Regions of the world

California's many tourist attractions revolve around the Sierra Nevada Mountains and national parks, the sunshine and the sea, and the inherent recreational opportunities afforded by them.

The importance of tourism in developing the West must be mentioned. Tourism has opened up areas that once were inaccessible and of questionable economic value. The region has relied upon scenery and recreational opportunities, and the result is that tourists are now exposed to such things as the diverse cultures of the Southwest, gambling opportunities in the middle of the desert at Las Vegas, and skiing in Colorado.

National parks have played a large part in this. The first national park, Yellowstone, was opened in 1872. In 1920 the various national parks attracted over 5 million visitors. Today that number is well over 100 million visitors annually.

International tourism. On an international level, Americans account for over 20 per cent of world tourist arrivals, and the United States is the major tourist-generating country in the world. However, on an index of foreign travel per 1,000 inhabitants, the United States rates very low. The reason has to do with distance. Outside of trips to Canada and Mexico, travel to a foreign country involves considerable distance and expense. A trip of 7,770 kilometers from New York to San Francisco is considered a domestic trip. If a tourist left London and traveled that same distance he or she would cross 10 frontiers. The impact of US international travel has to be considered in this light.

On the other hand, the United States had only a 6.5 per cent share of the world's international tourism market in 1986. The result of more Americans traveling abroad compared to the rest of world visiting the United States means that the United States has a travel budget deficit. In 1986 it was slightly less than USD 9 billion. The major destinations for traveling Americans are Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, West Germany and France.

By far the major country of origin for foreign visitors is Canada followed by Mexico and Japan. Shared borders with Canada and Mexico account for the rankings. The major places in the United States visited by foreign tourists are, in order, California, New York, Florida, Hawaii and Washington, DC

Traditionally, visitors to the United States have been relatives of recent immigrants; European artists, scholars, writers and students who want to experience the American way of life; and business people who combine business with pleasure. Attempts to attract the pleasure travel have been moderately successful. The state of Florida was able, through package deals, to bring a number of British tourists over during the past few summers.

Regions. For the purposes of tourism, the United States is divided into various regions. These are New England, New York/New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, South, North-Central, Northwest, Southwest and the Pacific.

New England, as mentioned earlier, is known for its rich variety of coasts, mountains, forests and colonial history. In the winter it offers recreational opportunities in the ski resorts; in the summer, along the coast. Many of its historic sites have been preserved and renovated to their former glory. The fall colors bring visitors from great distances. Of particular note is Boston, Cape Cod, Salem and the American village at Old Sturbridge.

New York City is a major business and trade center. It attracts numerous conventions, whose participants often stay afterwards for additional sightseeing. Attractions abound: museums, Broadway shows, the United Nations, Statue of Liberty, to name a few. Upstate New York has a number of areas of outstanding natural beauty. The Finger Lakes region is one that offers many recreational opportunities. Resorts in the Catskills continue to offer respite from summer in the city. Niagara Falls has lost its reputation as the honeymoon capital of the world, but it still attracts millions of tourists annually.

The Mid-Atlantic states have important business and convention destinations in addition to their attraction for pleasure visitors. The presence of the nation's capital, Washington, DC, brings a great deal of business and convention travel. Nationally important monuments and museums add to the attraction.

The South boasts urban attractions, beautiful scenery and sun, and fun attractions of Florida. The city of New Orleans is renowned for the cuisine and jazz of its French Quarter. The scenery of the great Smoky Mountain National Park as well as the Everglades of Florida attract numerous visitors. With its combination of sun, beaches and commercial attractions, Florida lures tourists on a year-round basis.

The North-central region is the heart of America's industrial belt. It offers many recreational opportunities including lakes and woods suitable for hunting, fishing and water-related activities. Various European and Scandinavian ethnic groups are predominant in this region. The metropolitan areas of Detroit and, especially, Chicago offer fine museums and entertainment.

