Macro Chapter 6 & 7
Macro Chapter 6 & 7
Macro Chapter 6 & 7
Income
The tourism and hospitality industry obviously generates income within a destination
country. Nations wanting to increase their income have used tourism and hospitality as a
means for reasonably quick development. Experience has shown us that it takes less time to
increase income from tourism and hospitality than from manufactured goods or other
available options.
Tourism income, in general, comes from wages and salaries, interest, rent, and
profits. Since tourism and hospitality is a labor-intensive industry, the greatest proportion of
its income is derived from wages and salaries. Income is also generated from interest, rent,
and profits on tourism and hospitality businesses such as interests paid on loans to an airline
in order to buy aircraft, or rent paid to a landowner for a car park. Income is also obtained
from direct taxation or indirect taxation. Imposing value-added tax (VAT) on hotel bills is an
example of indirect taxation.
Much of the income at the international and national level is business income which
is generated by organizations buying and selling goods and services to tourists. One
advantage that tourism and hospitality offers developing countries is the range of businesses
needed to provide to tourists. It includes local food, drinks, and flowers for the resort areas;
local crafts for the tourists to buy; local cafés and restaurants; tour guides and interpreters;
local travel services; local cultural events; shops for tourists' needs; and specialized local
housing such as pensions and small inns.
The sum of all income in a country is called the national income. The importance of
tourism and hospitality to a country's economy can be measured through the national
estimating income created by tourism and hospitality. The most common method for the
income generated from tourism and hospitality is by determining the multiplier for a
destination. Multipliers are means of estimating how much extra income is produced in an
economy as a result of the initial spending or injection of cash.
Employment
Employment, from local to national, benefits as well from tourism and In general, the
tourist industry offers more employment opportunities than other economic sectors.
Generating employment is perhaps the greatest advantage of tourism and hospitality on a
developing economy. Tourism and hospitality generates employment faster for developing
nations than for the developed ones. In general, tourism and hospitality employees in
developed nations are usually paid less. In developing countries the opposite is true.
There are three types of employment generated by tourism and hospitality. These are
the direct, indirect, and induced employment. Direct employment is generated as a result of
providing goods and services directly to tourist in hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclub, and
the like. Indirect employment consists of those positions that are associated with other
tourism-related activities but are used by both the local resident and the tourist. Shops and
food wholesalers are considered to be sources of indirect employment. Induced employment
refers to people working in positions only peripherally related to tourism and hospitality, but
generated because of it. Examples are construction workers, merchants, and professionals
such as doctors and accountants who service the employees working directly in
tourism-related positions.
Balance of Payments
Tourism and hospitality has a major influence on the country's balance of payments.
Balance of payments is an accounting of flow of goods, services, and funds in and out of the
country during a given period. If a country pays or agrees to pay more money than it
receives, it has a deficit in its balance of payments. If it receives more money than it sends or
exports, it has a surplus in its balance of payments.
Most countries, particularly those with good tourism and hospitality facilities but
little industrial or agricultural export potential, appreciate the contribution that incoming
tourists can make to their balance of payments account. They therefore take steps to
maximize their tourist receipts through the development of new attractions promotions,
subsidized exchange rates, and other measures. They also try to keep their own residents
within the country by taxation on outgoing tourists, limitations or foreign exchange
availability, or refusal to grant exit permits (as in many communist countries)
Inflation within destination areas is also caused by increasing land values. Growth in
the tourist trade creates additional demand for land, and competition from potential buyers
increases the price of land. The demand for more hotels, vacation homes, and tourist
facilities may bring more income to builders, real estate agents, and landowners, but local
residents are forced to pay more for their homes because of the increased value of land.
High Leakages
Leakage occurs from a variety of sources. It occurs from the cost of goods and
services that must be imported to satisfy the needs of tourists. Examples of these are
developing countries which have to import cars, buses, manufactured materials, and
technology from developed nations to meet the demands of tourists. Another source of
leakage is the remittance of profits and wages to outside sources. If foreign capital is invested
in the country's tourism and hospitality industry, plant interest payments, rents, or profits
may have to be paid to the foreign country; thereby reducing profits in the destination
country, A third source of leakage is the expenditure for promotion and publicity to
encourage tourists to visit a certain destination. The cost of advertisement is a large expense
that reduces the earnings of a destination area.
Seasonality
Many tourist regions experience low returns on investment because of seasonal
fluctuations in demand. The seasonality of demand is reflected in hotel occupancy rates.
Many hotels experience greatly reduced revenues during the off season Nevertheless, most
hotels prefer to remain open all year round to secure as much revenue as possible.
Accommodation investments are not the only ones with a low rate of return; tour operators
also face similar problems.
