jump to content of this page Bized logo linked to homepage
You are here: Home > Educators > BTEC Travel and Tourism > Tourism Potential in Different Locations - Activity

Educators
Bookmark and Share

Advanced

Tourism Potential in Different Locations - Activity

A mural in Belfast

Image: An example of one of the many murals in West Belfast, which reflect the history of the Troubles so poignantly. Tours of the area are becoming available through taxi firms and open top buses. Copyright: Ken Duncan

This Activity focuses on how some parts of the world that have been plagued by conflicts can use tourism development as part of a wider process of reconstruction.

Ten countries are listed below, each of which either has in the past, or continues to be ravaged by internal conflict or cross-border fighting. In fact, six of the ten have been labelled by the current US President as being part of an 'Axis of Evil'. Despite this, all of the countries have considerable potential to develop tourism.

The tasks here require you to do the following:

  • Analyse the current provision for tourists in two countries
  • Evaluate the potential for tourism development in these locations
  • Recommend how tourists could be encouraged to visit the countries

Working in groups of four, split each group into pairs. Each pair will research into a tourist destination that is not yet fully established. You will be required to prepare a presentation to make to the other pair in your group of four.

Your roles will be those of tourism development officers. Your presentation will be aimed at convincing the other pair in your four of the merits of developing tourism in your selected area.

Each group of four must select two tourist destinations from the following list:

Task 1

Having chosen your destination, carry out research into the place. Use the resources identified in the Reference and Research Skills Activity(http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/16-19/tourism/destinations/activity/reference1.htm). Your research can, of course go wider than just this list of Web sites. We have also provided some links in the above country list to get you started.


Task 2

Find out information on the current level of provision for tourism at your selected destination. You should make comments on parts of the provision in the area where there are gaps. Some of the things to look for are:

  • Transport to the destination
  • Transport within the area
  • Tourism development such as hotels and other accommodations
  • Activities for tourists such as sightseeing and sports
  • Stability of the area, for example in Travel Advice given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Task 3

From your research, find some key reasons why tourists should visit the destination you've chosen. There may be hidden potential in the destination; it's your task to discover this potential. The kinds of things to look for here are:

  • Location: access to the area, the characteristics of its landscapes, climate
  • Accommodation: availability of variety of rooms and establishments
  • Activities: as in Task 2, but look for opportunities to expand these
  • Attractions: natural features and built structures

Task 4

Make a presentation of your findings to the rest of your group.

You should act in the role of tourism development officers. Your presentation will be aimed at convincing the other pair in your four of the merits of developing tourism in your selected area.

Finish off your presentation with a short list of recommendations for how the destination you've chosen could develop to attract increased numbers of tourists. You should make sure that you justify each of your recommendations.

Each pair should share their findings with the other members of their group. This will ensure that each student has evidence of tourism potential in at least two countries.