Gonda, Tibor

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Theme routes in tourism- and spatial development

• Gonda, Tibor
• Raffay, Zoltán

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The role of tourism in world economy

• Continuous, almost uninterrupted growth since the
  1950s
• 1950 25 million tourist arrivals
• 2007 860 million 2010 935 million 2012 over
  1 billion!
• Average annual growth rate is above average
  growth rate of world economy
• WTO forecast by 2020 international arrivals at
  1.6 billion, average annual growth rate at 4,
  incomes from international tourism reach 2,000
  billion USD
• Industry of the 21st century, industry of
  peace

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The role of tourism in Hungarian economy

• Over 5 of Hungarian GDP directly from tourism
  (agriculture 4 construction industry 4.6 in
  2007)
• Of all employment 7.9 in tourism
• Indirectly
• Appr. 10 of GDP
• 12.6 of employment

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Tourism trends

• Local (tourism) developments are more likely to
  succeed if they meet international trends in
  tourism
• Tourists more active physically and
  intellectually than before
• Traditional 3S/4S tourism giving way to special
  demand, niche markets
• Back to the roots, nostalgia
• Pilgrimages to holy places
• Increased awareness about health(y environment)
• Shorter visits but more frequently than before ?
  new destinations can join in tourism, all year
  round
• Growing role of silver generation in tourism
• More informed tourists insist on value for the
  money
• More tourists are sensitive environmentally and
  socially
• Professional management needed ? theme routes

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From scattered attractions to real experience

• Basic tendency tourists want to have more fun,
  experience and knowledge on the visited sites
• More interest in local products, traditional
  gastronomy (a reply to globalisation and food
  scandals?)
• Rapid spread of non-mainstream tourism forms
• Many tourists seek new places, ones not visited
  by tourists before
• Far-away places and ones that were not considered
  as tourism destinations may get a new chance
• Todays tourists can choose from a variety never
  seen before
• New attractions must exceed ever higher thresholds

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Study path of socialist architecture, Dunaújváros
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Theme parks and theme routes

• Basic difference theme parks entertain (mass
  tourism), theme routes educate (alternative
  tourism)
• Forbes Traveler, 50 Most Popular Tourist
  Attractions In The World
• Entertainment facilities 18, with 139.4 million
  visitors
• Architectural complexes, squares 6, with 88.7
  million visitors
• Monument buildings 12, with 65.29 million
  visitors
• Museums 10, 45.6 million visitors
• Natural sights of interest and national parks 4,
  with 31.04 million visitors
• Total 370.03 million visitors 38 in fun
  facilities!

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Theme parks

• The predecessors were the entertainment fun
  parks
• First park of this type established in 1550,
  garden of entertainment
• Oldest theme park of the world near Copenhagen
  (since 1583)
• 19th century first heyday of entertainment
  parks 1843 in Copenhagen the Tivoli park was
  opened, and in a few years it became the most
  visited entertainment facility in the world
• Late 19th century first seaside entertainment
  centre in Blackpool, still one of the most
  popular attractions in thge UK
• Real heyday of the theme parks is dated to the
  second half of 20th century
• Disney Empire 1955, still the number one
• Theme parks address segments with different
  motivations, interests, demographic an social
  characteristics
• Heritage parks mostly for domestic tourists,
  Aquaparks also for international ones

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Theme routes

• Already in the ancient times
• Pilgrimage routes in ancient and medieval times
• New era nobility and well-off bourgeois class
  travelled to famous destinations of Western
  Europe (Grand Tour)
• 1st half of 20th century hiking trails all over
  Europe (e.g. Blue Trail)
• Wine routes Germany, early 20th century
• 1st cultural route El Camino to Santiago de
  Compostela, declared by the Council of Europe as
  a theme route in 1987 (same year European
  Institute of Cultural Routes, based in Luxembourg)

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Theme routes

• Culture and heritage
• Historical past, monuments (Castle route)
• Intellectual heritage (Palóc route)
• Traditional handicrafts
• Traditional products
• Cheese, asparagus, tobacco, fruits (Plum route)
• Wine, beer, cider

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Theme routes

• Most recently
• Film tourism (Sex and the City, Lord of the
  Rings)
• Geotourism Geopark network
• Gastronomy wine, plum, mineral waters
• Anything that may be interesting