The Northwest region is made up of the Northern Rockies and the Plains states. Much of the area is rural and there is much travel for the purpose of visiting friends and relatives who have moved. Outdoor recreational opportunities abound. This region offers open space, mountains and lakes suitable for hiking, hunting, fishing and winter sports. A number of National Parks, including Zion and Yellowstone, are major attractions. Mount Rushmore, the Badlands and the Black Hills evoke memories of the Old West.

The Southwest has an excellent climate which stimulates retirement living. It boasts a variety of man-made attractions such as Six Flags Over Texas, the coastal attractions of the gulf area and the deserts and mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. Particular mention should be made of the Grand Canyon and the Painted Desert.

The Pacific states are best known for sightseeing and entertainment. The casinos of Nevada and the entertainment and theme park industries of California are dominant. A number of National Parks, Sequoia and Yosemite to name but two, and the excellent climate offer outdoor recreation opportunities. The Sierra Nevadas offers facilities for both summer and winter sports. In addition we should note such urban attractions as Los Angeles and San Francisco and the wine regions of California.

Canada

International tourism. Because of the socioeconomic status of its citizens, Canada is one of the top five tourist-generating countries of the world. Slightly more than half of all Canadians take an annual vacation. Canadians account for well over 50 per cent of the visitors to the United States. The volume of travel is aided by several factors. Ninety per cent of the Canadian population lives within a few hundred miles of the American border, and the border itself does not represent a major barrier. In addition, there are close business and communication ties between the two nations. A recent proposal allowing for free trade between the countries was approved and should act as a stimulant of both business and pleasure travel. The major beneficiary of Canadian tourism is the state of Florida, followed by the Western states. Significant travel also occurs to New England, New York/New Jersey, and the Great Lakes. Most vacation travel between Canada and these regions is by car and is of short duration.

Only about 10 per cent of Canadians go overseas on vacation. The major destination is Western Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Italy and France. But there is also a well-defined (and growing) movement to the sun of Florida, Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean. In recent years travel to the sun destinations has been growing at the expense of travel to Europe.

In-bound tourism is overwhelmingly from the United States. Almost 90 per cent of international arrivals to Canada are from the United States. Significant numbers arrive from Europe, largely the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Asia accounts for the next group of tourists, which are overwhelmingly from Japan. Europe has had the largest absolute increase in numbers of tourists to Canada while Asia has had the most significant percentage increase. Approximately four times as many tourists visit from Europe as do from Asia.

Domestic tourism. In Canada a trip involves a journey of more than 80 kilometers away from home. Most trips are taken to see friends and relatives. Travel to a vacation spot is followed in importance by outdoor recreation, city activities, and rural sightseeing as reasons for taking a trip. Almost three-quarters of all trips are taken by car, and about 60 per cent of all trips occur between June and September. Quebec and Ontario, the two most populous provinces, account for most trips.

British Columbia, known for its natural beauty, offers the fjord-like coast of the Pacific Ocean, mountains, and a West Coast climate. There are numerous recreational resources including waters for rafting and salmon fishing, sandy beaches, and parks. Various seaside and hot springs resorts are to be found throughout the province.

Newfoundland has a number of fine parks and museums. Tuna and salmon fishing are popular. The Cabot Trail from Newfoundland to Sydney is regarded as one of the most scenic trips in Canada. Nova Scotia maintains its Scottish heritage in a variety of summer activities.

The scenery and natural phenomena of New Brunswick give it the title "Picture Province". Among the attractions are the river road from St John, especially in the fall, Magnetic Hill and Hopewell Rocks near Moncton, the Bay of Fundy and Fundy National Park, and the Reversing Falls at St John. At high tide the rising water in St John Bay causes the St John River to flow "backwards".

The scenic St Lawrence River flows through Quebec for most of its 1,200 kilometers. Southern Quebec province offers easy getaway access to the wilderness for urban populations. In winter the Laurentides attract downhill skiers. The cities of Quebec and Montreal are well known, the former for its old city and excellent cuisine, the latter for its Olympic stadium and shopping facilities.

