UNIT – 2
TRAVEL MOTIVATORS AND TOURISM PRODUCT
TRAVEL MOTIVATORS:
Tourism is a favorite leisure activity. Motivation is an intrinsic property of a human-being that arises from inside or of psychological origin. A combination of internal and external forces that motivates to drive the tourism industry. To satisfy all the level of needs such as psychological, physiological, etc. human travels. Physical motivations are derived in tourism recreation, sport, health, Cultural motivations derived in cultural tourism, Spiritual motivations derived in religious tourism, pilgrimage etc.
TYPES OF TRAVEL MOTIVATORS:
- Physical Motivators
These are related to physical relaxation and rest, sporting activities and specific medical treatment. These are concerned with the individual bodily health and well-being.
- Interpersonal Motivators
These are related to a desire to visit friends and relatives (VFR) or simply to escape from the routine of everyday life.
- Cultural Motivators
These are related to visiting places to know about other people, places, their ethnic background, tradition, and lifestyle.
- Status and Prestige Motivators
These are identified with the needs of personal esteem and personal development. These motivators are also related to travel for business or professional interests, for the purpose of education or pursuit of hobbies.
CATEGORIZATION OF TOURISTS BASED ON THEIR TRAVEL MOTIVES:
As discussed above, there are different reasons, inspirations and intensions for a person to travel. Based on the purpose of one’s travel, tourists can be classified.
- Business Tourists: Tourist travelling with relation to business is known as business tourist. Business tourism is part of the business world. Most of the cities feature conference centres that cater to the needs of business tourists. A proper example of a business tourist is a salesman, who makes trips to different places to attend trade shows, to display and promote his own products also.
- Leisure Tourist: These tourists want to refresh and revitalize with comfort, while enjoying a break from mundane routine of life.
- Religious Tourist: Religious tourists travel to holy sites seeking spiritual connection, participating in rituals, and exploring cultural significance tied to their faith.
- Adventure Tourists: Adventure tourists look for some unusual or bizarre experience. They seek adventurous activities that may be dangerous, such as rock climbing, river rafting, skydiving, shark cave diving and bungee jumping
- Health or Medical Tourists: These tourists travel internationally seeking specialized medical treatments, procedures, or wellness services not easily accessible or available in their home countries.
TOURISM PRODUCT:
Tourism product is something that can be offered to tourists to visit a tourist destination. As defined by UNWTO, a Tourism Product is “a combination of tangible and intangible elements, such as natural, cultural and man-made resources, attractions, facilities, services and activities around a specific center of interest which represents the core of the destination marketing mix and creates an overall visitor experience including emotional aspects for the potential customers.
CLASSIFICATION OF TOURISM PRODUCT
- Natural Tourism Products
These are more closely associated with natural environment.
For ex: – Hill station, island, etc.
- Man-made Tourism Products
Man-made tourism products are created by man for pleasure, leisure or business.
For ex: – Historical buildings, museum, conference, etc.
- Symbiotic Tourism Products
These tourism products are an excellent blend of natural and manmade resources. Nature has provided the natural resource and man has converted them into a tourism product by managing them.
For ex: – National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, etc.
- Event based Tourism Products
Where event is an attraction, it is event based tourism product.
For ex: – Cricket world cup, etc.
- Site based Tourism Products
When an attraction is place or site then it is a site based tourism product.
For ex: – Taj Mahal, etc.
Natural Tourism Products of India
Beaches:-
- Beaches of Goa- Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Vagator.
- Colva Beaches of Kerala- Kovalam
- Bekal Beaches of Maharashtra- Juhu,
- Ganpatipule Beaches of Orissa- Gopalpur-on-sea,
- Puri beach, etc.
Hill stations:-
- Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir
- Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir
- Gulmarg, Jammu & Kashmir
- Manali, Himachal Pradesh
- Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
- Nainital, Uttarakhand
- Darjeeling, West Bengal
- Mount Abu, Rajasthan, etc.
Man Made Tourism Products of India
Heritage Sites:-
- Taj Mahal, Agra (Uttar Pradesh)
- Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
- Red Fort, Delhi
- Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi
- India Gate, Delhi
- Gateway of India, Mumbai
- Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh
- Khajuraho temples, Madhya Pradesh
- Hawa Mahal, etc.
Symbiotic Tourism Products of India
National Parks &Wildlife Sanctuaries:-
- Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries, Gujarat
- Kaziranga National Park, Assam
- Ranthambhor National Park, Rajasthan.
- Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, etc.
INTERMEDIARIES OF TOURISM:
Intermediaries are the organizations which makes a link between the producers of goods/services and end users/buyers. The intermediaries constitute the travel agency, tour operator, escort and guides & online travel portals.