1. Develop tourism and hospitality gradually so that local residents can have sufficient time
to adapt to it and understand it. It would also allow the government to properly plan,
organize, and monitor tourism and hospitality;
2. Maintain a scale of tourism and hospitality development that is appropriate for the local as
well as national environment. If possible, develop other economic sectors so that there is a
balanced economy and employment structure, In. some areas, small-scale and dispersed
forms of tourism are more suitable than concentrated mass tourism development;
3. Involve residents and their spokesmen in planning and decision-making so that they can
participate in determining the future of this sector;
5. Make certain that residents have easy access to tourist attractions, facilities, and services
including reduced admission fee if necessary, and that important amenity features have
public access and are not preempted by tourism;
6 . Provide incentives to local ownership, management, and operations of hotels and other
tourist facilities and services so that residents can receive direct economic benefits;
7. Develop strong linkages between tourism and hospitality and other economic activities
such as agriculture fisheries handicrafts, and manufacturing to help develop these sectors,
reduce leakage of foreign exchange through import substitution, and spread the economic
benefits of tourism and
hospitality;
8. Plan, develop, and organize tourism and hospitality so that no area becomes too congested
with tourists, and residents can easily use community facilities and services; and
9. Train local people to work effectively in all levels of tourism and hospitality, including
managerial and technical positions,in order to reduce the number of imported employees
and to lessen possible misunderstanding between tourists and local employees.
Host-Visitor Interactions
Tourism and hospitality causes more interaction between peoples particularly
between the tourists or visitors and the local residents or hosts. To understand the social
impact tourists have on an area, the characteristics of various types of visitors and the level
of interaction with the hosts should be clarified. Smith (1997), categorized tourists into
several types and outlined her views on the intensity of interaction between the tourists
(visitors) and the local residents (hosts). Her classifications are as follows:
1. Explorer - This type of visitor is interested in being an active participant- observer among
the population. The explorer easily adapts to local lifestyles and does not need special tourist
accommodations;
2. Elite - This type of tourist is few in number. He can afford to pay well for unusual
vacations. He is well-travelled and usually known as "the jet-setter." He differs from the
explorer in his attitude. His arrangements are either made by a travel agent or may be
pre-planned. Although he is willing to sample the local lifestyle, he requires some degree of
comfort;
3. Offbeat - This tourist adapts well to simple accommodations and services provided for the
occasional guest;
4. Unusual Tourist - This tourist loves sub-exotic cultural sites, and the unusual or primitive
sites as long as he can quickly and safely return to more familiar surroundings and group;
5. Incipient Mass Tourist - this is a visitor who looks for the amenities of Western societies in
hotels and other travel-related facilities. He is a mixture of both pleasure seeker and business
traveler;
6. Mass Tourist - He comes from the middle class. He arrives in a destination with other
tourists. There is a diversity of tastes among them and their attitude is "you get what you pay
for"; and
7. Charter Tourist - The charter tourist comes "en masse" with others of his kind creating an
extremely high amount of business and receiving a high degree of standardization in services
and products. The interaction between the visitors and the hosts is limited and impersonal.
Table 1. Frequency and Types of Tourists and Their Adaptation to Local Norms
The impact increases with each level of tourist. The explorers and elite tourists
usually have little impact on the local culture because of their limited number. The offbeat
and unusual tourists generally use the same hotels and services as the local travelers. With
the increase in number, and greater expectations and demand for special facilities and
services, a corresponding change in the local area occurs.
Against this background, it is possible to discuss the positive and negative social
impacts of tourism and hospitality on a tourist destination.
Visitors to other destinations often want to learn a language to improve the quality of
future experiences. They may rent tapes or buy books to assist them in learning a language.
Many popular tourist destinations have developed short-term language courses to assist
visitors.
Through tourism and hospitality, local residents can become aware of both health
problems and good hygiene. This awareness can lead to a change in the health infrastructure
of a destination. Improvement in one community then paves the way for improvement of the
whole region.
Social Saturation
The presence of large numbers of tourists in particular places at specific times results
in saturation or congestion of facilities and services and competition for limited
resources. The local residents frequently resent having to share their facilities and services
with visitors.
Tourism and hospitality in some areas leads to other social problems in the family. Some
wives who work in tourism and hospitality establishments have higher salaries than their
husbands. This often leads to the loss of self confidence among their husbands. In addition,
their improved way of dressing and grooming causes their husbands to be jealous and
suspicious. This has led to a higher divorce rate.
This disruption in the kinship system reduces cohesiveness in the whole community, thus
changing the population characteristics.
Community Problems
Prostitution, often called the "oldest profession," certainly existed before the growth of mass
tourism. It is difficult to say how responsible tourism and hospitality has been for the rise of
prostitution in tourist destinations.
