Travel & Hospitality: Urban Tourism Impacts on Cambridge City

This report examines urban tourism in Cambridge, focusing on its nature, impacts, and resident perceptions. It begins by defining urban tourism and its historical context, highlighting its recent growth and associated challenges like pollution. The research aims to understand the factors attracting tourists to Cambridge and evaluates the positive and negative impacts of tourism from the perspective of residents. Key research questions explore the motivations for visiting Cambridge, its main attractions, and the reactions of residents to the growing tourism industry. The literature review provides an overview of urban tourism, its demand and supply dynamics, and related debates. The report also touches on the type of city Cambridge is and the factors contributing to its tourism growth, ultimately aiming to identify and determine the impacts of urban tourism in Cambridge from the viewpoint of its residents.

TRAVEL AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT URBAN
TOURISM
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................4
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4
1.0 Research background.................................................................................................................4
1.1 The nature of urban tourism......................................................................................................5
1.2 Purpose of the research..............................................................................................................5
1.3 Research Aims...........................................................................................................................6
1.4 Research Objectives...................................................................................................................6
1.5 Research Questions....................................................................................................................6
1.6. Introduction to the city..............................................................................................................6
Chapter 2: Literature review............................................................................................................8
2.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Definition of the urban tourism.................................................................................................8
2.2. The demand and supply of Urban Tourism..............................................................................9
2.3. Debates.....................................................................................................................................9
2.4 Type of city and the features that are related to this type of city............................................10
2.4 Conclusion and Summery........................................................................................................12
Chapter 3 Methodology.................................................................................................................13
3.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................................13
3.1. Method outline........................................................................................................................13
3.3 Data Collection Methods.........................................................................................................14
Chapter 4 Findings.........................................................................................................................16
Chapter 5 Discussion.....................................................................................................................17
Chapter 5 Discussions....................................................................................................................22
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Chapter 6 Conclusion....................................................................................................................23
References......................................................................................................................................24
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Chapter 1: Introduction
1. Introduction
In simple terms, urban tourism identifies the different tourist activities that are centered across a
particular city (urban area). As put forward by Bramham et al. (2017), urban tourism has been in
existence since the ancient times since the times when Sumeria and Mesopotamia were in
existence. However, urban tourism has witnessed correspondence growth in the recent times. A
number of cities have gained reputation and recognition owing to urban tourism and the immense
number of advantages that are obtained from it. The tourist activities surrounding the urban
tourism have increased to a great extent in the recent decades. If reports are to be believed then
the Urban tourism and the tourist destinations have witnessed an overall growth by more than
30% in the contemporary times
1.0 Research background
Urban tourism is indeed a wide area that is considered in the contemporary times. The sector
related to Urban Tourism has witnessed immense growth owing to the increasing crave arming
among the individuals to visit the new places. However, the different challenges that are faced
owing to the urban tourism are also many in numbers owing to the excessive pollution as well as
other factors that are related with it. These factors often create a negative impact on the place
where the tourism is conducted. In spite of being one of the most significant and important
global type of tourism, urban tourism have received comparatively less amount of attention
(much less than what it deserved). The scholars and the researches that have been conducted so
far, have never emphasized much on the reason- the chief reason behind the insignificant
existence of the urban tourism in the contemporary times.
It is a known fact that tourism contributes much towards the overall growth of economy of a
particular place. However, the places that already have an insignificant economic condition are
least impacted by the tourism industry and hence Urban tourism are not able to grow appreciably
in these places. However, the scenario has changed considerably in the contemporary times as
the inclination of the individuals towards urban tourism has increased. The significant amounts
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of statistical researches that have conducted so far points out the overall urban tourism have
witnessed appreciable growth by more than 40%. The emergence of effective transport systems
along with good infrastructure along with a set of effective political, economic and social
conditions have proved to be effective enough for attracting the tourist towards themselves-
hence, the growth of Urban Tourism.
1.1 The nature of urban tourism
The main aim of the urban tourism is attaining leisure to the maximum possible extent and also
to enjoy the beauty and the soul of the city. There are also other factors that contribute towards
these. The most effective among the factors that contributes towards the purpose may include the
business, fashion, adventure, employment. The nature of the urban tourism is indeed intrinsic in
nature. On one hand, it helps in creating an effective image of the place; on the other hand, it also
helps in enhancing the overall economic, political and the infrastructure of the place (just like
other forms of tourism). If reports are to be believed then the urban tourism has contributed to
the overall GDP by more than 20%. A proper and effective urban tourism contributes much
towards the sustainability of the places and hence, is extremely effective in ensuring the
economic, educational and growth of the place.
