A2 GEOGRAPHY   -   AQA SYLLABUS A

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14.3 Recreation and Tourism

The resource base

• Definitions: recreation/tourism.
• Primary resources: scenic, climatic, ecological, historical and heritage.
• Secondary resources: facilities provided: accommodation, catering, entertainment, infrastructure, theme parks.
• Contrasts in the context of MEDW and LEDW on a global and regional/national scale.
• Capacity of tourist resources: physical, ecological, economic and perceived.
• The distinction between types of resources to be explored in the context of a small area. Local resources to be investigated and applied to any temporal changes in tourism that have occurred.

‘Boom’ in the MEDW

• The theoretical base: Butler’s model of the stages in development of a tourist area.
• The growth of tourism as illustrated by two case studies including one from the UK. The causes: physical, economic, sociological and technological factors: sequence/pattern and consequences of change.
• The scale of study to range from a coastal/other resort to a region such as the Mediterranean coast, or Florida to a single country e.g. Switzerland.
• Recent changes in destinations: timing, length and type of holidays and recreation. An analysis of special cases: urban tourism, theme parks and activity holidays.

Expansion in the LEDW

• Reasons for growth: to consider both the resources available in terms of primary and the provision of secondary resources. Two case studies to be used to develop an understanding of this growth.
• Factors which have stimulated demand: economic, social and technological.
• Patterns of growth: coastal planned resorts, inland developments. Nature of the industry: the role of TNCs, airline companies and the concept of globalisation.
• Constraints on further development.

Tourism and the Environment

• The use of primary resources.
• Environmental impact/damage and the associated conflicts/issues.
• Management strategies such as honeypots, footpath maintenance, conservation projects, access, zoning.
• A case study of a National Park in the UK.
• The concept and identification of wilderness areas.
• Environmental impact in the LEDW - both costs and benefits.
• The growth of eco-tourism.
• The concept of sustainability.
• Candidates are to explore their own attitudes and values in relation to this theme.

Tourism and development

•  A cost/benefit analysis of tourism in terms of: economic benefits e.g. tourist taxes, investment, wages and employment (particularly important for poorer countries) economic costs eg. low wage economy, leakage, etc.
• Social benefits - to consider international understanding, modernisation and money into social projects e.g. schools, health clinics. Social costs include exploitation of sex industry, health risks including Aids.
• Cultural costs - e.g. dilution, impact on community life. National development themes. Tourism to stimulate growth as with the concept of growth poles as in Tunisia.
• Trickle down of cash/investment may initiate other growth and the link to Rostow’s Model.
• Dangers of unequal development: tourist areas/enclaves, over-dependence. The link to Myrdal’s ideas.
• Tourism and global interdependence.
• The future: emphasis on environment/heritage based holidays. The role of values and attitudes of decision-makers and an evaluation of their own values in relation to issues associated with tourism.