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Impacts of theme parks and theme routes
environment
Theme parks Theme routes
1. Transportation Large, concentrated traffic More even traffic in space, search for alternative solutions (e.g. Greenway)
2. Energy demand Large new capacity needed No new capacity needed
3. Demand for capital Large. Requires external resources Not significant, local communities can participate
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Impacts of theme parks and theme routes economy
Theme parks Theme routes
1. Tourism indices (e.g. guest nights) Significant impact, usually new accommodation capacities as an effect Significant but hardly measurable impact, tourists evenly distributed in space
2. Local community No major impact. Profit goes to investors. Decisions made outside Economic benefit realised by the locals. Decisions made in the area
3. Inclusion of local products and services Not typical. Procurement from the globalised market Typical. Local goods and services marketed at good prices
4. Employment impact Many jobs for locals but also many guest workers Support keeping and creating local jobs
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Impacts of theme parks and theme routes society
and culture
Theme parks Theme routes
1. Value creation and preservation No. Having gone out of fashion even environmental problems may arise Significant contribution to discovery, development and preservation of values
2. Social cohesion No Strengthening social cohesion, often leading to birth of NGOs. Strengthening local identity
3. Impact on education, training, culture No or weak Promotes survival of traditional skills and professions, passing on traditions
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Impact of main tourism trends on the development
of theme routes

• Developments are more likely to succeed if they
  meet trends in tourism
• Tourists more active physically and
  intellectually than before ? activity routes
  (theme routes for bikers, new pilgrimage routes,
  new hiking trails etc.)
• Traditional 4S tourism giving way to special
  demand, niche markets ? nature, flora and
  wildlife, historical sites, cultural models,
  hobby groups (birding, geocaching, angling etc.)

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Impact of main tourism trends on the development
of theme routes

• Back to the roots, nostalgia ? especially to
  countries from where mass emigration was typical
• Pilgrimages to holy places ? new routes in
  addition to the already popular ones
• Increased awareness about health(y environment) ?
  healing and prevention, special new therapies
  (wine therapy etc.)
• Shorter visits but more frequently than before ?
  more destinations can join in tourism all year
  round, including many formerly considered as
  unattractive

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Impact of main tourism trends on the development
of theme routes

• Growing role of silver generation in tourism ?
  growing and solvent demand for health services,
  tranquillity and clean, healthy environment
• More informed tourists insist on value for the
  money ? professional management needed
• More tourists are sensitive environmentally and
  socially ? poorly organised destinations with
  environmental and social problems are avoided

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Theme routes in the Leonardo NewTrailJobs project

• 15 projects analysed
• Italy (3)
• Lithuania (3)
• Spain (3)
• USA (3)
• Germany (1)
• UK (1)
• UK, Finland, Spain, Estonia, Greece, Cyprus (1)

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Theme routes in Leonardo NewTrailJobs project

• Key issues addressed
• heritage, traditions (10)
• events (7)
• employment, job creation (7)
• local economy (5)
• local products, producers, projects (5)
• activities (4)
• learning, training (4)
• marketing (4)
• job creation for young people and women (3)
• rural tourism (3)
• local cultural and historical locations (3)
• common awareness, common goals and objectives,
  engagement (3)
• local development in rural areas (3)

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Theme routes in Leonardo NewTrailJobs project

• Key issues addressed
• local roads (2)
• beer and food (2)
• networking (2)
• rural Communities (2)
• local and regional identity (2)
• entrepreneurs (2)
• information
• integration of different cultures
• different seasons
• selling of products, services
• modernist works
• renovate the industrial zones
• weekly markets
• business services to rural entrepreneurs

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Conclusions and recommendations

• Preservation and of development of traditions,
  specialities (foods, beverages, habits)
• Events all year round to ease peak season stress
• All efforts should be made to keep development
  local support for local entrepreneurs, training
  schemes, new business skills, marketing
• Joint efforts! Integration of various
  stakeholders
• Preservation of regional identity a growing
  value in our globalised world

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Conclusions and recommendations

• Harmony of developments (with the inclusion and
  economic benefits of locals)
• Right proportions of preservation and development
• Environmental assessment (ecological or
  archaeological values, preservation of
  biodiversity)
• Assessment of carrying capacities
• Planning alternatives for the use of the
  attractions, right interpretation tools
  (practical and creative instead of expensive and
  complicated)

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Conclusions and recommendations

• Visitor management and flow models
• Assessment of environmental, and socio-cultural
  impacts
• Organisation form most suitable for the
  management of the attraction, including training
  of the staff
• Financial and economic analysis, estimation of
  costs or operation and incomes
• Marketing plan
• Regular trainings for local people

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• Thank you for your attention!