Concept of tourism resources and products
Tourism resources refer to the natural, cultural, and human-made features that attract visitors to a destination. Tourism products, on the other hand, are the combination of tourism resources that have been developed, packaged, and marketed to visitors as an experience or product.
Natural resources can include things like natural parks, beaches, wildlife, and scenic landscapes. Cultural resources include historic sites, museums, cultural events, and festivals, while human-made resources can include things like architectural landmarks, theme parks, and modern attractions.
Tourism products are created by combining these resources into a complete experience that is marketed to visitors. For example, a tour operator may package a visit to a cultural heritage site with a visit to a local market and a traditional meal to create a complete cultural tourism experience. Similarly, a travel agency may package a visit to a beach destination with accommodations, transportation, and tours to create a complete beach tourism experience.
The development of tourism products can involve a range of stakeholders, including government, private sector, and community organizations. This can involve the creation of new tourism infrastructure, such as accommodations, transportation, and attractions, as well as the development of marketing campaigns and partnerships with other businesses.
The goal of developing tourism products is to create unique and memorable experiences that appeal to travelers and encourage them to return to a destination in the future. By highlighting the unique resources and experiences that a destination has to offer, tourism products can help attract visitors, support the local economy, and create sustainable tourism growth.
Characteristics of tourism product
Intangible:A tourism product is intangible in nature, meaning that it cannot be touched or physically stored. It is a service that is created and consumed in the moment, such as a guided tour or a performance.
Perishable: Tourism products are perishable, meaning that they cannot be stored and sold at a later time. Once the service is provided, it cannot be sold again, so it is important to manage inventory and pricing carefully.
Heterogeneous: Tourism products are heterogeneous, meaning that they vary in quality and cannot be exactly duplicated. This is because tourism products are often created by people, and each individual has their own unique skills, talents, and styles.
Experience-oriented: A tourism product is focused on providing a unique and memorable experience for the traveler. This can include creating emotional connections, engaging the senses, and providing a sense of authenticity.
Co-production: Tourism products are often co-produced by the traveler and the service provider. This means that the traveler’s participation in the experience is an important part of the product.
Seasonal:Tourism products can be seasonal, meaning that they are only available during certain times of the year. This can create challenges in terms of staffing, pricing, and marketing.
Location-specific: Tourism products are location-specific, meaning that they are created and consumed in a specific place. This requires destination management organizations to develop and market products that are unique to the destination, and that meet the needs and preferences of different types of travelers.
Types of tourism products
Tourism products refer to the range of services, attractions, and facilities that are available to tourists to enhance their travel experience. There are several types of tourism products, including:
Accommodation: This includes hotels, motels, resorts, hostels, vacation rentals, and other types of lodging.
Transportation: This includes airlines, buses, trains, rental cars, and other types of transportation services.
Attractions:This includes theme parks, museums, historical sites, natural attractions, and other types of tourist attractions.
Activities:This includes activities such as hiking, biking, skiing, surfing, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Events:This includes cultural events, festivals, concerts, sports events, and other types of events that attract tourists.
Food and beverage: This includes restaurants, cafes, bars, and other types of food and beverage services that cater to tourists.
Tourism services: This includes travel agencies, tour operators, tourist guides, and other types of services that facilitate tourism.
Shopping:This includes shopping malls, markets, and other types of retail outlets that are popular with tourists.
Wellness and health tourism:This includes spas, wellness centers, yoga retreats, and other types of services that focus on health and wellness.
Educational tourism: This includes study abroad programs, language courses, and other types of educational experiences that are popular with tourists.
Distribution of tourism products.
The distribution of tourism products refers to the process of making these products available to potential customers in the most effective and efficient manner possible. This typically involves a series of intermediaries and distribution channels that work together to promote, market, and sell tourism products. Here are some common distribution channels for tourism products:
Travel agents: Travel agents are one of the most important distribution channels for tourism products. They help customers plan and book their travel arrangements, including flights, accommodations, transportation, and tours.
Online travel agencies (OTAs): OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor have become increasingly popular in recent years. They offer customers the ability to book travel arrangements online, often with discounted rates.
Tour operators: Tour operators offer packaged tours that include a variety of travel services, such as transportation, accommodations, and activities. They work with travel agents and OTAs to promote and sell their packages.
Destination marketing organizations (DMOs): DMOs are responsible for promoting tourism to a particular destination. They work with travel agents, tour operators, and OTAs to promote and distribute tourism products.
Direct bookings: Some tourism products, such as accommodations and activities, can be booked directly through the supplier’s website or reservation system. This allows customers to bypass intermediaries and book directly with the supplier.
Wholesalers: Wholesalers are intermediaries that purchase large volumes of tourism products from suppliers and sell them to travel agents and tour operators at discounted rates.
Global distribution systems (GDS): GDSs like Amadeus and Sabre are computer networks that allow travel agents and tour operators to access and book travel arrangements from a variety of suppliers.