A Comparative Analysis Of Tourist Destinations: London And Paris Essay.

Visitor Profile and Historic Visitor Numbers of London and Paris

You have been appointed as a team member of a UK based tourist destination. This could be a city destination, an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) such as a National Park, a seaside resort, a theme park, or a spa resort etc. As part of the task, you must choose the type of tourist destination you intend to use.

Your task is to identify a leading but similar overseas tourist destination to investigate its visitor profile, tourism characteristics and features, and to compare these with your UK destination. The objective is to evaluate the potential opportunities of the UK destination as an international tourist destination. You must take into consideration of the physical, cultural and economic characteristics and evaluate the tourism resources, amenities and facilities for tourism development. You should also take into account the issues related to sustainability. Examples include: London and Paris; Disney World and Alton Towers; Aviemore and St. Moritz; Brighton and Sitges; the Lake District and the Danube Delta etc. 

The tasks in this assignment are all based on the scenario provided above, but your discussion should be supported by relevant theories and concepts. You are also required to reference all sources used in the report using the Harvard Referencing System. 

You may provide a brief introduction to the chosen destinations not exceeding one page.

Total recommended word limit is 3,000 (excluding the introduction, references and appendices) 

1. Identify and analyse a world’s leading destination and compare it with a chosen UK destination in terms of visitor profile and historic visitor numbers, income generated and the key tourist generator countries (markets) to these destinations [P1.1, M1].

M1: to achieve M1 you need to have applied an effective approach to research using appropriate methods to analyse and interpret visitor related data, including tourist generators.

2.Using the data from the above, analyse destination trends for your chosen overseas destination and the UK destination and predict future trends in visitor numbers and visitor profile.[P1.2]. 

1. Identify the cultural, social and physical features of your UK destination, detailing the appeal to tourists [P2.1].

2. Compare and contrast the cultural, physical and social features of the UK destination with those of the chosen overseas destination [P2.2, M2, and D1].

M2: You should have used range of methods and techniques to gather and analyse complex information in order to assess the different features of the overseas destination and your UK destination.

D1: You should have arrived at conclusions on the tourist appeal of the UK destination and a synthesis of ideas with justification. 

1. Investigate and analyse (comparatively) the economic and political characteristics of both destinations [P3.1, M3].

M3: To achieve this, you should have made a 10 minutes oral presentation to the class on the economic and political characteristics of your UK destination with appropriate structure and approach.

D2: Substantial activities have been planned, organised and managed to make the oral presentation in the class.

2. Critically evaluate how the cultural, economic, physical, political and social characteristics of the UK destination affects its appeal to tourists. [P3.2, D2]. 

1. Identify three issues that may affect the popularity of the UK destination as a destination and compare and contrast them with the overseas destination chosen [P4.1].

2. Critically discuss how your UK destination could sustain its appeal with an emphasis on ‘Responsible Tourism’ [P4.2, D3]

D3: You have demonstrated effective thinking in unfamiliar context on how your UK destination could sustain its appeal as a tourist destination.

The human beings in the present times have become more migratory than ever and it is a reflection of this particular fact that they live to travel to the various parts of the world not only for the purposes of their business and other related aspects but also for the purposes of recreation and to spend their leisure time (Ziegler, Dearden and Rollins 2012). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the tourism industry has become “one of the most important ones in the present times and within a very short time has become the backbone of the economic framework of the major nations of the world” (Ziegler, Dearden and Rollins 2012). Furthermore, this particular industry is used by the various nations of the world to stabilize their dwindling economic resources and it is a reflection of this particular fact the tourism industry forms the most important part of the various nations of the world with unstable economic framework like Greece, Istanbul, Cuba and others (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the United States of America’s tourism industry for the year 2016 “generated over $1.5 trillion in economic output in addition to supporting 7.6 million jobs” (Forbes.com. 2018). It is significant to note that the United Kingdom is not far behind in this particular list and every year the tourism industry of the nation generates billions of pounds and the government of the nation takes active initiatives for the promotion of the industry concerned (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the United Kingdom is one of the most preferred tourist locations of the individuals from the various parts of the world (Ziegler, Dearden and Rollins 2012). This report will compare and contrast the potential opportunities of the tourism industry of the city of London with the tourism industry of the city of Paris.

