Niche National Tourism Strategies (SL IB Geography)

What is niche tourism?

• Niche tourism is special interest tourism:
  • Eco-tourism
  • Agro-tourism
  • Adventure
  • Heritage tourism
  • Dark tourism
  • Movie location tourism
• Tourist numbers in niche tourism tend to be low
• Often, these tourists are willing to spend more

Challenges of niche tourism 

• Competition from other tourist destinations may affect tourist numbers
• Some niche tourist activities can fall out of fashion or in the case of movie and TV tourism there may be a decrease in popularity
• The economic advantages are limited due to low visitor numbers
• In some areas, too many visitors are attracted which impacts the environment 

Adventure tourism

• Adventure tourism has increased in popularity in recent years
• Attracts high-value customers who are willing to spend more money on their holiday
  • To climb Mount Everest, there is a cost of £50,000
• Not all adventure tourism is expensive
• Adventure tourism supports local economies more than mass tourism
  • Adventure Tourism Trade Association suggests that 66% of revenue spent on adventure tourism remains in the destination
• Encourages sustainable practices due to the involvement of local communities and promotes environmental protection for future use
• In 2021, the global market share was $282.1 billion

Who participates in adventure tourism? 

• Couples, solo travellers and groups make up 80% of adventure tourists
• Those aged 51-60 years make up the largest group of adventure tourists
• According to the World Tourism Organisation, 85% of visitors aged 30-40 get their inspiration from social media groups like Facebook and Instagram

Types of adventure tourism

• Soft adventure tourism is relatively safe and hardly requires skills and experience
  • Camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and safaris are all examples of soft adventure tourism
• Hard adventure tourism requires some experience and more skills than soft adventure tourism
  • Caving, rock climbing and trekking are all examples of hard adventure tourism
• The UK has the largest adventure tourism market in Europe, according to the World Tourism Authority
• The UK receives 19% of the world’s adventure tourists
• A recent Visit Britain survey suggested that 40% of British tourists prefer sports and active holidays

The Brecon Beacons

Location of Brecon Beacons National Park

• The National Showcaves Centre for Wales in the Brecon Beacons National Park is one of Wales's top attractions
  • There are three different caves Dan-yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave
  • The caves have 40 feet high waterfalls
  • In Bone Cave, there are the remains of 42 humans 
• BikePark Wales offers a variety of bike tours based on ability
• Black Mountains Gliding Club offers tours 970 metres above sea level
• Muddy Boots Hiking Tours offered tailored walks throughout the Brecon Beacons

• Many people like visiting places shown on television and in movies
• Many theme parks have also been set up based around a movie series, such as Harry Potter in Universal Studios and the Harry Potter Studio tour

Location	TV series or movie
United Kingdom	Downton Abbey television series (Highclere Castle) Harry Potter (Durham Cathedral) Coronation Street - television series (Manchester) The Great - television series (Belvoir Castle) Game of Thrones - television series (Northern Ireland)
New Zealand	Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie series Avatar: The way of water
USA	Gossip Girl tv series (New York) Vampire Diaries (Georgia)

Movie tourism in Georgia, USA 

• There have been various impacts caused by movie tourism
• Georgia, USA is an example of an area impacted by movie tourism

Movie tourism in Georgia

• Georgia is known as the ‘Hollywood of the South’ due to a film tax credit program established in 2005
  • The tax incentives have transformed Georgia into a bustling hub for the movie industry
• Douglas County is home to the Douglas Film Trail, which highlights filming locations of various movies and TV shows
• The trail offers a self-guided tour of nine film locations throughout the area
• Over 700 movies and television productions have been filmed in Douglas County
• Projects include Stranger Things, Marvel’s Avengers Endgame, The Hunger Games, The Have and Have Nots, The Walking Dead, The Founder, and Smokey and the Bandit
• Between 2011 and 2021, Georgia gained over 15,000 jobs in the movie industry
• In 2022, the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition reported that there were nearly 60,000 jobs and more than $3.5 billion in labour value
• $8.55 billion in total economic output and $5.54 billion in added economic value for the state of Georgia

• Heritage tourism is sometimes referred to as cultural tourism
• People are attracted to a place or area to see historical monuments or buildings, visit museums or experience the cultures and traditions of the communities

Machu Picchu, Peru

• Machu Picchu along with Cuzco, show the heritage of the Incas in Peru
  • The site is a 15th Century Incan citadel (fortified settlement)
• A site of archaeological importance
• It is a World Heritage Site, and in 2007, it was selected as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World
• The site is 2430 metres above sea level on the eastern slopes of the Andes and covers 32,500 hectares
• It is culturally significant because the local communities adopt a traditional lifestyle that resembles that of their ancestors

Costs and Benefits of Tourism at Machu Picchu

	Benefits	Costs
Economic	Revenue Generation: Significant revenue from entrance fees, guided tours, and the sale of souvenirs and local products. Revenue can contribute to the maintenance and preservation of Machu Picchu Job Creation: The tourism industry creates employment opportunities for local residents, ranging from tour guides and hotel staff to transportation providers and artisans Economic Diversification: The presence of tourists encourages the development of supporting industries such as restaurants, accommodations, transportation, and entertainment, leading to economic diversification Infrastructure Development: The influx of tourists may lead to investments in infrastructure, including roads, transportation, and facilities, which can benefit the local community beyond tourism	Infrastructure Strain: A sudden surge in tourism can strain local infrastructure, leading to issues such as traffic congestion, waste management problems, and pressure on public services Economic Dependence: Over reliance on tourism can make the local economy vulnerable to fluctuations in visitor numbers, external economic factors, or global events, posing risks to the stability of the community Leakage due to the multiplier effect takes place when money does not stay in the host country and when local workers are not used Tourism is volatile, as shown by the COVID-19 pandemic
Social	It encourages pride for Peruvians that many people want to learn about their history and culture Encourages celebration of customs and cultural events Improvements in infrastructure, such as electricity and water, benefit local people	Abandonment of local cultures as local people become influenced by Western tourists Increase in local crime
Environmental	Tourism has conserved the local environment because the government understands the economic benefits that take place due to tourism in this area	Visitor numbers have been increasing, which causes environmental issues such as footpath erosion and waste pollution Local infrastructure cannot cope with the number of tourists The Urubamba River is overloaded with untreated sewage and its banks are covered with garbage