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Dr Jan Mosedale

Tourism in Asia

Overview
Well defined physiographically The worlds second largest population cluster Significant demographic problems Low income economies Population concentrated in villages subsistence agriculture Strong cultural regionalism Boundary problems

South Asia

The Realm of the Monsoons

Monsoons

Average Annual Precipitations (in millimeters)

0 - 100

Vigorous and dramatic cycles of weather events

Driest desert on earth

Dry continental
Gobi Desert

100 - 200 200 - 400 400 - 600 600 - 1000 1000 - 1500 1500 - 2000 2000 - 3000 > 3000

Torrential rains. Floods. Tropical cyclones. Wet season. India gets more than 80% of its rainfall during the monsoon. Dry season. An early or late Monsoon can have negative impact on agriculture.

Blow from the southwest from April to October:

Ganges Delta

Blow from the northeast from October to April:

Monsoon east
Borneo

Mawsynram, India (467 of rain per year; 11860 mm). Most precipitation on earth

The shifting of the pattern rather unpredictable:

Raining every day with no dry season

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South Asian Cultures and Religions

A culturally fragmented realm

South Asian Cultures and Religions

Religious

and linguistic diversity.

Religious Patterns

Islam is predominant

in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Hinduism is predominant in India. Sikhism thrives in northern India. Buddhism is predominant in Sri Lanka.

Islam Monotheistic. No idols. One sacred book. Uniform dogma - 5

Hinduism Polytheistic. Many idols. Various sacred

writings.

pillars. Intolerant (of other religions). Eat beef/Sacrifice cows. Bury dead. Social equality (in theory). Theocratic society.

Varying beliefs. Absorbed other

religions. Venerate cows. Burn dead (& alive). Caste separation. State of secondary importance.

India: An emerging superpower

Comparative GDP
Indias GDP will exceed

Italys in 2020, Frances in 2020 Germanys in 2025 and Japans in 2035

Goldman Sachs Projections (US 2003 $ Billion)

Tourism growth in India

According to World Tourism Organization estimates, India will lead in South Asia with 8.9 million arrivals by 2020 India is poised to emerge as the 2nd fastest growing (8.8%) tourism economy in the world over according to the World Travel & Tourism

Foreign earnings
There has been a growth of more than 13% in foreign tourist arrivals at 3.9 million during 2005, up from 3.4 million foreign tourists who visited India during previous year. Foreign exchange earnings from foreign tourists were up by more than 20% at $5,730.86 million in 2005, up from $4,769 million earned the previous year.

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Air travel and India

Indian air travel to grow 20% each year for the next 5 years Government and private operators will invest $20 billion in aircraft and infrastructure over the next five years Air India will be adding 68 aircraft to its present fleet, Indian Airlines 43 and private airlines around 275

Domestic Tourism
120 million domestic travels in 1995 (100 million for pilgrimage) Kumbh Mela in Allahabad (largest pilgrimage in world) (20M) 2004 - 350 million domestic tourist visits in India Travel patterns follow: religious shrines, cultural icons & VFR

Indian Tourism Market

250 million middle class 4 million outbound travels in 1995: 60% for Haj; 25% business; 15% pleasure 2004 6 million outbound Biggest desire of Indian Middle class after buying a house is to travel abroad Outbound developed last 6-7 yrs 2nd biggest Asian outbound after China

Indias advantages
An extensive colonial transport infrastructure A federal system which allows innovation and differences between the states A domestic tourism tradition A tourism public policy process Policy decision which reflects broader concerns than just the needs of the tourism industry

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

The Southeast Asian Realm

Major issues

South-east Asia

A fragmented realm of numerous island Physiography

countries and peninsulas. dominated by high relief, crustal instability, and tropical climates. Exhibits characteristics of a shatter belt:
Political instability and conflict

Clustered population patterns. Poor intraregional communications. Cultural fragmentation (complex ethnic,
linguistic, and religious patterns), situated in river basins.

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The Southeast Asian Realm

A zone of interaction

The Southeast Asian Realm

External influences

East Asia
India China Japan

Defined during WWII:

Political definition for a theater of operation.

USA

Multicultural (MalayIndonesian dominance). Several political, economic and cultural forces:

Middle East Europe

Southeast Asia

China (cultural and immigrants). India (cultural and immigrants). Middle East (Islam after the 10th Century). Europe (colonialism after the 16th century). Japan (occupation WWII). USA (Since 1898).

Have been stronger than internal influences. China brought civilization and technology (early history). India brought religion (Hinduism and Buddhism). Middle Eastern countries brought Islam and trade. Europe brought trade and colonialism. USA and Japan brought imperialism (at different levels):

Recently brought trade and development.

Indochina

Often used to define the region. Hint at the strong historical Chinese and Indian influence. Notably refers to the former French colonies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Colonial Territories in Pacific Asia by 1900

Korea

Colonialism and tourism - implications

Infrastructure and superstructure What are the main generating regions Destination image What are the main attractions Motivations for visiting

Taiwan Burma
Hong Kong Macao

Indochina

Japan Great Britain France Portugal Holland Spain (USA after 1898)

Malaysia

Philippines

Dutch East Indies East Timor

Continental Southeast Asia: Thailand

Profile The Land of the free:

Continental Southeast Asia: Thailand

Creation of modern Thailand

Never colonized by European powers.