The following are some of the reasons for the increase of prostitution in tourist resorts:
1. The processes of tourism and hospitality have created locations and environments which
attract prostitutes and their clients;
2. By its very nature, tourism and hospitality means that people are away from the
puritanical bonds of normal living, anonymity is assured away from home, and money is
available to spend hedonistically. These circumstances
are conducive to the survival and expansion of prostitution.
3. As tourism and hospitality affords employment for women, it may upgrade their economic
status. This, in turn, may lead to their liberalization and eventually to their involvement in
prostitution to maintain or acquire new economic levels; and
4. Tourism and hospitality may be used as a scapegoat for the general loosening of morals.
The use of erotic pictures and suggestive slogans in an advertisement leads some
tourists to anticipate sun, sea, sand, and sex as part of their vacation experience.
1. Population density during the tourist season increases, creating the availability of a large
number of targets and congestion;
2. The differences in income between hosts and tourists encourage robbery, and
3. The proximity of resorts to an international border may attract undesirable migrants,
resulting in increased expenditures for law enforcement and monetary losses for businesses
that become targets.
Second, the social norms of the tourists that are very different from the local customs
give rise to social problems. Also, the values and materialism of young travelers are copied by
the young local people. Examples are nude bathing, inappropriate manner of dressing, and
irresponsible behavior.
A third factor which initiates polarization is the importation of foreign workers from
more developed countries. These workers who are more skilled than the local people
generally get better-paying jobs and are usually supervisors of the less-skilled local people.
These foreign workers also compete more favorably for goods and services than the locals.
Thus, the locals begin to resent the foreigners. The opposite is true in the case of some of the
developed countries where less-skilled immigrants take lower-paying jobs, thus, forming a
lower social and economic group. This association sometimes 'creates social problems since
the immigrants are not aware of the norms and standards of the host country
There are changes in the consumption patterns in some tourist areas. In some places,
the importation of foreign foods has little impact on their life, while others, a considerable
change has occurred. The people almost abandon their local foods in favor of imported foods
such as fast food from Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and the
like.
1. Reducing the contact between hosts and guests by limiting the carrying capacity of the
destination and by regulating the tourist flow;
2. Separating the hosts and the tourists within tourist enclaves;
3. Designing community education and citizen involvement programs centered on tourism
and hospitality development, policy, and regulatory issues; and
4. Expanding human resource development and training programs in all components of the
tourism and hospitality system to include social skills (interpersonal relations and
networking referral tactics).
The urban areas of the world are becoming more and more alike. Modernization and
change from an agricultural society to an industrialized one bring about changes in people's
attitudes, beliefs, and way of life. Part of this change occurs through contact with tourists.
Tourism and hospitality is a vital force in acculturation since it causes more interaction
between peoples. People who change the least are the isolated ones- those who live in regions
of extreme environmental conditions such as deserts, jungles, and polar regions.
Intercultural Communication
Mobility, which is a prerequisite of tourism and hospitality, is necessary for different
social groups, nationalities, and cultures to meet and interact. Such interaction may
contribute to the removal of social or national prejudices and the promotion of better
understanding and positive social change. Cross-cultural communications between tourists
and their hosts may promote changes in local culture while preserving or revitalizing local
ethnic and cultural identity. The quality of cross-cultural communication is of prime
importance if it contributes to the promotion of understanding between tourists and their
hosts.
Traditional art forms have been revived in several countries. Tourism and hospitality
has stimulated the preservation of traditional art including traditional songs and dances.
The establishment of the model culture villages (living museums) has contributed
largely to the renaissance of native traditions and crafts. Model culture villages create
historical and ethnic environments designed to perpetuate tradition and stimulate awareness
of the local area. There are two main purposes for cultural model villages. The first is to
provide a location where visitors may observe and participate in a particular culture without
disrupting the everyday life of the people who live in the area. The second is to portray the
past history of the area. An example of a cultural model village is the Polynesian Cultural
Center in Hawaii which was designed to keep the traditional art forms and practices alive,
giving the visitors a chance to view some limited historical aspects of lifestyle as it once was.
As a cultural living or museum, the center concentrates on certain dynamic and tangible
aspects of culture. In order to make the visit meaningful, each of the villages developed a
specific activity such as husking a coconut, learning to play a percussion instrument,
involvement in a game of skil, or performing a dance that encourages tourist participation.
Some museums that are designed to display culture are Bangkok's Rose Garden, Tiijan
Orchid lsland, and Alaska's Nana Museum of the Arctic.
