CHAPTER 1

GEOGRAPHY AND TOURISM: ATTRACTION OF PLACE

1.1

ELEMENTS OF GEOGRAPHY
LOCATION

A fundamental aspect of geography that affect tourism is

the need for measuring and indicating exact locations on the earth. On a map, the grid lines represents the fundamental tool for describing location. The parallel lines extending east and west measure latitude north and south of the equator.

Latitude indicator how far eastward and westward of the equator a given point situated. Measured in degrees of arc from equator (0 degrees) toward either pole, where the value reaches 90 degrees. All points north of equator are in northern hemisphere and designated as north latitude. All points south of equator are in southern hemisphere and designated as south latitude.

 Parallel

lines (latitudes) are intersected by lines meridians, extending north and south. Meridians not parallel because originates and terminates at the poles and separated at the equator. Meridians measure longitude. One meridian was chosen as base point reference or prime meridian.

 Longitude is measure a point from north until south with

respect to prime meridian (Greenwich). Earth is circular and has 360 degrees of longitude. The world can divided into hemispheres in two ways: northern-southern and eastern-western.

 TIME

World time is understood in relation to longitudinal

location. East of Greenwhich 180 degrees, west of Greenwhich 180 degrees. Another meridian separates east and west, marking the change in time from one day to anaother because of rotation of the earth.

 Traveling eastward from one time zone to another, clocks

are advanced one hour in each time zone, until reaching the line 180 degrees of longitude, where the day changes. Traveling westward, the opposite occurs; at 180degrees west longitude, the date changes to the next day. Each zone is designated by a number representing the hours (+ or -).

 For example:

If it is 12 noon in London, it is +5 hours in New York, which is 7.00am. (it will be 5 more hours before the sun is midday location in New York) 1. At the same 12 noon time in London, it is -3 hours in Moscow, which is 3.00p.m.
1.

1.2 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

LOCATION i. Absolute ii. Relative iii. Geographic

PLACE AND SPACE i. Physical characteristics ii. Climate iii. Vegetation iv. Landforms

1.2 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY

i. ii. iii. iv. v.

Human and cultural characteristics Language Food and clothing Political systems and religion Architectural styles

MOVEMENT

REGION

1.3

LOCATION : THE WHERE OF GEOGRAPHY

ABSOLUTE LOCATION

Location is one of the central elements that contributes to

the uniqueness of place. Absolute location also referred to as site. Identify each location as a precise point on the earths surface through use of the mathematical grid system that is measured in latitude and longitude. Location system is used in orientation and measurement.

 RELATIVE LOCATION Also referred to as situation.

Examines the location of places with respect to other places

to understadn interdependence at local, regional, national and global scales. The relationship or spatial interaction between a place and the rest of the world depends on its relative location, its distance from other places, its accessibility or isolation and its potential for contact.

 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION The combination of absolute and relative location. Site

(absolute location) is a description of internal characteristics of a place, situation (relative location) which looks at the external relationships of a place. Site includes the absolute mathematical location of a place and qualities or attributes at that palce.

 Site features include the number of people living at that

place, ethnic character, income and attributes of their culture. Site also includes the physical characteristics. Development of tourism at any specific geographic location depends on its site, its situation.

1.4

PLACE AND SPACE: THE WHY OF GEOGRAPHY

Places on earth have distinctive tangible and intangible

characteristics that give meaning and character and distinguish from other places. Places generally describe by physical or human characteristics. Physical characteristics are derived from geological, hydrological, atmospheric and biological processes that produce landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, natural vegetation and animal life. Human ideas and actions shape the character of places.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PLACE

CLIMATE

LANDFORMS

VEGETATION

 CLIMATE

1. Tropical Climate - tropical climates are the humid climates that have no winter season. -located near the equator. -temperatures are high and rainfall is heavy. -divided into 2 group : 1. Tropical Rainforest - the climate closest to the equator has rainfall all year. - Hawaiian and other Pacific Islands

2. Tropical Savanna - distinct dry season. - Caribbean; Acapulco, Mexico; Kenya, Africa; and Miami, Florida.

2. Dry Climate - consist of the desert and steppe regions. -deserts are area that are very dry, with less than ten inches of rain per year. -steppes are semarid climates, receiving from 8-16 inches of rain per year and having a greater amount of vegetation than the true desert. -some desert locations such as Plam Springs have developed outstanding winter sport. -Arizona has become an outstanding winter destination for visitors from the cold, damp north.

