Unit9: Tourist destination

Assignment title: Lo3 Understand how the characteristics of destinations affect their appeal to tourists.

Lo4 understand issues likely to affect the popularity of tourist destinations.

In this assignment, I would be analysing the main tourist destinations and generators of the world in terms of visitors numbers and income generation.The report will explain about cultural, social and physicals features of tourist destinations, and I how they appeal to the tourists. I would compare the features of developing and leading tourist destinations. And then, I would explain how the characteristics of destinations affect their appeal of tourism. I would be comparing the appeal of present leading tourists destinations (France) with that of currently developing tourist destinations (Ghana). Then, I will be evaluating how features of tourist destinations affect its appeal.

Definition of tourism Tourism is the activities of people travelling and staying in places outside their usual places (environment) for business, holiday, leisure and many other purposes not related to the exercises of an activity remunerated from the place visited. Tourism is different from travel, ad in order for tourism to happen; there must be a displacement, means someone has to travel by using any type of transportation. But, all travels is not tourism. Tourism is the fastest growing economic sector bringing foreign exchange earnings. It is known that lot of people desire to go into foreign places to have an holiday, a break away from work, families, stresses and also to visit what they don't have in their own countries or their usual places.

France France is the world's leading tourist destination. Not only is situated at the heart of western Europe, bordering on all the larger countries in the region (Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and across the straits of Dover-U.K.), but it has also Europe's second busiest airport (Paris Charles de Gaulle airport), and dozen more airports with international connections. France is divided administratively into 22 regions. Each region has its regional council, whose members are elected by universal suffrage. The council is presided over a regional president, and has a full local administration to go with it. France has most 6 most visited historic cities, and each city has a rich historic. The 6 big cities are : 1. Paris (the capital) 2. Lyon 3. Strasbourg 4. Nice 5. Rouen 6. Bordeaux.

Those 6 cities are the most interesting city centre to visit when on holiday in France.A part those 6 big cities, France has also 20 historic monuments: 1. Notre dame cathedral, Paris 2. Sacred Coeur basilica, Mont Martre Paris 3. Gardens of Chateau de Versailles, near Paris 4. The Louvre, Paris 5. The Eiffel Tower, Paris 6. The Georges Pompidou Centre and museum of art 7. Notre Dame Cathedral, Strasbourg 8. La Villette Science museum, Paris 9. Chateau de Versailles 10. Mont Saint Michel, Normandy 11. Museum d'Orsay, Paris 12. Les beaux de Provence 13. Village de Riquewhir,Alsace 14. The rampart of St Malo,brittany 15. Notre dame Cathedral Reims, Champagne 16. Notre Dame Cathedral Chartres, Centre 17. The Port du Grad, near Nimes, Languedoc 18. The Arc de Triumph, Paris 19. Palace of Popes, Avignon 20. Basilique de Vezelay, BurgundyBeing in Europe, France is accessible by Road. The motorway links all the big cities of France between them, and Paris (the capital) is linked to other cities and countries by motorways. (Prosser,R,(2002) pg 52-53). France is also accessible by train ( the TGV) from Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, London and Netherlands. The city of Paris operates an extensive system of subways, buses, trams and boats; other major cities also offer subways and trams systems with stops at major tourist sites. France's towns and regions have all sorts of museums and monuments for tourists and visitors, and it has over 100 amusements theme parks such as Euro Disneyland, aquariums, cinemas, bars, France boasts a variety of activities to keep your travel itinerary exciting.

GHANAThe Republic of Ghana extends inland from the Gulf of Guinea on the western, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the South, Togo to the East, Burkina Faso to the north and Ivory coast to the West. Ghana has a surface area of 238,837sq km, it has a tropical climate, and Ghana has a rainy season in the northern from April to October, and the rest of the year is hot and very dry. The population is estimated at 20millions, and 10% whom live in Accra (the capital). Ghana has big cities like Kumasi, Tamale, Tema, Takoradi and the Cape Coast. More than 70 languages and dialects based on ethnic groups such like Akan, Ga, Ewe, Hausa and Dagbani, but English is the official language. Ghana is the biggest gold miner, and one of the continent newest oil producer. Situated 12km from Accra, Kotuku is Ghana' s international Airport, and is the main entry point to the country, and it is accessible from any part of the world, currently served by 25 airlines with over 170 weekly passengers aircrafts movements to more than 36 internationals destinations worldwide.Ghana is a country with traditional towns and villages, and it has 10 regions which each have their own culture, heritage story, religion(mostly Christian, Muslims and traditional religions),foods, customs and festivals. The tourism industry has contributed a lots to the country's economy, specifically in these recent times that the sector continue to demonstrate its potential as a key for growth. There is a positive point for travel and tourism in Ghana, the industry is expected to bring some growth and profits to the country, as well an anticipated increase in bound tourism over the forecast period.Ghana has several accommodation ranging from the 5 stars to home stay. Accommodation of international standards can be founded at popular beach destinations such as Ada, Foah, Gomoa Fetteh, Cape Coast, Elmina, Busua and Axim. Since the late 1980's,tourism has received considerable attention in the economic development. The strategy of Ghana, is to ensure sustainable tourism development through the creation of enabling environment for the provision of quality tourism facilities, and services for the travelling public.The number of tourists arrivals and amount of tourists expenditure have steady increase. A popular feature of Ghana is the great festivals held around the country for the most joyous affairs when local dress up in their finest traditional attire, ad tourists are welcome to join in, and some of more important of perhaps 100 locals festivals have become special tourism events.Ghana has sought to develop a tourist trade, attractions include casinos, fine beaches, games reserves and old British, Dutch, and Portuguese's trading forts and castles. The national cultural centre is in Kumasi, the capital of Ashanti region, an area rich in traditional Ghana's crafts. There is an art Centre in Accra, as well the national museum and the Alwri botanical garden, and also different beaches across different of the country.France is a popular destination for business and tourism, and it has a modern and well developed transport infrastructure. The air and rails are the largest, and the roads are in a very good conditions. Tourism is an essential sector for the French economy with 74.2million visitors, and despite a slight slowdown compared to 2008, France remains the number one tourism destination in the world in 2009 ahead of Spain, and the US, with a market share of 16% in Europe. The tourism sector assures the livelihood of more than 900.000 people representing 4.3% of the working peopleTourism is currently appears to be expanding to the economy of Ghana, there is a positive sight for the tourism, and a number of challenges have to be met, like providing quality tourism facilities and services for the public with a highly motivated and dedicated, and also ensure tourism to become their leading sector of the economy.Ghana's authority is planning a national tourism development which expected to enhance contribution of the tourism sector to the national and local economic development.Cultural resources like museums, monuments, churches, festivals, drinks, foods, religious, needs of different groups can cause the impact of tourism, and physical conditions, like poor urban, lack of clean water supply, inadequate sanitation, lack of utilities, poor transports network, natural disaster, could be one of issues likely to affect the popularity of tourist destinations.In the world of business, the tourism is one of the most important and profitable trade to a country's economic, in some country less developed (Ghana), the tourism industry can drive the economy to grow. Tourism encourage also the member of a communities to widen their point of view on some issues, the expectations of tourists can sometimes leads to the creation of new businesses, create some new activities .