UK College: Tourist Destinations Analysis, Responsible Tourism, Unit 9

This report analyzes the factors that influence the popularity of tourist destinations and the role of responsible tourism in enhancing host communities. It begins by examining how natural resources, political stability, and accessibility impact a destination's appeal. The report then delves into the concept of responsible tourism, highlighting its direct link to sustainability and its potential to foster economic and social justice within host communities. It emphasizes the importance of empowering local communities and stakeholders in the development of responsible and sustainable tourism. The report references the European Alliance for Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (EARTH) as an example of an organization promoting responsible tourism practices. Finally, it provides a case study on Cuba's tourism and marine conservation. The report concludes by highlighting the role of responsible tourism to create positive communication among local communities, travelers, and the tourism industry.

Running head: TOURISM DESTINATIONS
TOURISM DESTINATIONS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author Note:

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Task 4
4.1 Analyse issues that affect the popularity of tourist destinations
The popularity and development of the tourist destinations depend upon one another
completely. The most popular tourist destinations of the world develop themselves to cater the
demands of the visitors thus add different features as well as elements of tourism. There are
various factors as well as elements that paly essential role in the decision process. Based on these
factors the tourists select the places for their visiting purpose. Each and every destination have
some tangible or intangible factors that adds to the internal and external features of the
destinations. The tourism products or services get reflected on the local and social and also the
global factors. These influences are clearly visible through popularity of those destinations (Vila,
Darcy and González 2015).
Natural resources: the primary objective of the visitors of the world is to visit the places where
the places have scenic beauty but the recent trends of decaying natural resources have affected
the most popular tourist destinations to lose their ground. The popular tourist destinations such
Costa Rica, Jamaica, Europe an Egypt. The infrastructural developments such as hotels as well
as transportations actually attract greater number visitors from different region (Scheyvens and
Biddulph 2018). However, overpopulation or exceeding the number of visitors in one area have
been affecting the environment of this region. Eventually, these places are losing once gained
high popularity due to their downgrading infrastructure.
Political factors: the political stability as important for any type of business, it is also important
for developing of the tourism business. The current political status of the destinations can affect
the popularity of the destination. For instance, the Brexit in the UK had affected the business as
well as tourism of the country in a great manner. Unstable government or political instability,

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can negatively affect the experience of the visitors and the reviews can reduce the annual visit of
the destination. This is same with the countries like Syria and Egypt where the political
instability has devasted the tourism industry of that region. On the other hand, the destinations of
the Asian countries like China are in much positive section where there are no issues of political
stability to hamper the tourism of the tourist destinations.
Accessibility: the international as well as local tourists are attracted by the accessibility of the
destinations in any way. In the global market the international tourists only prefer these
destinations which have greater historical or natural or cultural values but these factors get
secondary preference if the accessibility of that place is not satisfactory (Camisón and Forés
2015). The convenience of travel as well as the transport system put the destinations in the
category of higher preferences. This is the reasons why the tourist destinations of the eastern
Asia, Caribbean and southern America are focusing on the accessibility factor for their
development.
4.2 Discuss the potential for responsible tourism to enhance the host community at
worldwide tourist destinations
In this global situation, the pressure from the environmental aspect has been growing.
This is also putting pressure on the tourism industry of the world also. This is the reason why the
idea of responsible tourism has been developed (Carasuk, Becken and Hughey 2016).
Responsible tourism has direct link with the sustainability of the destination. As the social as
well as economic justice are connected with the responsible tourism. This minimises all the
negative outcomes over the economic, social, cultural and environmental components and
generate greater advantages for the local societies (McCombes, Vanclay and Evers 2015). This

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leads to enhance the responsibilities on the host communities. The economic and social factors
put forth respect on the host communities and support the development process towards
environment of the destination and the culture. The significance of this welfare process of these
host communities along with the local people as well as their rights to act as the protagonist in
development process of the responsible as well as sustainable tourism (Cheng and Wu 2015).
These are highly recognised by these concepts of responsible tourism in the tourist destinations.
This term, responsible tourism as well as the activities associated, motivate for cultivating an
optimistic communication among the local communities, the travellers and tourist industry of the
destination. In this regard, European Alliance for Responsible Tourism and Hospitality
(EARTH) has taken initiative for the transformation of the places, conservation of natural
resources and supporting the sustainability of the destinations of the world (Grimwood et al.,
2015). In case of Cuba tourism, the largest threat to marine conservation in Cuba is the current
high volume of tourist arrivals. For this reason, the tourist destinations of Cuba have started to
consider the responsible tourism and taken proper measures in marine conservation.

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References:
Camisón, C. and Forés, B., 2015. Is tourism firm competitiveness driven by different internal or
external specific factors?: New empirical evidence from Spain. Tourism Management, 48,
pp.477-499.
Carasuk, R., Becken, S. and Hughey, K.F., 2016. Exploring values, drivers, and barriers as
antecedents of implementing responsible tourism. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism
Research, 40(1), pp.19-36.
Cheng, T.M. and Wu, H.C., 2015. How do environmental knowledge, environmental sensitivity,
and place attachment affect environmentally responsible behavior? An integrated approach for
sustainable island tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(4), pp.557-576.
Grimwood, B.S., Yudina, O., Muldoon, M. and Qiu, J., 2015. Responsibility in tourism: A
discursive analysis. Annals of Tourism Research, 50, pp.22-38.
McCombes, L., Vanclay, F. and Evers, Y., 2015. Putting social impact assessment to the test as a
method for implementing responsible tourism practice. Environmental Impact Assessment
Review, 55, pp.156-168.
Scheyvens, R. and Biddulph, R., 2018. Inclusive tourism development. Tourism
Geographies, 20(4), pp.589-609.
Vila, T.D., Darcy, S. and González, E.A., 2015. Competing for the disability tourism market–a
comparative exploration of the factors of accessible tourism competitiveness in Spain and
Australia. Tourism Management, 47, pp.261-272.