Comparative Analysis of Tourist Destinations: Trends and Expenditure

This report provides an in-depth analysis of various tourist destinations, focusing on expenditure, trends, and the impact of global events. The report begins by comparing the average tourist expenditure in the UK with that of Europe and Asia, using statistical data to highlight key differences and implications for the tourism industry. It then examines the cultural, social, and physical features of different destinations, identifying elements that contribute to their appeal. The report further compares the UK with developing destinations, such as Nepal, evaluating the effects of various characteristics on a destination's appeal. The impact of significant events, including earthquakes, terrorism, and disease outbreaks, on tourism is discussed, alongside the potential of responsible tourism to enhance host communities. The report concludes with an overview of the tourism trends in the UK over the last decade, predicting future trends based on statistical data, with a strong emphasis on the growth and development of the tourism sector.

TOURIST DESTINATIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.................................................................................................................................................3
1.1 The average expenditure in UK compared with Europe and Asia.............................................3
1.2 Implications of the differences of Tourist Arrivals and Tourist Receipts in countries...............4
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................7
2.1 Analysis of cultural, social and physical features of three tourist destinations.........................7
2.2 Explanation about the most important elements that make up the appeal of each of the 3
destinations......................................................................................................................................9
TASK 3...............................................................................................................................................10
3.1 Comparison of the appeal of current leading tourist destination UK with currently developing
destinations Nepal..........................................................................................................................10
(b) Identification of characteristics of tourist destination and evaluation of effects of these
characteristics on appeal of the tourist destination........................................................................11
TASK 4...............................................................................................................................................12
4.1a Effects of April 2015 earthquake in Nepal.............................................................................12
4.1b Effects of Terrorism: July 2015 Tunisian beach terror attack................................................13
4.1 c Effect of World disease: February 2015 outbreak of swine flu in India...............................13
4.2 Potential for responsible tourism to enhance the host community in the above three issues.. 13
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................15
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Tourism destination can be defined as the country, place, region or even a city that markets
itself as a place to be visited by tourists. Most of the sightseer destinations share certain features
that include attractive places, providing amenities as well as a proper accessibility. Every
destination has a presence of a specific culture, social norms as well as physical features that makes
them quite unique (Kastenholz, Davis and Paul, 2015). The present study has thus made with an
emphasis to discuss such destinations in terms of their popularity, visitor numbers, tourism and
income generated by them. Other than that focus has further been laid on trends and characteristics
of destinations that are there to appeal the travellers that pay a visit to the country. Advantage as
well as issues related to renowned tourist’s places of the world has further been discussed.
TASK 1
1.1 Average expenditure in UK compared with Europe and Asia
After becoming the member of European Union, the quality of life and standard of living of
UK has gradually increased leaving behind France, Italy and Spain (Melis, McCabe and Del
Chiappa, 2015). By analysing the number of visitors and revenue generated, a comparison chart has
been prepared below.
Table 1: International tourist arrivals
RANK DESTINATION REGION INTERNATIONAL
TOURIST ARRIVALS
IN 2014
INTERNATIONAL
TOURIST
ARRIVALS IN 2013
1 France Europe 83.7 millions 83.5 millions
2 USA North America 74.8 millions 70 millions
3 Spain Europe 65 millions 60.7 millions
4 Italy Europe 45.5 millions 43.9 millions
8 UK Europe 32.6 millions 31.1 millions
Table 1: Overall expenditure of travellers from Asia, Europe and other countries
Asia Europe Other countries
Years Spending in million (£) Spending in million (£) Spending in million (£)
2010 4562 19,383 8,775
2011 3502 19,101 8,798
2012 3900 20,018 8,631
2013 4100 21,256 9,355
(Source: Travel trends: 2013, 2016)
From the above presented illustrations, it is clearly observed that the spending limit of visitors
in year 2013 has significantly increased by 100 million pound as compared to 2012 (Travel trends:
2013, 2016). Superior world-wide connectivity, quality of life, wellbeing and education services are
the prime features which attracts visitors of UK. It has been observed that the total number of tourist

