“SPECIALIZED TOURISM”
“Specialized tourism” involves individual or
group tours by those people who wish to develop their given interests or places
that has a relationship or connection with their specific interest. It is an
all-encompassing term that refers to festivals, events, theme parks, cultural
venues, fairs, and museums that help define the social fabric of a community,
city, state, or region.
“Special interest tourism” is defined as travelling
with the primary motivation of practicing or enjoying a special interest. This
can include unusual hobbies, activities, themes or destinations, which tend to
attract niche markets which is the most rapidly growing area of the tourism
industry.
As the Tourism industry has developed through
the years and presently is one of the most diversified, customized and
specialized industries. I would like to introduce some of the most popular
types of tourism worldwide where tourists are categorized by the purpose of
their visit.
1. Regional Tourism
Regional tourism is a tourism activity which
focuses attention in that particular region only. For example, regional tourism
in Washington Dc would involve tourism in that state alone. A regional tourist
is a tourist visiting a country other than that in which he/she has a normal
residence but within a defined geographical region e.g. A tourist from EU
region visiting member countries or a tourist from Latin America visiting a
country in that sub-continent.
2. Cultural Tourism
Cultural tourism or sometimes referred to as
heritage tourism is the division of tourism concerned with the region’s
culture, specifically the lifestyle and history of the people, their art,
architecture, religion and other elements. Cultural tourism includes cultural
facilities such as museums, theatres and festivals. This is one of the most
popular types of tourism and attracts tourists from different parts of the world.
3. Heritage Tourism
Heritage tourism is defined as traveling to
experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent
the stories and people of the past and present. It includes cultural, historic and
natural resources cultural heritage tourism as traveling to experience the
places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and
people of the past and present. It includes cultural, historic and natural
resources.
4. Rural Tourism
Rural tourism focuses on actively
participating in a rural lifestyle. It can be a variant of ecotourism. Many
rural villages can facilitate tourism because many villagers are hospitable and
eager to welcome visitors. Rural tourism allows visitors to access people’s
lifestyle and environments.
It embraces farm-based holidays, special
interest nature holidays and ecotourism, walking, climbing and rising holidays,
adventure, sport and health tourism, hunting and angling, education travel,
arts heritage tourism, and in some areas, cultural and ethnic tourism.
The important of rural tourism can be
implicated from the linkages between rural tourism and its effect in a
grassroots level of a community. As tourism needs development of many factors
and it creates very wide of effects, it can very successfully help improve
multiple features of socio-economic condition of people.5. Cycle Tourism
Cycle Tourism can be defined as recreational
visits, either overnight or day visits away from home, which involve leisure
cycling as a fundamental and significant part of the visit. Bicycle touring
generally means self-contained cycling trips over long distances, which
prioritize pleasure, adventure and autonomy rather than sport, commuting or
exercise. Touring can range from single day rides to multi-day trips. Tours may
be planned and organized by the participants for themselves or organized for a
group by a professional holiday business, a club, or a charity as a
fund-raising venture.
6. Educational Tourism
Education tourism or edu-tourism refers to
any program in which participants travel to a location as a group with the
primary purpose of engaging in a learning experience directly related to the
location. It provides the opportunity to combine leisure with a learning
experience that is directed and meaningful exposure to a different set of
cultural values can lead to dramatic changes in a participant's perceptions and
attitudes.
7. Travelling for Health
Wellness
tourism is one of the fastest growing forms of international and domestic
tourism. This form of tourism involves people who travel to a different place
to pursue activities that maintain or enhance their personal health and
wellness, and who are seeking unique, authentic or location-based experiences.
Wellness tourism include massages, body treatments, facial treatments, exercise
facilities & programs, weight loss programs, nutrition programs, pre- and
post-operative Spa treatments and mind/body programs.
8. Environmental Tourism
Environmental Tourism or Ecotourism is Responsible
travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the
well-being of local people. The purpose of ecotourism is to educate the
traveler about natural destinations, to provide ecological conservation and
awareness, to benefit economic development, the political empowerment of local
communities and respect for the local culture. Here the traveler can experience
the natural way of life surrounded by natural circumstances.
9. The Cruise Experience
Cruising has become a major part of the
tourism industry. Cruising makes it easy to visit several places in a single
trip without the need to repack your belongings and sit in a car/train/bus/plane
to travel to each one. Your hotel room comes along with you, and even provides
the transportation.
Additionally, seeing several islands or
cities in a region can help you decide if and where you'd want to visit later
for a longer time. Typical itineraries also limit the time you can spend in
each place, usually just a short day of activities or sightseeing. They may
also include one or more days at sea: paradise if you enjoy a relaxing day by
the pool, but frustrating if you prefer more active and open exploration.
Nonetheless, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks for enough people to
support a growing industry.
10. Festivals and Events Tourism
Events and festivals provide numerous
benefits not only for the individual business but for a community and tourism
region. Local and regional events, including business events and conferences
can increase visitation and expenditure, reduce seasonality, encourage repeat
visitation and heighten regional awareness. They can also provide the stimulus
for additional infrastructure development in the local area and building
community pride.
11. Seniors Tourism
Seniors tourism is predicted to be a major
force in the 21st century as population’s age. While seniors are as diverse as
any other demographic sector, and many seniors do not have the resources to
travel.
They are likely to be more experienced travelers
and have more time to spend on travel and leisure. Travel is often a lifestyle
priority, and many are prepared to pay for travel on a regular basis. They
generally have more savings and assets and fewer financial commitments,
especially in the early years of retirement. They are more flexible with
regards to travel times, often preferring to travel in off-peak seasons. They
are generally more discerning, and demand higher quality services. They are
less likely to be influenced by ‘frills’ and extra amenities. Moreover, health
issues may influence travel choices, especially amongst older tourists.
Thailand is a wonderful country for seniors
to visit and thoroughly enjoy. With its
highly developed infrastructure, deluxe hotels and luxury resorts, and a
dazzling array of activities to participate in, you will wish your holiday, or
visit, was at least twice as long.
12. Wine and Food Tourism
Wine and Food Tourism refers to tourism whose
purpose is or includes the tasting, consumption or purchase of wine. Food, wine
and lifestyle are the articulation of host culture, the way they live, work and
play. Their food and wine have become one of the best ways to get to know them.
For example, over the past decade Australia has become a culinary destination
par excellence, as the rest of the world is fast discovering. Our cities
provide ample world-class dining options for the travelling gourmand.
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Thank you very much!
XOXO
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