Moreover, the increasing demand for artifacts has led to changes in its form and
functions as art objects, The artifacts may no longer be represented as traditional arts due to
the following reasons:
1. Mass production due to increase in demand result to losing the careful and precise product
workmanship;
2. The impersonal nature of the tourist market has decreased the spiritual relevance of the
artist's work;
3. At is produced according to the taste of tourists which, in Africa, means carving animals,
grotesqueness, and gigantism; and
4. The increased demand has led to the misrepresentation of the age or authenticity of
objects resulting in a large number of imitations
Even model cultural villages may be encouraging the loss of culture. Tourists who
want to keep up with their schedules, as well as entertainment, require shorter and therefore
less authentic activities. Thus, the entertainment loses its cultural value. Cultural villages and
large hotels giving floor shows may manipulate authentic host traditions and events to
conform to the time schedules and taste of tourists. This effort to turn folklore, religious or
secular ceremonies, and artistic productions to material advantage leads to commercialism,
thus, prostituting the values of the local residents.
The architectural designs of most international hotels are of Western styles and often
exhibit little knowledge and appreciation of the social traditions of the local
inhabitants.
An analysis of the positive and negative aspects of tourism and hospitality indicates a
need to encourage wise resources management, particularly of water and energy, and the
problems of noise and pollution, as well as the problem of garbage and fire hazards which
may arise from tourist activities. The environmental benefits and negative impacts of
tourism and hospitality need to be recognized.
1. Contact with scenic areas has raised man's awareness of the earth's beauty and made it
easier for him to see and enjoy it with minimum damage; and
2. Environmental awareness has been heightened by mass tourism which caused direct and
indirect destruction.
In developed countries, several national parks and monuments have been created to
preserve the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the land for the development
enjoyment, of parks appreciation, was intended and to education open up of areas present
for and viewing future as well as generations. to control The the flow of traffic within the
park.
Tourism and hospitality has provided reasons for the preservation of historical
buildings and the creation of museums. At present, many developing nations are realizing
that their monuments mean tourists and income. Thus, desire to preserve their national
monuments have increased. In developed countries, unspoiled natural attractions are
becoming more and more rare. Hence, people travel to developing nations where nature is
still unspoiled or where the remains of ancient civilizations are located. Developing nations
realize that their historical sites or traditional towns and neighborhoods untouched by
progress are economic assets. Lighthouses, harbors, and fishing piers are ideal tourist
attractions.
Conservation
Conservation and preservation of the environment not only benefit the local area but
they also determine the future of tourism and hospitality. First, the local residents benefit
from the preservation. Second, tourism and hospitality, for as long as it draws tourists, will
continue to be a socioeconomic and cultural asset. The aim of the National Park Service, with
the inclusion of conservation,is much broader now than it was in the past. The national parks
in East Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania were founded to protect wildlife.
In some places, bird sanctuary is one of the major attractions for tourists who want to
seek a change from their sun, sea, and sand experiences. Natural trails and bird-watching
areas have been established to help the visitors enjoy the area and tc maintain the quality of
the environment.
Gunn (cited by Valene, 1995) gave the following factors which led to the conservation
movement:
1. There was a social concern to which the park movement owes its beginnings. The growth
of industry and commerce and their associated ills stimulated a demand for the parks and
open space. The provision for public lands was seen as an antidote to the immoral values of
urban society and as an escape from the routine work and urban living;
2. There was an emphasis on the efficiency of resources being used, particularly on
nonrenewable resources. Early expectations stressed maximum utilization but with a
minimum of environmental degradation;
3. Conservation also incorporated aesthetic enhancement. This is particularly significant as
one major tourist activity is sightseeing which depends heavily on the qualities of the natural
environment; and
4. Protecting the natural environment from irresponsible human manipulation.
Mathieson and Wall (cited by Landberg, 1995) identified four ways in which tourism and
hospitality has been important to conservation. These are:
It can be concluded that tourism and hospitality provides incentives and the
economic means and incentives for the conservation and preservation of natural and historic
sites. Many monuments, historic houses, villages, and old churches cannot be maintained
without the tourist income.
Development of Attractions
Several countries around the world are identifying areas which have the potential to
attract tourists. In the Caribbean island of St. Croix, the US National Park Service has
established and developed an underwater national park. This unique site attracts snorkelers
and those interested in corals. It helps preserve the area and creates an awareness of the
character of the coral reefs and the sea floor.
High mountain areas have been developed. A very good example is Jungfran in
Switzerland which boasts of having the highest railway in Europe. Other examples are the
Banaue Rice Terraces and Baguio City in the Philippines
A. Historic Preservation
Many historical sites in both urban and rural areas have been preserved to attract
tourists. Examples are Intramuros or Walled City in the Philippines, Jamestown and
Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, USA., Mont. St. Michel in France, and the Plymouth
Plantation in Massachusetts, USA. This restoration and rejuvenation process is occurring
throughout the world and serves as major characteristics of an area intended to impress
tourists.
B. Resident Benefits
Tourism and hospitality benefits the local residents in a number of ways. The first
benefit is that the results of conversation and preservation can be enjoyed by the local
community as well as by the tourists. The creation of national parks and monuments
provides quick access to a variety of nature's wonders and outdoor activities to both local
residents and visitors.
