MV ISLANDGIRL

According to (Corpus, 2023) councillors operates in a complicated and fragmented environment, no matter where they are. Their responsibilities, expectation, and legal powers centre around their role in the council they serve, the community they represent, and the challenging policy landscape they must investigate (Corpus, 2023).

Hartlepool is one of the towns our group has chosen, and its council is responsible for delivering a wide range of public services and functions within its town, also combine the roles of both a county council and a district council, which means it has broad responsibilities for local governance, public services, and community well-being.

Hartlepool according to (Ferriday,1987) a small town in the county of Durham and has served as an important seaport nearly since its inception and boasts a rich history rooted in fishing. 

On 27^th November 2024, during our tourism trip to Hartlepool, one of the council members, Lawrence Kerrigan, and the other explained how the town is undergoing various recreational development and here a few that I can remember:

• Planning and Development
• Destination Management Plan 2023 (short term)

Vision for this plan according to Hartlepool Borough Council, Hartlepool is undergoing a major investment program to transform it into a vibrant destination, showcasing its beaches, heritage, and attractions for both residents and tourists alike.

• Destination Management Plan 2013-2027(long term)

 Its vision is the £52M regeneration program aims to transform Hartlepool Waterfront into a top Tees Valley attractions, guided by a plan to create unique experience for locals and visitors.

• Leisure, Culture, and Community Services
• Active Experiences: Improve, expand and promote active travel networks.
• Event and Animation: Develop an event strategy and a toolkit for event organisers.
• Heritage and Cultural Experiences: Create heritage trails.

• Brilliant Base: support Business to become more inclusive and accessible.
• Annual Exhibition at the Hartlepool Art Club: Continue development and growth of Hartlepool Art Gallery.

Domestic tourism and inbound tourism in the UK differ in several key aspects, including their target audience, motivations, economic impact, and travel patterns. Here’s a breakdown of these differences:

1. Target Audience

• Domestic Tourism: This involves residents of the UK traveling within the country. It encompasses a wide range of demographics, including families, young adults, and retirees.
• Inbound Tourism: This refers to international visitors traveling to the UK from other countries. The audience is diverse, coming from various cultural backgrounds and with different interests.

2. Motivations for Travel

• Domestic Tourism: UK residents may travel for various reasons, including leisure (holidays and short breaks), visiting friends and family, business, or exploring local culture. There’s often a strong interest in regional attractions, festivals, and heritage sites.
• Inbound Tourism: International visitors might be motivated by a desire to experience iconic landmarks (like the Tower of London and Stonehenge), cultural experiences (such as theatre in the West End), shopping, or historical exploration.

3. Economic Impact

• Domestic Tourism: It contributes significantly to local economies through spending on accommodation, food, attractions, and services. It often supports smaller businesses and regional tourism initiatives.
• Inbound Tourism: International visitors typically spend more per person compared to domestic tourists, contributing to a larger share of the overall tourism revenue. Their spending is crucial for sectors like luxury accommodations, international dining, and major attractions.

4. Travel Patterns

• Domestic Tourism: Travel patterns may involve shorter trips with a preference for regional destinations. Popular domestic destinations include coastal areas, national parks, and city breaks within the UK, such as London, Edinburgh, and Cornwall.
• Inbound Tourism: International visitors often plan longer trips and may visit multiple locations within the UK. They are likely to prioritize major cities and tourist attractions but also seek out off-the-beaten-path experiences.

5. Seasonality

• Domestic Tourism: UK residents may travel more during school holidays and summer months, but there’s also interest in off-peak travel, particularly for short breaks.
• Inbound Tourism: Seasonal trends can vary greatly depending on the source country. For example, visitors from warmer climates may prefer to travel during the UK summer, while others may come during winter for events like Christmas markets.

6. Influence of External Factors

• Domestic Tourism: Economic conditions, such as changes in disposable income or travel restrictions, can influence domestic travel behaviour. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic saw a surge in staycations.
• Inbound Tourism: International factors, such as exchange rates, global economic conditions, and geopolitical events, can significantly impact the flow of inbound tourists. Additionally, travel policies and visa regulations play a crucial role.

Conclusion

Domestic and inbound tourism in the UK are shaped by distinct factors and exhibit different characteristics. Understanding these differences is essential for policymakers and businesses in the tourism sector to tailor their strategies effectively, cater to diverse audiences, and maximize the economic benefits of tourism.

The Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) model, developed by Richard W. Butler, suggests that tourist destinations typically progress through various stages: exploration, involvement, development, consolidation, stagnation, and potentially decline or rejuvenation. While decline is often considered an inevitable outcome, the case of Fiji illustrates that with strategic management and adaptation, destinations can revitalize themselves and avoid this fate.

Example Destination: Fiji

1. Exploration Stage: Fiji’s tourism began in the 1970s when adventurous travellers sought out its natural beauty, cultural experiences, and remote islands. At this stage, tourism infrastructure was minimal, with few accommodations and services tailored for tourists.

2. Involvement Stage: By the 1980s, the Fijian government recognized the potential of tourism as a major economic driver. Investments in infrastructure, such as roads and airports, facilitated increased access. The introduction of small resorts and guesthouses led to growing visitor numbers, primarily from Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

3. Development Stage: In the 1990s, Fiji saw rapid development, with major hotel chains establishing large resorts. The country became known for its all-inclusive packages, stunning beaches, and vibrant marine life. Tourist arrivals surged, leading to economic benefits but also challenges, such as environmental degradation and cultural commodification.