3. Mesothermal Humid Climates -occupy the middle latitudes. -usually found on the margins of continents in the middle latitudes where temperature are either warmer (southeast) or moderated by water and winds (west coast) - mediterranean climate has dry summers and moist winters Southern California and Southern Europen popular tourist destinations in the world. - marine west coast climate moderate temperatures, with no dry London, England, paris, France, Washington. -humid subtropical climate has hot summer (exceeding 90 degrees F ) and mild winters (reaching freezing). - receives between 25-50 inches of rain yearly.

4. Microthermal Humid Climates - also in the middle latitudes but have cooler winters than mesothermal humid climates. - occupy the central and eastern portions of large land masses in middle latitude. - cold, snowy winters alternate with warm ( exceeding 80 degrees F) , humid summer conditions Chicago, Moscow, Beijing. - humid continental climate Vammala, Finland - spring and fall are ideal times to visit place in this climate. -The autumn colors in New England typify the beauty of places with humid continental climate.

5. Polar Climates - include subartic, tundra and ice-cap climates. - tourism is associated with hunting, fishing, camping and naturalist-related activities like animal photography. - examples: Arctic, Antartica - tourism is limited and restricted to a very short season.

 VEGETATION Pattern of vegetation broadly correlate with the patterns of

climate. The forest on earth can be divided into 3 categories: i. Tropical Forest ii. Coniferous (cone bearing) forest iii. Decicuous forest

1.

Tropical Forest - grow in areas with tropical rainforest climates. - variety of species is enormous and thickness branches and leaves creates a canopy. - no cool winter season, so trees grow year-round. - animal life is limited to smaller species such as monkeys, snakes, insects and parasites - combination of heat, humidity, disease and lack attractions limits visitors. - eg: Amazon region of South America

2.

Coniferous (cone-bearing) Forest - located in subarctic climates, marine west coast and some cooler humid continental climates. - coniferous tress have needle-like leaves that do not fall in the winter pine, fir, spruce and larch. - provide scenic views in the mountains and coastal area of Northwestern US and coastal areas of Alaska.

3.

Deciduous Forest - trees such as oak, maple, chestnut, elm, walnut. - trees lose their leaves during winter. - trees are useful in making furniture because have a dense wood. - New England area is tourist destination to observe the changing colors of leaves of trees in the forest. - spring equally beautiful as many flowering trees.

 LANDFORM The characteristics and combination of landforms at a

specific place give character to that place and affect the type of activities. Landforms also play an important role in the daily activities of human residents and visitors. By isolating certain regions, landforms such as mountains, desert and swamps affect economic development Mountain areas are attractive for people from crowded plains or lowland areas, which are hot in summer.

 The Poconos and Catskills are small mountains, attract

millions of tourists from New York and Philadelphia. Landforms are changing due to catastrophic like earthquake or volcanic eruption.

LANGUAGE

FOOD & CLOTHING

HUMAN AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

POLITICAL SYSTEMS

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES

1.5 MOVEMENT WITHIN PLACES

3 terms important in understanding the interaction

between places : 1. Complementarity 2. Intervening Opportunity 3. Transferability

 COMPLIMENTARITY

- there must ne a complementary relationship between two places. - Northern Europe is wealthy area with damp, cool climate. - Its inhabitans like to spend time in the sunny, warm, sunsea-sand environment offered by Southern Europe. - complementary relationship generates interaction in the form of tourism.

 INTERVENING OPPPORTUNITY

- refers to the substitution of one place for another. - in tourism, intervening opportunities are common as a nearer or less expensive place is substituted for another. - the British can substituted coastal areas in France for more distant locations in Spain, Italy, Greece or Caribbean.

 TRANSFERABILITY

- Transfearbility (accessibility) is the ease (time or money) with which a person can go from one place to another. - the greater the accessibility between complementary regions, the greater the interaction.

1.6 REGIONS: ORGANIZING THE GEOGRAPHY OF TOURISM

The world has been dividing according to 3 ways:

1. DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH 2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 3. INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION

 DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH

- the First World is defined as that of the wealthy, technologically industrial nations of the Western world. - the Second World is defined as the centrally planned economies of the former Soviet Union, China, Cuba and others. - the Third World consists of poor countries where the standard of living is low, lack of industry and majority of people live in prerenial conditions of near misery and mass poverty.

 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

- the wealthy nations with high per capita income, high levels of personal consumption, large, well-developed middle class, large number employed in manufacturing and service. Examples: Europe, North America, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. - least developed or poor, industry employs a minority, agriculture is the major occupation and poverty is the rule.

 INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION

- Area 1: Americas and Greenland - Area 2: Europe, Middle East, Africa - Area 3: Far East, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands. - For ease of marketing and control of air travel.

THE END