The city of Paris is not only of the major tourist attractions of the nation of France but also of the entire as well. In the opinion of many the city of Paris is one of the most visited locations of the world and this particular industry “forms the backbone of the entire nation” (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the city for the year 2013 received more than “15.6 million international visitors, the largest number of whom came from the United States” (Bureau 2018). In addition to this, the city also receives a large number of tourists from the other nations of the world as well like China, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada and others (Bureau 2018). Another interesting fact to note about the tourism industry of the city is that the tourism industry of the city employed around “263,212 workers in the city of Paris, or 18.4 percent of the total number” (Bureau 2018). Furthermore, the revenue generated by the tourism industry of the city for the year 2014 was around “17 billion dollars (13.58 billion Euros), the third highest sum globally after London and New York” (Bureau 2018). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the tourism industry of the city is one of the major contributors towards the economy of not only the city but also of the entire nation of France itself (Bureau 2018). Furthermore, the city of Paris is not only famous for its various picturesque buildings but is also the host to some of the world famous tourist locations like “The Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel)”, “Centre Georges Pompidou”, “Arc de Triomphe”, “Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum)”, “Musée du Louvre (Louvre Museum)”, “Notre-Dame de Paris”, “Basilique du Sacré-Cœur” and others (Bureau 2018). In addition to these the city of Paris also has Disneyland and every year thousands of tourists flock to this particular tourist site to enjoy the bounties of this particular site (Bureau 2018). The city of Paris is an ancient one and thus every year thousands of tourists flock to this particular city on the score of this historical factor as well (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). Furthermore, the city of Paris is also known as the intellectual hub of the world and it is a reflection of this particular fact that since the ancient times a lot of writers, painters and others flock to this particular city on the score of the intellectual liberal environment which it provides (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). These in short are some of the main reasons for the emergence of the city of Paris as one of the major tourist locations of the world. Therefore, it can be safely concluded that this particular tourist location is likely to attract a much larger number of tourists in the future times and the rapid growth of this particular location as a tourist location is likely to attract more investors to this particular city (Fang, Ye and Law 2016).

Analysis of Destination Trends for London and Paris

The city of London is one of the oldest cities of the world and the various emperors of the United Kingdom since the ancient times have utilized this particular city as their capital from which they used to rule the kingdom (Londontourism.ca. 2018). Therefore, it would be apt to say that since the ancient times the city of London has received the kind of attention not only from the aristocratic perspective but also from other perspectives which has enabled it to emergence as one of the most famous tourist locations of the world (Londontourism.ca. 2018). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the “city attracted 19.1 million international visitors in 2017, making it one of the world's most visited in terms of international visits” (Londontourism.ca. 2018). Furthermore, the tourism industry of the city of London generated net revenue of £9.4 billion for the year 2011 which was a little less than half of the revenue generated by the entire United Kingdom for the same year (Londontourism.ca. 2018). Moreover, the city of London is among the “world's leading tourism destinations, and the city is home to an array of famous tourist attractions” (Londontourism.ca. 2018). It is a reflection of this particular fact the national government of the nation is using this particular industry of the nation to overcome the adverse effects of the economic recession from which the majority of the nations are still reeling from. The major tourist attractions of the nation of London include London Eye, London Aquarium, “Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Nelson's Column” (Londontourism.ca. 2018). In addition to these, the other top attractions of the city are “Tower of London, Buckingham Palace (although this is only open to the public during a limited number of months in the summer), Tower Bridge Experience, Madame Tussauds, ZSL London Zoo, London Dungeon and St Paul's Cathedral” (Londontourism.ca. 2018). The tallest building of the city “the Shard” is also used as a tourist location where the various individuals can go and enjoy the view from the top of the building. It is a reflection of this particular fact that the city of London attracts a large number of tourists from the various nations of the world like Netherland, France, Italy, Germany, the United States of America, Australia, Hungary and others (Londontourism.ca. 2018). The historical as well as the aristocratic background of the city are also a major area of interest for the tourists from the diverse parts of the world (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully 2013). Therefore, it is expected that the city is likely to attract more number of tourists and more investors.

Cultural, Social, and Physical Features of London and Paris

The United Kingdom is one of the most popular democratic nations of the world with the Queen of the nation being the titular head of the nation instead of a President. Furthermore, the nation is rarely inflicted with any kind of political turbulence and the people of the nation are generally peace loving (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully 2013). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the United Kingdom enjoys a “stable political climate which is not only congenial for the various kinds of trade as well as commerce but also for the tourism industry as well” (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully 2013). It is a reflection of this particular fact the culture of the United Kingdom is a very stable one and the people of the nation are very liberal towards the people from the other cultural as well as social backgrounds. As a matter of fact the city of London is one of the most multicultural ones of the world and presents a beautiful amalgamation of the diverse cultural as well as social entities (Mok, Sparks and Kadampully 2013). Furthermore, it is generally seen that the city opens welcomes the people from the other cultures as well as social backgrounds. It is a reflection of this particular fact that the tourism industry of the city is facing a boom at the current moment inspite of the economic recession which the majority of the nations of the world are facing at the current moment (Wilks, Stephen and Moore 2013). Furthermore, the location of the city is a very congenial one and very suitable for the promotion of the tourism industry. The city is located on the banks of the river Thames and most of the buildings of the city belong to the Victorian Age or to the 20^th century (Wilks, Stephen and Moore 2013). Moreover, the city still retains the historicity in its infrastructure on the score of the traditional designing of the city routes and buildings. In addition to these, the city also boasts of some of the most recent technological advancements of the nation and is among one of the most picturesque locations of the world. Therefore, it would be apt to say that the various features of the city are very congenial for the tourism industry which in the recent times has emerged as one of the major ones in the recent times.