1.2 Purpose of the research
The study is aimed at understanding and having a clear impact of different factors that have
proved to be effective enough in attracting the tourists towards themselves. It has been estimated
that the growth of the urban tourism have witnessed a steady graph in the contemporary times.
The main purpose of the research is to estimate the factors that contribute towards the growth of
the urban tourism in places. As reported by Eshliki and Kaboudi (2017), the impacts of the
Urban tourism is a mixture of both positive and negative impacts. While factors like political
stability, effective infrastructure, reduced rates of tourism have contributed to the welfare of the
place. The adverse factors like environmental pollution (the most significant) and their impacts
can never be avoided. The main purpose of the research is to identify these factors and analyze
the impacts of these factors (both positive and negative) in the overall development of the
tourism of the particular place.
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1.3 Research Aims
The aim of the research is to identify and determine the negative as well as the positive impacts
of the urban tourism at Cambridge (from the view point of the residents).
1.4 Research Objectives
The objectives that may be helpful in shaping up the research may include
 To evaluate the current tourism trends in context with Cambridge
 To investigate the impact of the tourism in Cambridge city from the point of view of the
residents of the place
 To analyze the identified perspective of the residents of Cambridge city regarding the
impacts of the Urban tourism
1.5 Research Questions
The different research questions that are relevant to the topic may include
 What are the main reasons that have motivated the tourists to visit the Cambridge city?
 What are the main tourist attractions of the Cambridge city?
 How is the place affected by the tourism?
 What are the reactions of the residents of the place towards the up growing tourism of
Cambridge?
1.6. Introduction to the city
Cambridge otherwise famous as the “University City” gets its name from the word Cambridge
shire. The city is located near the River cam in the Northern part of the city. The city has a
number of monuments and structures (mostly historical) that attracts tourists from all over the
world. There are a number of hotels. Lodges those are located in the city that attracts tourists
from all over the world and also caters them effectively. The reports that have been prepared in
the regard have pointed out that the number of tourists who have been visiting Cambridge rose
by more than 30,000 in the past two years. The graph also pointed out that the graph is expected
to rise by more than 30% in the upcoming years. The significant factor that needs to be
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considered in this regard is that previously most of the visitors were day visitors. While in the
current times, most of the visitors prefer staying in Cambridge for more than just a couple of
days and this is indeed good news for Cambridge. The opportunity if used effectively can attract
huge number of tourist towards Cambridge in the upcoming years (Tricarico, 2017).
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Chapter 2: Literature review
2.0 Introduction
The literature review section provides a clear overview as to what urban tourism is along with
the different ways in which urban tourism impacts the overall tourism industry of Cambridge.
The current status of the demand and the supply of Urban Tourism along with the different
debates that are related to it have also been included in the section. The section will also
emphasize on the type of city Cambridge and what are the main reasons that have contributed
towards the growth of the tourism of the place.
2.1 Definition of the urban tourism
As discussed by Ferrucci et al. (2017), the term Urban tourism in the business terms helps in
discussing the different tourist activities surrounding a city that turns out to be the place of
interest in the entire process. The urban tourism is comparatively an older form of tourism that
has been in existence for more than centuries. History points out that in the ancient times,
individuals visited places like Mesopotamia, Babylon for an effective idea about the places as
well as for business purposes. Since the 19th century, urban tourism has indeed witnessed huge
changes as more number of individuals has indulged into the tourism industry. As discussed by
Shi et al. (2017), the credit of this overwhelming growth of tourism goes to improved
transportations and other infrastructures of the place. Moreover, the political stability of the place
along with reduced rates of terrorism of the places is some of the vital reasons that have
contributed to the cause.
These factors have instigated much confidence among the tourists to undergo this type of tourism
that have contributed to the rise of urban tourism of the particular place. The different range of
activities that are arranged by the places for ensuring the growth of the urban tourism may
include shopping, adventure, sightseeing and as of course business meetings. The type of tourism
that caters all of the above factors is referred to as urban tourism.