4. Consolidation Stage: By the early 2000s, Fiji reached a consolidation phase where growth began to plateau. While it remained a popular destination, issues like overcrowding, resource depletion, and the impact of climate change became more pronounced. The tourism market faced competition from other tropical destinations, highlighting the need for innovation.

5. Stagnation and Decline: While decline could be seen as inevitable, Fiji has actively pursued strategies to rejuvenate its tourism sector. The government and local stakeholders have emphasized sustainable tourism practices, promoting eco-tourism and cultural heritage. Initiatives like the “Fiji Eco-Tourism” program aim to attract environmentally conscious travelers, while efforts to preserve indigenous culture have helped enhance the visitor experience.

6. Rejuvenation: Fiji’s response to challenges demonstrates a successful pivot. By focusing on niche markets—such as wellness retreats, adventure tourism, and cultural experiences—Fiji has revitalized its appeal. Recent marketing campaigns highlight the uniqueness of Fijian culture and the importance of sustainability, attracting a new generation of travelers. Additionally, the rise of digital marketing has allowed Fiji to reach broader audiences, particularly younger travelers seeking authentic experiences.

Conclusion

The case of Fiji illustrates that decline in the TALC model is not necessarily inevitable. Through proactive management, investment in sustainable practices, and adaptation to changing consumer preferences, Fiji has navigated challenges and rejuvenated its tourism sector. This example underscores the importance of strategic planning and responsiveness in ensuring that destinations can thrive rather than succumb to decline.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE

According to (Fodors.com, 2022) since 1873 when Queen Victoria ascended the throne, Buckingham Palace has served as the official residence of every British monarch. It has been the home and working headquarters of the royal family for over 180 years making it a central part of British royal life across generation.

According to (Haven-Tang, 2017) weather you are royalty or not, the royal family undeniably attracts public interest around the UK and internationally. Furthermore, after the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, it has been claimed by the UK’s Association of Leading Visitor Attraction the increase of 600,000 people come to London for a weekend, 40% overseas and 60% from UK spending £107m (Haven-Tang, 2017).

However, the queen formal resident also attracts a considerable number of visitors in 2016 with 2.8m people with Buckingham being one of them making 576,995 visitors (Haven-Tang, 2017). According to Google Statistics Buckingham Palace has increase its numbers of admission to the Royal Estate in the United Kingdom from 2019/20 to 2023/24 by establishment.

Maintaining Buckingham Palace, as both royal residence and a working Government building, requires significant infrastructure. This infrastructure refers to the basic physical structure necessary to support tourism activities and enable visitors to access, enjoy, and benefit from destination. It encompasses a wide range of facilities, services, and systems that ensure the smooth functioning of the Buckingham Palace.

Transport Infrastructure through air, sea, train, road for public transport allow tourist and local visit Buckingham Palace and help tourist to move around within a destination. According to Hebber (2018) Travelling by bus is also affordable introduced as the next mode of transport in London for the past years, its upper deck of London’s double decker buses offered generations of tourist a prime vantage point.

Accommodations include hotels, luxury hotels are the key component of tourist and local hospitality contributing to their experience in and around the royal palace.

Reference list

 

 

 

 

According to (Gilbert ,2004) Wester dictionary define the word tourism as deprived from the word tour as visiting various places and is usually a planned visits with the use of itinerary on a round trip for pleasure business or education and the trip is usually returned to its starting point. However in 1937, the international definition of a tourist was someone travels for more than 24 hours outside of their home.Furthermore, according to Bukhara and Medlik in 1940 and later 1980 by Heeley identified tourism in two main groups as in 1) nature of tourism as an activity and 2) as what constitutes Tourism activity

 Tourism is hard to identify through economic and its social definition.According to Herman Von Schullards in 1910 an Austria economist define tourism as a “ the sum of total operation, mainly of economic nature which directly relate to the entry, stay and movement of foreigners inside and outside a certain country city  or region”. Economist might focus on Tourism in terms of its contribution to GDP, employment or revenue generation while sociologist might examine its cultural impacts, social  dynamics, or effects on communities.

Tourism overlaps with concept like migration business travel and commuting. For example business travellers or seasonal workers might be considered tourist under some definition but not others, depending on the context

Tourism involves various stakeholders including travellers, service providers (hotels, airlines, tour operators)Government and local communities.Each stakeholder may have different perspective on what constitutes tourism.

Accoriding to (Govers,.et.al 2008) Smith states in 1999:137 quoting “Despite the importance usual enviroment in tourism the [UN]WTO doesn’t not specify how the concept should be operationalised. Instead, statistical agencies are free to decide how this concept should define within their own social, political and economic context”(Gover.,et.al.,2008)

Reference

1. Govers, R., Van Hecke, E. and Cabus, P., 2008. Delineating tourism: Defining the usual environment. Annals of Tourism Research, 35(4), pp.1053-1073.
2. Gilbert, D.C., 2004. Conceptual issues in the meaning of tourism. Tourism: Critical concepts in the social sciences, 1, pp.45-69

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