Another benefit which results from tourism and hospitality development can be seen
in coastal areas. The development of a coastal resort allows free access to tourists and local
residents.
The saturation levels and the types of environment between developed and
developing countries are different.
Environmental Conflicts
Some of the problems affecting the quality of the environment are destruction
of the vegetation, pollution (air, water, and noise), and the destruction of wildlife. The
destruction of the vegetation occurs because of the large number of tourists who trample on
the vegetation, In many parks, campers have cut branches of trees and completely cut down
small trees. In areas such as ocean fronts and islands, many visitors going to and from the
area destroy the vegetation cover, thus changing the natural habitats for birds and animals
and, in some cases, even changing the temperature of the area. Sometimes, the loss of
vegetation leads to soil erosion and the further debasement of the environment.
Air pollution results from the gas fumes emitted by automobiles, taxis, buses
aircrafts, and factories. Areas with large numbers of vehicles usually suffer from air
pollution.
Water pollution is the result of the discharge of untreated waste from resorts or boats
into seas, rivers, lakes, and springs. The lack of an effective sewerage system in some areas
has led to the widespread pollution of the inshore waters making fish consumption
inadvisable and swimming unhealthy. Moreover, such diseases as cholera, typhoid, viral
hepatitis, and dysentery are caused by seafood from polluted water.
Noise pollution is associated with traffic congestion on land and on air. Many
recreational vehicles such as motorcycles, motorboats, and aircrafts cause a lot of noise.
Problems associated with wildlife result from killing of animals such as birds and the
disruption of the normal habits of feeding and breeding. A very good example is the killing of
elephants for tusks, zebras for hides, antelopes for their heads, lion claws for necklaces,
monkeys for skin throw-rugs, gazelles for hoof key-rings, and the like. The prevalence of
many tourists in an area changes the breeding habits and living patterns of much of the
wildlife. The animals are forced to move to a less traditional habitat.
Geological Conflicts
Tourism and hospitality affects geological formations. Some tourists collect minerals,
rocks, fossils, and corals from tourist attractions; others destroy natural formations by
vandalizing
Resident Conflicts
A number of conflicts frequently occur between residents and tourists or tourism
developers. In cities, hotels are built at the expense of residential accommodations. The
increasing value of land often forces residents to move away from the area. Hotel
development also brings traffic congestion and air pollution. In fishing and hunting areas,
the increasing demand creates problems for local fishermen and hunters who now compete
with the tourists as well as with each other.
Conflict between tourists and the local residents may also arise because of damage to
the area brought about by littering, vandalism, and traffic congestion. In rural areas, the
damage to crops, farm buildings, and livestock are common complaints of farmers, together
with the increasing value of lands, competition for labor, and land erosion.
Regulation and control refers to zoning and land use, and planning specifications on
the facilities being built as to height, appearance, open space, and overall design, among
other things. These are rapidly done in some countries like Switzerland where builders must
follow certain architectural styles before permission is given for development. These are
done to prevent unattractive tourist development.
SUMMARY
With the growth of tourism and hospitality, the economic, social, cultural, and
environmental impact of tourism and hospitality on the host community may be both
positive and negative.
Tourism and hospitality positively affects the economy which is reflected in the
income, employment, the area's balance of payments with the outside world, and investment
and development. Its negative effects can be seen in high leakages, low returns on
investment because of seasonal fluctuations in demand, and overdependence on tourism and
hospitality.
The positive social effects of tourism and hospitality are classified into four groups,
namely: social change and multicultural understanding, adaptation to the realities of
modern life and improvement of the host country's lifestyle, use of foreign language, and
improved health conditions and disease control. The negative social effects, on the
other hand, are evident in social saturation, changes in the social structure, behavior and
roles, community problems, and negative demonstrative effects.
The two positive effects of tourism and hospitality on culture are the promotion of
intercultural communication and the renaissance of native culture. The most important
negative cultural impact of tourism and hospitality is the loss or deterioration of traditional
art and culture.
2. An accounting of the flow of goods, services, and out of the country in a given period.
7. A tourist who is well-traveled and can afford to pay for unusual vacations.
10. A type of employment which is the result of providing goods and services directly to
tourists.
11-14. List down the positive social effects of tourism and hospitality.
15-16. What are the positive effects of tourism and hospitality on culture?
