An assignment worth sharing: The contribution domestic tourism can make on to national tourism policies.
According to John Penrose in the Government Tourism Policy note, he acknowledged that Tourism is time and again underrated but forms an extremely important sector of the UK’s economy. It forms the six biggest industries and third-largest export earner. It accounts for almost £90bn direct spend each year, contains over 200,000 businesses and provides 4.4% of our nation’s jobs.
Domestic tourism which involves residents of one country traveling only within the said country at a particular point in time. It is obvious that domestic holiday is a vacation or holiday spent in the same country which greatly influence policy makers especially when considering domestic tourism in the country.
In the UK, there are effective regulations, rules, guidelines, directives and development or promotion objectives and strategies that provides a framework within which collective and individual decisions directly affect tourism development as well as the routine activities within a tourist destination. All these constitutes a tourism policy.
Domestic tourism do not only provide just employments and subsequently revenue to the country say UK, but its contribution to a holistic national tourism policies is remarkable. In other to evaluate its contribution to national tourism policies, there is the need to identify the core aim or objective of the tourism sector or industry. Domestic tourism affects many areas of the economic, socio-cultural and environmental.
First of all, Domestic tourism’s contribution to national tourism policy which was highlighted in the work of Chunk.Y. (1997) on National and Regional Tourism Planning which asserts that, domestic tourism contributes economically such as
– Improved balance of payment situation.
– Regional development.
– Diversification of the economy.
– Increased income levels and state revenues.
– New employment opportunities.
– Stimulation of non-tourism investment.
For instance on 17 July 2015, the Prime Minister announced the Government’s 5 point plan to boost tourism across the UK, committing not only to promote the UK as a GREAT place to visit for international visitors, but also to expand and develop the offer to tourists to spread the benefits of its growth across the country.
He further Opined that, domestic tourism contributes to the socio-culture such as: cultural exchange, revival of traditional crafts and ceremonies, rural development, and many other of which the state has general responsibility to protect the social wellbeing of individuals by minimizing tourism adverse socio-cultural effects such as: deterioration of important historic and archeological sites, social degradation, overcrowding by tourists, loss of convenience for local residents, among others which helps tourism policy makers to take keen interest when it comes to domestic tourism.
Besides, domestic tourism also contributes to controlling the environment which has impact of tourism as a whole such as pollution and other environmental hazards and land use problems resulting from poor planning, setting and engineering of tourist attractions and facilities. Hence it befalls on governments to institutes policies to regulate some of these activities which are bound to happen especially in domestic tourism where residents of a country visits not only for luxury but to also learn.
Finally, in as much as domestic tourism contributes both positively and negatively to nation tourism policy, there is the need to consider certain factors in the tourism industry, because of its numerous challenges, and it’s at times controversial impact.
Therefore, governments have to take into consideration many issues and principles in the formulation of tourism policy:
Effectiveness, the issue of effectiveness concerns the degree to which a specific policy undertaken by NTA is likely to meet the objectives of a developing tourism sector. Among related considerations are the certainty and relative speed that the policy will meet objectives, and its flexibility of response to changing circumstances.
Analysis of the economic efficiency of different policy options. This involves comparing the cost involved with each option which is similarly effective in meeting policy objectives.
Consideration needs to be given to whether a specific policy provides a continuing incentive to tourism businesses, visitors and host communities to behave in more sustainable ways.
It is important to insure that a chosen policy is socially, politically and administratively acceptable. This requires respect for cultural differences, adopting the chosen policy by the appropriate authorities and ensuring the administrative workability of such a policy.
In conclusion domestic tourism arguably contributes immensely to national tourism Policy.
Writer: Esther UK