The nation of France, on the other hand, is also a democratic one with the President being the titular head of the state. It is significant to note that since the ancient times the nation was government by the emperor or the king of France with the city of Paris being the capital of the nation (Wilks, Stephen and Moore 2013). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the city of Paris has received special attention since the traditional times. Furthermore, the city of Paris is one of the most liberal ones of the world and it is significant to note that the people from the diverse parts of the world take refuge in this particular city of the nation (Hartman, Paris and Blache-Cohen 2014). Moreover, the city is also known as the intellectual hub of the world and therefore attracts a lot of people from the different parts of the world. The city of Paris just like the city of London is composed of various kinds of buildings which belong to the 19^th and the 20^th and in the present times this particular historicity of the city is being used by the tourism industry to enhance the number of tourists who visit the city. In addition to these, the city also boasts of the various artwork museums of the artists who belonged to the Middle Ages and also the 19^th and the 20^th century (Hartman, Paris and Blache-Cohen 2014). The city is also known as the place of asylum of some of the most famous artists of the world like Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and others (Hartman, Paris and Blache-Cohen 2014). Therefore, it would be apt to say that a combination of all the above mentioned factors have made the city of Paris one of the most sought after tourist destinations of the world.

Comparing and Contrasting the Cultural, Physical, and Social Features of London and Paris

The nation of the United Kingdom is a first world country and on the score of this particular factor the nation enjoys a very stable economic condition. It is significant to note that the United Kingdom is the “fifth-largest national economy in the world measured by nominal gross domestic product (GDP), ninth-largest measured by purchasing power parity (PPP), and nineteenth-largest measured by GDP per capita, comprising 3.5% of world GDP” (Han and Hyun 2015). Furthermore, only 7% of the citizens of the nation are below the line of poverty and the unemployment rate of the nation is only 4.2% (Han and Hyun 2015). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the United Kingdom is one of the most economically stable ones of the world and it can be said that this particular state of affairs is very congenial for the “growth as well as development of the tourism industry of the industry” (Han and Hyun 2015). The nation of the United Kingdom is one of the largest democracies of the world and the Prime Minister and the Cabinet members of the Parliament govern the nation on the dictum of the Constitution (Han and Hyun 2015). In the opinion of many, the stable political condition of the nation is one of the major reasons for the growth of the tourism industry in the recent times.

The nation of France, on the other hand, is also a democratic one and is ruled by the President of the nation as per the various precepts of the Constitution. Furthermore, in the opinion of many people the nation of France is one of the most stable nations of the world and this is one of the major reasons for the unprecedented growth of the tourism industry of the nation. The economy of the nation of France is also a very stable one with a GDP of $2.57 trillion (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). In addition to this, the nation has “world's 7th largest economy by 2017 nominal figures and the 10th largest economy by PPP figures” (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). Furthermore, the nation is a part of the European Union which is the second largest economic block of the world just after the United States of America. The growth rate of the nation is 1.9% and only 5.7% people of the nation are below the line of poverty. Furthermore, only 8.9% of the people are below the line of poverty (Fang, Ye and Law 2016). Therefore, it would be apt to say that the economic as well as the political stability of the nation are one of the major reasons for the rapid growth of the tourism industry in the present times.

Evaluation of Tourism Resources, Amenities, and Facilities for Tourism Development in London and Paris

The city of London is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world and has various kinds of appeals. The multicultural society of the city of London is forms one of the major appeals for the tourists from the various parts of the nation. The stable economic as well as political condition of the nation also forms one of the major attractions for the tourists from the various nations of the world (Csapo 2012). Furthermore, the physical beauty of the city as well as its picturesque setting is also one of the major factors for the rapid growth of the tourism industry in the city.

It is true that the tourism industry of the city of London is one of most thriving one yet there are certain issues which the city needs to deal with at the present moment which might adversely affect the prospects of the industry. The three major issues which affect the tourism industry of the city of London are-

• The “divorce bill” or the Brexit deal which was recently concluded is likely to affect the tourism industry of the city in an adverse manner (Visitlondon.com. 2018).
• The economic recession which the world is facing at the current moment has significantly affected the tourism industry of the city.
• The conservative culture of the city is also another impediment to the growth of the tourism industry.