1. Early retirement. At present, many workers retire at an earlier age than the case in
previous years. The US social security system provides benefits
to workers as young as 62 years of age and many employee retirement programs are based
on years of service rather than on age. In some retirement programs, specifically government
programs, it is possible to work 25 or 30 years and receive benefits at the age of 55 or
younger. The increasing number of people who retire early is beneficial for the tourism and
hospitality industry because these people use their time to travel and see the world;
2. Longer life span. The average individual can now expect to live beyond the age of
70 and many will live longer. This is in contrast to earlier generations when the average life
span was much less. The increasing population of older, retired citizens who are richer due to
pension programs and are healthier provides a larger base of potential customers. for
tourism and hospitality operations;
3. Shorter workweek. In the past, the six-day workweek was the standard for most
working people. At present, the five-day workweek is standard and the four-day workweek is
becoming common-leaving several days for other activities, The resulting increase in leisure
time, combined with faster and easier transportation, makes possible for many individuals to
take weekend vacations and travel to a degree they could not have made a few years ago. The
tourism and hospitality industry will surely benefit from this increase in travel;
4. Greater disposable income. The average family has more money to spend than
before. This is due to higher wages and two-earner households. A large portion of the
additional disposable income is spent on consumer goods and services. The tourism and
hospitality operations receive an important share of it;
5. Greater mobility. Improved roads and better transportation make it easier to travel
every year. The modern highway System has reduced the time required for automobile travel
between any two points. New planes use new technologies which enable them to carry more
passengers while using less fuel. These increases in travel have a positive impact on tourism
and hospitality industry sales; and
6. Smaller families. The average family size has decreased. Thus, it is easier for
the family to travel and travel costs less if few family members travel.
Marketing Issues
The marketing issues are changing demographics, changing vacation patterns,
market segmentation, frequent guests programs, maturation in segments of the fast-food
industry, and consolidation.
Changing Demographics
The population of developed countries is aging. The median is now 33 years and is
projected to increase in the coming years. This is an issue that is significant to the tourism
and hospitality industry. An older population has preferences that differ from those of a
younger population. Thus, service providers will find it necessary to adjust their service
products to the changing preferences of the market.
Market Segmentation
Since 1980, the principal term in tourism marketing has been marketing
segmentation. Until the late 1970s, lodging establishments attempted to appeal to broad
general markets. Their aim was to appeal to a broad group of potential visitors. In recent
years, the success of the limited service properties has led to the development of other
properties intended to appeal to selected market segments. Some of the types of lodge
properties to become apparent include all-suite properties, residence properties, sub-budget
properties, and a variety of budget properties, which differ by their varying services and
amenities.
Examples of market segmentation have been evident in food service in the past 10
years. A number of restaurants that additionally offered extensive something-for-everyone
menus has began to see reductions in business, as customers have chosen to patronize
restaurants offering specialized service products.
The trend toward consolidation will have a tremendous impact on all commercial
lodging operations. Both independent operation and owners of smaller chains will find it
difficult to compete with heavily advertised national
and international brands.
Legal Issues
The legal issues are liquor liability and ethics in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Liquor Liability
In the past, there was a growing public concern over the increasing numberof
alcohol-related automobile accidents. At present, alcohol and the use of drugs is a factor in
more than half of all automobile accidents. This led the public to pressure state legislatures
to act. Legislators have responded by lowering the levels of blood alcohol in which an
individual is considered intoxicated and by increasing penalties on offenders. In addition,
several states in the US have imposed new regulations on the serving of alcoholic beverages.
In one US state, new regulations have made the discounting of drinks-the so-called happy
hour-illegal. In several states, establishments and their owners can be held financially
accountable if they serve alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated individual who causes damage
or injury after leaving the establishment. In some places, this has caused tremendous
increase in the cost of liability insurance. his prompted some bar owners to go out of
business. It has also caused some restaurant owners to stop serving alcoholic beverages.
Some restaurant and bar owners have changed their market strategies. They now feature and
promote non-alcoholic drinks. As societal attitudes toward alcoholic drinks continue to
change, it will be necessary for food service and lodging operators to adjust.
Ethics in the tourism and hospitality. industry has been the issue for thousands of
years. The business practices of some operators of tourism and hospitality establishments
are questionable. For example, a manager of a new restaurant may hire 20 waiters but
intends to keep only the 12 most able after the second week of operation. An owner may fail
to report all sales on his income tax returns. A tour guide may cheat on his income tax by
failing to report all his tips. Another owner may cheat on his taxes by charging personal
expenses to the business. An employee in the purchasing department may accept gifts from
vendors in return for buying inferior products. Business ethics is likely to remain
forever in the list of tourism and hospitality issues.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment may be defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for
sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature that take place under any
of the following conditions:
Most cases of sexual harassment involve complaints by females about co- workers or
superiors. In the last 10 years, the number of cases has grown because an increasing number
of women have become willing to speak out.
Because employers are liable for the actions of their employees at work, it is very important
for employers to take the following steps:
1. institute a strict policy banning all forms of sexual harassment in the workplace;
2. develop appropriate training programs for managers and employees so that all will
understand and become sensitive to the nature of sexual harassment; and
3. establish procedures for handling all complaints promptly, fairly, and in a sensitive
manner.
