What Is Tourism Geography?

By Robert Palmer

Tourism geography is a branch of geography that focuses on the study of travel and tourism, as well as its impact on the environment, economy, and society. It is a multidisciplinary field that involves various aspects of geography, including physical geography, cultural geography, and human geography. In this article, we will delve deeper into what tourism geography is all about.

Physical Geography in Tourism Geography

Physical geography plays an important role in tourism geography because it helps us understand how natural environments attract tourists. For instance, beaches, mountains, rivers, and wildlife reserves are some of the natural features that tourists are drawn to.

Physical geography also helps us understand how different types of climates affect tourism activities. For example, skiing is popular in areas with cold and snowy winters while beach vacations are common in areas with warm summers.

Cultural Geography in Tourism Geography

Culture is an important aspect of tourism because it shapes the way people travel and what they look for when they visit new places. Cultural geography helps us understand how different cultures influence tourist behavior. For instance, some tourists may be interested in visiting historical sites and museums while others may be more interested in experiencing local food and music.

Human Geography in Tourism Geography

Human geography focuses on how humans interact with their environment and each other. This includes understanding how people travel from one place to another, where they stay when they arrive at their destination, and how they spend their time there. Human geography also helps us understand the social impacts of tourism on communities such as changes to infrastructure and local economies.

Tourism Impacts

Tourism can have both positive and negative impacts on destinations. Positive impacts include increased economic activity through job creation and increased revenue for local businesses.

However, negative impacts can include environmental degradation due to increased waste generation or overuse of natural resources such as water or energy. Overcrowding can also be a negative impact, leading to strain on local infrastructure and resources.

Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is an approach to travel and tourism that seeks to minimize negative impacts while maximizing positive impacts. This includes reducing the environmental impact of tourism by promoting eco-friendly practices such as waste reduction and energy conservation. Sustainable tourism also involves working with local communities to ensure that they benefit from tourism activities in a fair and equitable manner.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tourism geography is a multidisciplinary field that helps us understand the complex relationships between people, places, and the environment. By studying tourism geography, we can better understand how travel and tourism impact the world around us and work towards more sustainable practices in the industry.