The major issues faced by the tourism industry of Paris are as follows-

• The economic recession of the world has an adverse effect on the tourism industry of the city.
• The exit of Britain from the European Union can affect the tourism of the city in a significant manner (Bureau 2018).
• The city is a conglomeration of people from different cultures and thus it is seen that the tourists feel out of place in the city.

The city of London has taken various initiatives in the present times towards the concept of “Responsible Tourism” in the present times. Therefore, with this particular aim the authorities of the nation have taken various initiatives for the personal safety as well as the wellbeing of the tourists who frequent the city from the various parts of the world. In addition to these, the authorities have also taken several initiatives to make the locations most frequent by the tourists safer as well as accessible for the tourists so that they do not face any difficulties at these locations (Cabiddu, Lui and Piccoli 2013). Furthermore, the city has also made the various hotels related to it friendly as well as affordable so that the tourists who frequent the city do not face any difficulties. Moreover, the law as well as the order of the city provides active support to the tourists from the different parts of the world.

Conclusion

To conclude, the tourism industry has emerged as one of the major ones of the world and it is generally seen that the majority of the nations of the present day world take the help of this particular industry to stabilize their dwindling economies. Furthermore, there are several factors which affect the tourism industry of a particular industry. The most important ones among them are the economic, political as well as social factors. Therefore, it is generally seen that the “growth as well as the development of the tourism industry of a particular location is directly related to these factors”. 

References

Ashworth, G. and Goodall, B., 2013. Marketing in the Tourism Industry (RLE Tourism): The promotion of destination regions. Routledge.

Baker, D.M.A., 2014. The effects of terrorism on the travel and tourism industry. International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, 2(1), p.9.

Bethapudi, A., 2013. The role of ICT in tourism industry. Journal of Applied Economics and Business, 1(4), pp.67-79.

Buckley, R., 2012. Sustainable tourism: Research and reality. Annals of Tourism Research, 39(2), pp.528-546.

Bureau, P. 2018. Paris tourist office - Official website. [online] en.parisinfo.com. Available at: https://en.parisinfo.com/ [Accessed 8 May 2018].

Cabiddu, F., Lui, T.W. and Piccoli, G., 2013. Managing value co-creation in the tourism industry. Annals of Tourism Research, 42, pp.86-107.

Camisón, C. and Monfort-Mir, V.M., 2012. Measuring innovation in tourism from the Schumpeterian and the dynamic-capabilities perspectives. Tourism management, 33(4), pp.776-789.

Crouch, D. ed., 2013. Leisure/tourism geographies: Practices and geographical knowledge (Vol. 3). Routledge.

Csapo, J., 2012. The role and importance of cultural tourism in modern tourism industry. In Strategies for tourism industry-micro and macro perspectives. InTech.

Eid, R., 2015. Integrating Muslim customer perceived value, satisfaction, loyalty and retention in the tourism industry: An empirical study. International Journal of Tourism Research, 17(3), pp.249-260.

Fang, B., Ye, Q. and Law, R., 2016. Effect of sharing economy on tourism industry employment. Annals of Tourism Research, 57, pp.264-267.

Forbes.com. 2018. Forbes Welcome. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandratalty/2017/10/12/us-economy-losing-billions-as-trump-slump-continues-in-tourism-sector/#214f090e1869 [Accessed 8 May 2018].

Han, H. and Hyun, S.S., 2015. Customer retention in the medical tourism industry: Impact of quality, satisfaction, trust, and price reasonableness. Tourism Management, 46, pp.20-29.

Hartman, E., Paris, C.M. and Blache-Cohen, B., 2014. Fair Trade Learning: Ethical standards for community-engaged international volunteer tourism. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 14(1-2), pp.108-116.

Londontourism.ca. 2018. Tourism London. [online] Available at: https://www.londontourism.ca/ [Accessed 8 May 2018].

Mok, C., Sparks, B. and Kadampully, J., 2013. Service quality management in hospitality, tourism, and leisure. Routledge.

Tyrrell, T., Paris, C.M. and Biaett, V., 2013. A quantified triple bottom line for tourism: Experimental results. Journal of Travel Research, 52(3), pp.279-293.

Visitlondon.com. 2018. Welcome to London. [online] Available at: https://www.visitlondon.com/ [Accessed 8 May 2018].

Wilks, J., Stephen, J. and Moore, F. eds., 2013. Managing tourist health and safety in the new millennium. Routledge.

Zaei, M.E. and Zaei, M.E., 2013. The impacts of tourism industry on host community. European journal of tourism hospitality and research, 1(2), pp.12-21.

Ziegler, J., Dearden, P. and Rollins, R., 2012. But are tourists satisfied? Importance-performance analysis of the whale shark tourism industry on Isla Holbox, Mexico. Tourism Management, 33(3), pp.692-701.