Employee Turnover
Employee turnover is one of the major issues confronting managers of tourism and
hospitality enterprises. With turnover rates averaging approximately 100% per year,
managers are always faced with the problem of losing experienced employees and hiring
less-experienced employees as replacements. Faced with inexperienced replacements,
several managers believe they have only two choices-to shoulder the high training costs
associated with developing new employees into efficient workers or to incur the equally high
costs associated with working with untrained employees. Very few realize that there is a third
alternative-to retain valuable employees and reduce turnovers.
Many managers in the tourism and hospitality industry understand the requirements
to reduce turnovers. These include adequate wages and benefits, reasonable working
conditions, reasonable work schedules, and reasonable treatment of employees by managers.
However, only a few managers put these requirements into practice.
Several managers and employers still treat their employees as in they were parts of a
big wheel rather than people. They hire workers at the lowest possible wages, fail to provide
proper training, then admonish them for not doing their work correctly. They assign workers'
schedules without taking into account the workers' personal preferences, change the
schedules of the workers without previous notice, and order them to report for work on their
day-off. Then, managers complain about employees who resign to accept equal jobs with
other employers.
The tourism and hospitality manager who establishes EAPs to benefit employees will
eventually develop a more loyal workforce, one that is willing to make a great effort to attain
the operational goals of the enterprise. In addition, the manager who helps the employees
will reduce employee turnover.
Employee Empowerment
In some tourism and hospitality establishments, managers have developed rules and
procedures that employees are directed to follow. These include directives such as inflexible
rules for checkout time, rules prohibiting free refills on coffee, strict limits on the number of
hand towels per guest, or directives prohibiting substitutions on special dinner menus. These
may affect the overall impression of a guest regarding a particular food service or lodging
enterprise. For some guests, these rules may be enough to make them decide never to return.
Many owners and managers have realized the ineffectiveness of setting strict rules
governing every detail of guest service. Thus, they now set policies that are guest-oriented.
They empower their employees to make decisions that will improve the quality of service to
guests without having a negative impact on operations.
Operations Issues
The operations issues include automation, smoking/ non smoking areas, sanitation
and public health, and recycling solid waste.
Automation
Automation is the process of using electronic and mechanical equipment and
machinery to complete some or all of the tasks associated with a given enterprise. The two
primary reasons for automating an enterprise are:
Automation in the travel industry is here to stay. Computerization will affect the industry
principally in three areas, namely:
One of the biggest problems of agents nowadays is how to find the most efficient way
to deliver the traveler's documents. The elimination of tickets has the biggest impact on the
distribution system because the role of the agent as a trustee is eliminated. Consequently, the
order-taker-only agent will also be eliminated.
At present, some food service and lodging establishments have automated to the
extent that guests and customers no longer have direct contact with any staff member. There
are lodging operations in which a guest inserts a credit card in an electronic device, enabling
him to check in without speaking to the room clerk at the desk. Check out can be done
through a touch-sensitive screen on the television set in the guest's room. Food and
beverages can be taken from vending machines.
It is interesting to note that food service and lodging establishments have tended to
maintain the appearance of service even though automated devices have been installed. For
example, some hotels with automatic elevators have continued to hire personnel to run the
elevators. Guests are still given a high level of service using more modern and efficient
equipment than the older manual elevators. The technological capacity to automate grows
daily and the tourism and hospitality industry will have to determine the extent to which it
should use the technology.
Smoking/Nonsmoking Areas
As more and more customers of tourism and hospitality entities demand smoke-free
areas for dining and smoke-free sleeping accommodations, the industry will continue to
exert efforts to meet these demands. This is specifically true in places in which legislation
orders that appropriate facilities be made available. Hence, restaurants apportion sections of
their dining facilities to accommodate the requests of nonsmokers. Some even install or
improve ventilation equipment.
Proper food handling has always been an issue in the industry. Managers must
always be sure that food is bought from responsible vendors. Food must be kept at suitable
temperatures to prevent the growth of bacteria. It should be placed under proper conditions
to prevent infestation by insects or rodents. The surfaces of equipment must be cleaned very
well to ensure that food is not contaminated during preparation. Washing is a necessity in
food service such as the washing of the hands of the employees, the washing of the fresh food
to remove chemical residue, as well as the thorough washing of china, glassware, flatware,
pots, and pans that are used in the preparation and service of food and beverages.
National and local governments apply strict sanitary standards to food and beverage
operations. Some conduct regular inspections and apply sanctions on those found violating
the regulations. The sanctions range from imposing fines, publishing lists of violators in
newspapers, and closing the establishment of consistent violators.
To ensure compliance with local sanitary codes, many food and beverage operators
hire consultants to conduct regular inspections and to help in the immediate correction of
any violation. As consumers become more aware of the potential harm brought about by
improperly handled food, preventing possible violations of local codes will be a significant
issue to food and beverage operators.