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2.2. The demand and supply of Urban Tourism
The demand and supply of urban tourism is adverse in nature. Often the demand and supply are
not able to collate with each other resulting in the restrictive growth of the tourism of the place.
As discussed by García et al.(2017), tourism demand identifies the total number of individuals
visiting a particular place for utilizing the different tourist facilities and services of the place.
Demand solely depends on the number of individuals (tourists) visiting a particular place. Their
interest and the type of services that are generally preferred by them are also vital determining
factors of the tourism demand. The supply on the other hand identifies the response to the
available resources from the side of the respondents. It is a common fact that the supply needs to
meet up with the demand of tourism for ascertaining the success of the entire process.
If reports are to be believed then the demand of urban tourism has increased appreciably in the
upcoming years. The statistics that have been collected in this regard points out that the urban
tourism has witnessed a revolutionary growth in the upcoming years and is expected to increase
appreciably in the upcoming years as well. The demands of the tourist have increased, so have
the supply also increased. Previously good place and food were the chief demand of the tourists
visiting the place, but now luxurious or rather personalized services are some of the basic
demands of the tourists. In accordingly the supplies have also changed. The fact that most of the
tourist destinations have witnessed an excessive growth of hotels, motels and restaurants (more
urbanization) also validates the above statement. Advanced and faster modes of transportation
are some of the basic needs (demands) of tourism. Accordingly more number of flights, trains is
other modes of transport have also been introduced (supply). Thus it can be stated that the
demand and the supply are to some extent able to balance and collate with each other.
2.3. Debates
The above concepts of demands and supplies of urban tourism have raised serious debates.
While some of the individuals have agreed that the demands and the supplies have increased
proportionally. There are few others who completely contradict the above statement. As put
forward by Gurran and Phibbs (2017), the basic demands of tourists are currently good and safe
place. Whilst most of the leading tourist destinations have a large number of hotels and
restaurants, most of them are not effective enough in satisfying the tourist in the best possible
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way. The different customer reviews also points out towards similar results. Though the hotels
and lodges have increased in number to a great extent, but the level of services have not raised to
that level.
The transport services that are provided are also not always effective enough in all aspects. In
most of the cases, the leading tourists destinations are overcrowded leading to excessive
congestions in the roads. Linet al.(2017), has discussed in this regard, that the demand of
thetourists of effective transportation services cannot be fulfilled only by providing more variety
of transports. It is also the duty of the government of the particular place to ensure that none of
the streets are congested and seamless flow of traffic (overall operations) is instigated in the
places(Pinkster and Boterman, 2017).
2.4 Type of city and the features that are related to this type of city
The city that has been chosen for the purpose is Cambridge- one of the leading tourist
destinations of the contemporary times. The fact that the city is ornamented by a number of
historical monuments has made it a “hot cake” in the tourism industry
(urban tourism industry). Cambridge has been categorized as tourist-history city of the current
times. The characteristics of each type of cities vary from each other (Page, 2017). The below
graph has provided a detailed overview of the city type along with the characteristics of each of
them
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Figure 1: Different types of tourism and their characteristics
(Source: Lin et al., 2017)
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The characteristics of each of the cities vary from each other. In case of the different historical
cities, the individuals visit the city for having a proper insight into the history and the culture of
the place. Most of the tourists who visit the place are leisure tourists (those interested in the
history of the place). These places are visited throughout the year, particularly during the
seasons of festivals and occasions. The Cambridge festival, Christmas, Easter holidays are some
of the peak seasons that attracts tourists from all over the world (Mordue, 2017).
The above graph points out that a number of monuments, Museums, art galleries, Visitor
attractions, characterize the historical cities. Similar situations are also witnessed in case of
Cambridge. A number of monuments - Fitzwilliam Monument, Ely Cathedral, The famous
Imperial war museum, witness the city. These are among the most visited places of Cambridge.
However, other monuments and structures such as the mathematical bridge, botanical garden
along with the museum of anthropology and archaeology is also among the “hit list” of the
tourist visiting the place (Önder et al., 2017).
2.4 Conclusion and Summery
The above section has proved to be an effective enough in providing a clear overview of the
different factors that have contributed towards the growth of the Urban tourism in the desired
tourist location. (Cambridge). The factors effecting tourism such as demand and supply and the
capability of the tourist destinations to cope up with these factors have also been discussed in the
above sections. The characteristics of the historical tourist destinations have also been discussed
in the section.
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