visiting Europe from UK in the year 2013 greater because growth of 7.5% is observed. However, in
other countries growth rate is 10% but in comparison to Europe the amount spent on tourism by UK
visitors is low. (Kastenholz, Davis and Paul, 2015). The tourist expenditure of UK is less compared
to other continent such as Asia because of the economic stability that is maintained in Europe. The
countries of these continent expend more in renovating the tourist destinations so that more and
more tourist gets attracted towards the country. But on other hand UK is not able to primarily focus
on tourism business due to instability produced in the economic market of United Kingdom (Melis,
McCabe and Del Chiappa, 2015). It shows that Asia might not getting huge income from UK
visitors because record of other countries are showing quite lesser than Europe. Hence, it reflects
that people of UK like to prefer Europe frequently.
From the above table of tourist expenditure, the following information has been evaluated:
 France – As per the analysis, it has been witnessed that the country has faced 83 million
visitors in 2014 which has enables them to earn more foreign income from the tourism
market. It is determined that France is the most visited country by tourists as the cited nation
is rich in culture and has the finest places to visit (France, the world’s leading tourist
destination, 2016).
 United Kingdom (UK) – UK is examined as the most preferred destination by the Asian
and European travellers. The factors that promotes and attracts the travellers to visit UK is
the pleasant atmosphere, wide range of tourist places and varieties of food items.
 Germany- Only change of 4% come in the tourist arrival that happened in the Germany. In
the Germany there is a pleasant atmosphere and varied sort of dishes are available in the
mentioned nation that are not prepares in other European nations. Apart from this, there are
many tourist places in the Germany which attract number of tourists in the nation.
 Italy – It is examined that Italy is extremely renowned for being as a tourist destination of
ancient art, love and food. Italy an essential and popular tourist destination in Europe which
is favourite among the honeymooners and all romantic souls (Melis, McCabe and Del
Chiappa, 2015).
 Spain – Spain is the third most travelled country in the world which faces more than 55
million tourists spending an average of $654 at every visit which gives them a greater form
of opportunities.
It can be observed that tourist expenditures are different in the Europe and Asian market by the
people of the UK. This is because cost of living is different in case of both continents. Hence, the
expenditure that is made by the people of UK in the Asia and European market is totally different

from each other. There is high degree of similarity in terms of expenditure that they made in visiting
nations of the Europe. This happened because to great extent there is a similarity in the culture of
the UK and other nations of the Europe. Culture of the UK and other Asian nations is different and
due to this reason people make different amount of expenditures in the varied nations of Asia.
1.2 Implications of differences of Tourist Arrivals and Tourist Receipts in countries
Table 2: International tourist receipts, 2014
Rank Country International
tourism receipts
US$(2014)
International
tourism receipts
US$(2013)
Change (2013 to
2014 (%)
1 United States 177.2 billion 172.9 billion 2.5
2 Spain 65.2 billion 62.6 billion 4.2
3 China 56.9 billion 51.7 billion 10.2
4 France 55.4 billion 56.7 billion -2.3
5 Macao 50.8 billion 51.8 billion -1.9
6 Italy 45.5 billion 43.9 billion 3.7
7 United Kingdom 45.3 billion 41.0 billion 10.3
8 Germany 43.3 billion 41.3 billion 5
9 Thailand 38.4 billion 41.8 billion -8.0
10 Hong Kong 38.4 billion 38.9 billion -1.4
The comparison drawn from the above statistical data states that revenue generation due to
international tourism gradually increased from 41.0 billion to 45.3 billion in 2014. On the lateral
side it can be seen that Turkey (39.8 million), France (55.4 billion) and Mexico (29.1 million) also
had a larger number tourist receipt received in the following year. A decrease in number of
international tourism receipt was noticed in Thailand (38.4 billion) and Hong Kong (32 million) as
compared to receipts received in 2013. From the above conclusion, it can be stated that generation
of receipts on international tourism has tremendously increased in UK in the year 2014 as with a
decline in Thailand and Hongkong tourism industry. Hence, it can be said that UK was found to be
successful in attracting large number of tourist all over the world (Pan, 2015). There is a gradual
increase in the international tourism receipt of United States when it is compared to United
Kingdom. This is due to the reason that US is more efficient in accommodating various tourist
which arrive from different countries. But on other hand as UK is not able to maintain a proper
coordination between all the tourism business sectors there have been decline in international
tourism receipt produced in United Kingdom. This has also produced a negative impact on travel
and tourism sector in the country. A total of 5% change has been noticed from 2013 to 2014 in UK.

If, UK wants to increase the international tourism receipts than it needs to develop proper
coordination between all the tourism sectors of the country.
(b) Statistical analysis of tourism destination trends over the last ten years and prediction of future
trends of UK
Tourism destination trends of UK over last ten years:
Year Number of
Visits (m) Spend £(bn)
Average
spend per
visit
Average
nights per
visit
International
balance of payments
£ (bn)
2003 24.715 £11.855 £480 8.2 -£16.697
2004 27.755 £13.047 £470 8.2 -£17.238
2005 29.97 £14.248 £475 8.3 -£17.906
2006 32.713 £16.002 £489 8.4 -£18.409
2007 32.778 £15.960 £487 7.7 -£19.053
2008 31.888 £16.323 £512 7.7 -£20.515
2009 29.889 £16.592 £555 7.7 -£15.102
Illustration 1: Tourist Arrivals and Tourist Receipts in countries