In some cities, the cost of removing solid wastes is increasing to the extent that the
government and citizens are unable to pay. In many of these areas, separating recyclable
plastic, glass, and other items from other solid wastes greatly decreases the quantities that
require disposal.
The trend toward recycling is likely to increase, Many in the tourism and hospitality
industry who have not been previously affected by this issue will eventually find it necessary
to adopt a recycling program.
Fire Safety
Fire safety has always been an important issue in the tourism and hospitality
industry. In earlier centuries, taverns, inns, and hotels which were usually constructed of
wood were regularly destroyed by fire. Many were burned to the ground and a large number
of people were killed or crippled.
During the twentieth century, hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments have
instituted many changes, among which are improvements in design and construction as well
as improvements in the fire control systems installed in buildings. Examples are electronic
smoke detectors, automatic systems to summon fire departments, better sprinkler systems,
and so on. Because of these systems, people became safer.
However, a number of dangers associated with fire remains to be considered. In case
of fire, guests in hotels and other lodging operations may face danger from the toxic smoke
resulting from the burning of furniture, fixtures, and fibers produced from man-made
materials. In a fire, many of the artificial fibers used in wall coverings, carpets, draperies, and
upholstery produce toxic fumes that can be more dangerous than the fire itself.
Truth in Menus
For food service operators, preparing truthful menus is an ethical practice that should
never be violated. However, a small minority have produced menus that are not accurate
indicators of the food served in their establishments. Some serve US Choice beef when their
menu states US Prime beef. Others serve portions with fewer ounces than the number listed
in the menu. Still, others have not used the actual ingredients suggested by their menus and
have substituted one product for another such as turkey for chicken, margarine for butter,
generic products for name brands, and domestic products for imported ones.
In some areas, consumer production laws have been passed so that those who violate
the regulations risk fines and loss of licenses, It is is important that those in the tourism and
hospitality industry conduct their operations ethically in order that consumers will have
complete faith in the truth of their menus, the wholesomeness of their food, and the honesty
of their business practices.
Diet/Nutrition/Health
Since the public is very much concerned about healthy diets containing less fat and
lesser calories, many food service operators are adjusting their menus to the changing public
tastes. Some are devoting sections of their menus to food for the diet-conscious; others are
assigning certain menu items for those interested in food that is low in sodium and
cholesterol. An increasing number of restaurants exert efforts to attract health-conscious
diners. Some have eliminated unhealthy food from their menus.
The trend to healthier dining will surely continue. Successful food service operators
will have to give greater attention to the nutritional content of food in the years to come.
SUMMARY
Several social and economic changes are likely to affect the future of the tourism and
hospitality industry. These are early retirement, longer life spans, shorter workweek, greater
disposable income, greater mobility, and smaller families. Many of the issues that have to be
considered by tourism and hospitality managers can be classified into five areas, namely,
marketing, legal, human resource, operations, and consumer affairs. Marketing issues
include changing demographics, changing vacation patterns, market segmentation, frequent
guest programs, maturation in the segments of the fast-food industry, and consolidation in
the commercial lodging industry. Legal issues include liquor liability and ethics in tourism
and hospitality. Human resource issues include sexual harassment, employee turnover,
employee assistance programs, and employee empowerment. Operations issues include
automation, smoking/ nonsmoking areas, sanitation and public health, and recycling solid
waste. Finally, consumer affairs issues include fire safety, truth in menus, and
diet/nutrition/health. Travel, tourism, and hospitality will grow tremendously in the global
economy of the twenty-first century.
CHAPTER ACTIVITY
2. The unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical
conduct of sexual nature.
5. The merging of several independent businesses within the same company which is the
result of buyouts and takeovers.
7.The process of using electronic and mechanical equipment and machinery to complete the
tasks of a certain enterprise.
8. The study and use of practical measures for the preservation of public health.
17-20. Enumerate the human resource issues in the tourism and hospitality
industry.
CHAPTER ACTIVITY
1. Tourism that does not deplete the natural and built environments and preserves the
culture, history, and of the local community.
8. The preservation of the environment to produce the greatest sustainable benefit to present
and future generations.
5. The increase in the average temperature of earth's near- surface air and oceans.
8. All aspects of the surroundings of human beings cultural, natural, and man-made.
10. It refers to what exists in nature such as climate, weather, and flora and fauna.
I
2. An international organization which deals with all aspects of travel and tourism.
3. A regional organization that promotes and facilitates travel in the Pacific area
4. A regional organization which coordinates national economies for the benefit of countries
in the Asia-Pacific region.
5. A national organization which includes travel agencies and tour operators from the United
States and Canada
8. A national organization whose main objective is to unify the non-IATA travel agents in the
Philippines.