Constitutional monarchy:

Chao Phrya Valley Bangkok

The core along the Chao

Phrya Valley.

Access to the Indian (Gulf

of Bengal) and Pacific (Gulf of Thailand) oceans. 62 million population:

Military coup (1932). Establishment of a constitutional monarchy. King as the head of state and symbol of unity. Siam became Thailand (1939). Invaded by Japan and became allied. Alliance shifted back to the United States against communism, thus receiving aid. Boost for the economy: R&R for US troops. Refugees from Vietnam.

WWII:

Indian Ocean
0 75 150 300 Miles

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%. Buddhist 94.4%, Islam 4%, Hindu 1.1%, Christian 0.5%. Muslims minority in the south (along the Malaysia

Vietnam War:

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Continental Southeast Asia: Thailand

One night in Bangkok

East Asia

Known for its sex tourism industry. Thai culture liberal and tolerant. Prostitution culturally accepted. Subservient role of women. Development of sex districts; Patpong. Prostitutes increasingly coming from outside Thailand:

Lack of supply. Each year, at least 10,000 girls and women enter Thailand from poorer neighboring countries for prostitution (Burma, Cambodia and Laos). Thailand is clamping down on the sex industry to change its image. Curfews for bars (Midnight).

Changes:

The East Asian Realm

Major issues

The East Asian Realm

Context The tale of two giants (China and Japan) and a
divided neighbor (Korea).

Worlds most populous realm. One of the worlds earliest culture hearths. Political and economic forces continue to
transform traditional cultural landscapes.

Demographic giant: China. Economic giant: Japan. Mongoloid race.

Intensifying regional disparities. Population concentrations in the east, situated

in river basins. Political geography reveals instability.

Also considered as the Chinese Realm and the

Japanese Realm:

Korea being a zone of interaction between China and Japan. Mother civilization. Japanese and Korean cultures strongly influenced by China.

Chinese culture area:

The East Asian Realm

Political Issues

The East Asian Realm

Demographic issues

Korea and its re-unification. China and Taiwan. The South China Sea.
Economic Issues

Overpopulation. Urbanization and migration (China):

Moving from a rural to an industrial society. Massive movements from the countryside to cities.

Missing female population.

Environmental issues
distribution of

Growth and development. Huge imbalances in the regional

wealth.

Strong focus on development. Air quality (urban and regional):

Between countries. Within countries (China).

16 of the worlds 20 most polluted cities are in China.

Access to water (depletion of river systems and

aquifers).

Food supply. Resources hungry China and Japan.

Depletion of natural resources.

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Major periods of the modern China tourism scenario

Tourism & China

1949-1978: tourism considered a political activity

Limited

services for visiting overseas Chinese and special foreign guests No domestic tourism Outbound very limited diplomats, govt officials Cultural Revolution tourism suspended

1978 significant change from political struggle to economic reconstruction

Major periods of the modern China tourism scenario

Open door policy Chinas second revolution
1978-1985: tourism as foreign affairs & economic activity 1986 onwards: tourism as comprehensive economic activity Late 1990s tourism designated as economic growth point Over two-thirds of provincial governments have made tourism as one of their pillar industries Premier Zhu Rongji in report on the 10th Fiveyear Plan stressed that the devt of the service sector should be sped up naming tourism (2001)

Outbound tourism
Recent phenomenon Increased incomes, rising demand for travel VFR tours to Hong Kong and Macau in early 1980s Cross-border travel to Russia, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar late 1980s

Designated overseas tourist destinations

By 1999 14 countries/regions recognised as designated overseas tourist destinations for Chinese residents

First China tourists arrive in UK (2005)

South Korea Singapore Thailand Malaysia Philippines Japan Australia NZ Vietnam Laos, Myanmar, Brunei Hong Kong, Macau

The first Chinese visitors to travel to Britain on tourist visas have arrived in London. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/471175 5.stm

Now over 90 approved destinations (63 operational)

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The Chinese Market

150 million Chinese now have the means to travel abroad. Chinese today are young (between 25-40 years of age) and career-driven called the billion boomer generation with incomes comparable with the US. And a 12.5 per cent growth will enable 100 million citizens to take a holiday overseas by 2020. 2004 Chinese going abroad reached 28 million which was an increase of 43 per cent over 2003.

Entry into World Trade Organisation

Joined in November 2001 Opportunities for tourism development

Fewer formalities/barriers for travellers Reductions in travel costs competition Removal of some protectionist policies E.g. Big international travel retailers such as
Flight Centre, TUI UK, American Express, JTB opening joint ventures

Suggested readings
Boniface, B. & Cooper, C. 2005. Worldwide Destinations: The Geography of Travel and Tourism (4th ed). Oxford: Elsevier. pp. 344 387 Lew, A., Hall, C. M. & Timothy, D. 2008. World Geography of Travel and Travel: A Regional Approach. Amsterdam: Elsevier Lew et al 2003 Tourism in China