2010 29.803 £16.899 £567 7.6 -£14.921
2011 30.798 £17.998 £584 7.6 -£13.703
2012 31.084 £18.640 £600 7.4 -£13.810
2013 32.692 £21.258 £650 7.5 -£13.252
2014 34.377 £21.849 £636 7.7 -£13.688
Examination and scrutiny of statistical information on tourist destination trends of previous
ten years of UK have revealed that number of tourist in recent times have increased in UK
(Kastenholz, Davis and Paul, 2015). It is also noticed that in the year 2009 and 2010, visitors had a
negative impact on prevailing issues of different cultures and religious reforms which led to decline
in the number of visitors in these years (Melis, McCabe and Del Chiappa, 2015). Decrease in
quantity of visitors also affects various other tourism aspects like total expenditure on visitors,
country's international records of balance and payments which further affects the commercial aspect
of UK (Pastor, 2014). But, in the year 2011, government department of UK was successful in
investing a larger amount of its capital on tourism industries to attract more numbers of visitors that
year. It has resulted in increment of tourist number from 29.803 to 30.798 million. Normal
expenditure for an individual has increased from 480 pound to 636 pound in last decade. This
investment plays very crucial function in improvement of nation in various aspects such as
economic, social physical and political ways. Thus, UK has utilized wonderful ways of enhancing
tourism over last ten years (Pan, 2015).
Prediction of future trends as per the data of past ten years:
Illustration 2: Tourism destination trends over the last ten years

Figure 3: Prediction of trends of the number of visitors in future ten years in UK
Figure 4: Prediction of trends of the spending of visitors in future ten years in UK
The above table clearly shows the total expenditure of visitors coming in next ten years in
UK (Németh, 2016). It can be foreseen that every year the number of visitors visiting UK will
increase exponentially with better development and maintenance of various tourist destinations in
UK. With the increase in spending of an individual visitor, there will be overall increase in total
sending on tourism industries in next decade. From all the above predictions, it can be concluded
that UK will be the most popular visiting tourist destination in the entire world in upcoming ten
years (Pan, 2015). In upcoming ten years the number of tourist in UK will gradually rise because
the government is certainly decreasing the fares and costs of visiting various destinations in UK.
Further it will also provide different facilities according to the comfort of tourists so that they are
able to enjoy their visit in UK. Further it has also been noticed that spending in UK will increase in
upcoming ten years due to better development and maintenance. This will automatically increase

the total expenditure of tourism business in UK.
TASK 2
2.1 Analysis of cultural, social and physical features of three tourist destinations
Often-times, it is required to examine tourist destinations in terms of cultural, social and
physical aspects. The following contrasting table will help in determining different tourist
attractions all over world:
Tourist Destination United Kingdom France China
Cultural As UK is well-known
for its ethnic
foundations, this
feature helps in
attracting various
tourists from all over
the world. Different
museums, libraries
other historical
monuments and
structures are included
in tourist destinations
(Melis, McCabe and
Del Chiappa, 2015).
The natural history
museums of British is
one of the famous
attraction points which
is known for preserving
old collections and
antiques. Other UK
hotspots include Big
Ben Buckingham
Palace. Rich and
flourished cultural
heritage can also be
found in London city
France is famous for
organizing various
cultural events which
includes Lemon fest,
Cruzo air bag events
and many more.
Presence of Eiffel
tower of Paris, Le
Mont-Saint-Michel and
other battlefields
contribute in enhancing
cultural inheritance of
France. French cuisines
are also famous
worldwide which is
enjoyed by tourist
visiting France
(Kastenholz, Davis and
Paul, 2015).
With overall of 5 ethnic
groups in China, this
has vast culture and
tradition that is
accepted by all the
individuals in China
(Gnoth, 2015).
Classical Chinese is the
standard ancient
language that is used in
China since time
immemorial.

and Wales.
Social Presence of social
culture and heritage can
clearly be noticed in
UK. Different
characteristics which
enhance its social
culture are business,
income, wealth as well
as educational
activities.
Social culture and
customs of France
includes various
community gatherings
on different occasions.
French citizens use sub
titles and titles to
address different
people in their
community. The
custom of kissing
initially originated in
France.
There are many
customs and
celebrations that are
followed by China
throughout the country.
The most important
festival in China is
Spring festival which is
celebrated to mark the
start of Lunar New Year
in the country (Németh,
2016).
Physical Physical appearance of
UK includes different
water lakes, island,
abundant areas with
greenery and many
other palaces. The
presence of Ben Nevis
island in UK has been
attracting tourist
worldwide since
centuries. On other
hand, the existence of
different botanical
gardens and parks also
enhances the physical
beauty of UK.
The physical beauty of
France is flourished
with Rhine river which
draws a boundary
between France and
Germany (Németh,
2016). Apart from this
river, there is a
presence of high
Pyrenees mountain
ranges starting from
European borders
which separates the
Iberian peninsula from
rest of the Europe
(Melis, McCabe and
Del Chiappa, 2015).
There are many tourist
destinations in China
which can be explored
by visitors from
different countries of
the world (Pan, 2015).
The Great wall of
China is one of the
symbolic icons of the
country which is the
longest wall of the
world. The Terracotta
Army in Xi'an is also
one of the most ancient
archaeological sites in
world which accounts
for World cultural
heritage.

