and Lake District.

History Of York!
The history of York dates back 2000 years ago in AD79. When the Romans invaded and conquered the Celtic tribes. After the Romans withdrew from Britain in the fifth century, the Anglo-Saxons began their invasion, Northumbria was in the middle of civil war when the Vikings raided and captured York in 866.

How to get there!
York has lots of motorway links to all regions in the UK so travelling to York by car is simple. There are also lots of train services from London, Edinburgh and Manchester. It is also close to three international airports: Leeds/Bradford, Humberside and Manchester.

Attractions
o York Minster – One of the greatest cathedrals in Europe, built over 250 years ago as an artistic and architectural masterpiece.
o Jorvik Viking Centre – Jorvik is a reconstruction of how the Vikings use to live in AD975, visitors can journey through the reconstruction of Viking Age streets.
o Shambles – The shambles is the best preserved medieval street. It has been around for over 900 years. The streets are narrow, twisty and have sharp corners. There were many butchers on the street but now have been replaced with jewellery and sweet shops.

visitor attraction question

Visitor attractions have many impacts on the area where they are situated.
Using a visitor attraction you have studied, analyse the economic and environmental impacts that is has on the area.
Name of visitor attraction Alton Towers

I have chosen Alton Towers as a visitor attraction I have studied. It has many economic and environmental impacts from millions of tourists each year going to Stoke on Trent to visit it.

Firstly, an economic effect that Alton Towers has on its surrounding area, is that more jobs/ employment becomes available, to the people living near this attraction. Jobs such as, ticket office, security, café services, shops, cleaners and ride operators are needed everyday to keep Alton Towers up and running. If staff did not work at Alton Towers then it would have to close, so therefore this would affect many other jobs that are connected with tourism; such as transport, restaurants and accommodation. For example many people catch coaches to and from Alton Towers daily, therefore a high amount of coach drivers wages comes from this, if Alton Towers closed then coach drivers and many other types of transport such as taxi’s would loose profit. Also, accommodation would be affected as thousands of tourists each year stay at hotels and B&Bs in the area so that they can visit Alton Towers. If the attraction closed there would be a drop in tourism, so this would affect the local people.

An advantage of environmental impact from tourism at Alton towers is that more tourists means more income. Therefore, some of this money goes towards the local area. This is an advantage as more things can be improved, such as the country lanes, as they are small and narrow, which means congestion and crashes could be prevented. The area is carefully landscaped and conservation is of more importance due to the attraction.

There are many environmental disadvantages. For example, thousands of tourists go to Alton towers each day, this means that cars, coaches and many other forms of transport will be on roads and motorways going to and from Alton towers. This therefore causes congestion on the local roads, which could cause problems for locals who are trying to travel to places, as it may take them longer, to get to their chosen destination. Also, more transport on the roads means more air pollution and noise pollution. Another disadvantage could be that, more tourists’ means more litter will be dropped on the ground. This makes the surrounding area look untidy which could upset locals, and put tourists off visiting there again.

Links between leisure and tourism

You will need to understand that although the leisure and tourism industries are generally considered separately, there are many links between the two, for example accommodation and catering, attractions, and transportation. Both industries are dependent upon each other for customers, for example:
• a family day out at a visitor attraction is a leisure activity but also involves travel and tourism
• traveling to an away football match could be considered as both leisure and tourism
• going on holiday and many of the activities undertaken while on holiday could be considered as both leisure and tourism
• Going to the theatre and staying in a hotel overnight are both leisure and tourism.
The local tourist information centre provides details of both leisure and tourism facilities and activities. Transport providers operate services to places of interest for both the leisure market and tourists.