2.2 Explanation about the most important elements that make up the appeal of each of the three
destinations
Appealing features of UK and France
 Culture of UK: The prevailing culture and tradition of UK is one of the most significant
features which attract tourists from all over the world. Presence of various historical and
ancient monuments, museums and exhibitions enhances beauty of UK in various aspects.
The UK event management teams organize various cultural events and activities for tourist
visiting UK (Kastenholz, Davis and Paul, 2015). Various museums such as Albert and
Victoria museums plays a key role in attracting large number of tourists throughout the year.
The major shopping destinations of UK includes H&M street, Dorothy Perkins shop and
Westfield province of London. Other National Galleries and British museums also
contribute in enhancing and flourishing different traditions of United Kingdom (Pan, 2015).
Apart from this, cultural features of France consists of greatest mediaeval catherdrals and
the palaces of Popes. It is considered as the one of the finest late palaces of mediaeval in
Europe. Not only this, but Romanesque sculpture as Conques and Sainte Foy are considered
utmost in cultural tourism. It proves to be effective to increase overall rate of return. Apart
from this, some of the greatest names such as Chopin, Hugo and Voltaire contributed
towards building good culture of the location and accordingly large number of visitors are
attracted.
 Geographical element of France (Physical features): There are different countries included
in the UK such as England, Northern Ireland and Wales as well as Scotland. It facilitates to
present beauty of nation in front of visitors in an effectual manner. However, UK is spread
across the 94.58 square miles. Accordingly Scotland is considered as the famous bump in
UK due to mountain of Ben Nevis which is at peak of 1344 metres above sea level. T the
same time, plenty of interesting physical features are associated with landscape of Scotland
also. It proves to be effective for attracting more and more buyers or visitors towards UK.
Various physical features play an important role in attracting tourist to a particular
destination. France natural beauty appeals tourist to a greater extent due to the presence of
wide varieties of islands, rivers, mountains beaches, landscapes, flatbeds and forests. Rhine
River, Mountains of Pyrenees in Europe, the famous island of Corsica and different
landscape at Normandy are some of the major tourist attractions (Gnoth, 2015). France is
also enriched with the production of various ores and minerals like coal, iron, bauxite,
uranium, aluminium, gypsum, calcium salts, bismuth due to the presence of various
underground mines and extraction industries. Alps Mountain is also one of the destinations

which appeals tourist at a greater rate (Pan, 2015).
 Social features of UK and France: The social features of France depicts that people of
nation are quite formal and they like discipline to a great extent. Owing to this, people
generally follow the set procedures related to social or personal as well as professional life.
Furthermore, Catholicism is the predominant religion which is major adopted in France.
Apart from this, very open culture is adopted in nation and no any kind of sex discrimination
is entertained. Similarly, social features of UK reflects that all people in nation are having
right to live freely. It can be critically evaluated that issue of poverty make it possible to
treat all community people equally. This is because somewhere people are very rich and
those who belong to rural areas are poor. However, total several social classes are there in
UK which include Elite, Technical middle class and Established middle class as well as new
affluent workers etc.
(b) Comparison of the features of selected tourist destinations with developing tourist destinations.
Factors United Kingdom Nepal France
Physical UK is regarded as
one of the most
captivating tourist
destinations of the
world. Leading
tourist attractions
are tower of
London, Castle of
Windsor, British
national museums,
Big Ben palace and
London Eye
(Pastor, 2014).
In recent times,
Nepal has been
emerged as one of
the finest tourist
destinations
preferred by tourist
all over the world
(Németh, 2016).
Major attraction
sites are Kathmandu
Durbar square, Kala
Patthar,
Pashupatinath
temple and other
mountaineering
ranges and plateau.
France natural
beauty appeals
tourist to a greater
extent due to the
presence of wide
varieties of islands,
rivers, mountains
beaches, landscapes,
flatbeds and forests.
Rhine River,
Mountains of
Pyrenees in Europe,
the famous island of
Corsica and
different landscape
at Normandy are
some of the major
tourist attractions
(Gnoth, 2015).
France is also