Ontario contains the country's largest city, Toronto, and its capital, Ottawa. Since the majority of the population is contained in the St Lawrence Lowlands and the Lake Peninsula, southern Ontario, together with Quebec, is important as a getaway vacation spot.

Manitoba attracts tourists to its capital, Winnipeg. The Riding Mountain National Park is known for its buffalo while the many surrounding lakes offer excellent fishing.

Saskatchewan is best-known for its vast wheat fields, its Big Muddy Badlands, and its lakes and fishing.

The Canadian Rocky Mountains provide the backdrop for the spectacular scenery of Alberta. Banff and Jasper national parks, in addition to the scenery, are known for their hot springs and ice fields. The largest permanent body of ice between the Arctic and Antarctic is the Columbia ice field. While Banff and Jasper are known as headquarter resorts, the two main cities of Edmonton and Calgary are known, respectively, for Klondike Days and the Calgary Stampede.

Latin America

Mexico. The vast majority of Mexico's international tourism consists of trips of short duration from visitors from the United States. Canada is the second most important market followed by visitors from its neighbor to the south, Guatemala. The fact that Mexico takes in much more from foreign tourists than Mexican tourists spend abroad means that tourism surpluses make the difference between a balance of payments surplus or deficit. The balance of payments is an accounting of the transactions between countries. When country A exports more than it imports it has a balance of payments surplus. The reverse situation leads to a balance of payments deficit.

Tourism tends to be concentrated in a few tourist centers. Tourists are attracted to Mexico for three things: historic and archaeological sites, the culture, and the sun, sand, and sea.

Mexico City, the capital, is the oldest city in North America. Nearby are two outstanding attractions, the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco and the great pyramids of Teotihuacan. A variety of archaeological sites dealing with Mayan culture surround Mexico City.

Various Mexican towns offer a glimpse into part of the culture. Particularly noteworthy are the ancient city of Puebla, the art center of San Miguel de Allende, and the fishing center of Patzcuaro.

Acapulco has long been known as the major resort community in Mexico. The town is located on the southwest coast in a series of bays extending 16 kilometers. It has recently been challenged by the eastern resort of Cancun, a totally planned community. The prime tourist season is from November through March.

Domestic and outbound tourism has increased in recent years. Growth is tempered by the fact that Mexico's wealth is unevenly distributed. Just over 10 per cent of the population can afford to travel abroad for a vacation. However, foreign travel is considered a status symbol. In addition, a highly developed system of credit finance exists unlike any other in Latin America.

The vast majority of Mexican travel is to the United States. Increasing numbers of Mexicans, however, are traveling to Europe.

Central America

Tourism to Central America is, at present, limited by the political problems of the area and its lack of tourism infrastructure. However, the area boasts much of interest.

In Guatemala, immediately south of Mexico, tourism is second to coffee as a source of income. The country has a number of interesting market towns and archaeological sites. The United States is the principal source of tourists. The other Central American countries together account for about half of all tourists.

Honduras relies on visitors from Nicaragua, Guatemala and the United States, but it lacks a well-developed tourism infrastructure. Co-pan is the site of a Mayan ruin while Comayagua is a well-preserved sixteenth-century town.

El Salvador gets most of its tourists from Guatemala. Visits peak in December although business is spread evenly throughout the year. It is known for its Indian culture, its pre-Columbian ruins, its scenery and its Pacific beaches.

Nicaragua suffers from a poor location relative to other countries and some major physical and political problems, including internal strife. Tourism is not a major factor. It does have a large Indian culture, some Spanish-colonial cities, many lakes and volcanoes, and coastal resorts on both the Pacific and the Caribbean.

Costa Rica has a fairly well-developed tourist infrastructure, and promotion of its tourist attractions has resulted in significant tourist numbers. Central America, primarily Nicaragua, and the United States make up its major sources of tourists. Costa Rica is known for its volcanoes and its shoreline along the Pacific Ocean. Its political and economic stability have greatly helped its tourism development.

Panama's main claim to tourism fame is the Panama Canal. Cruise business accounts for much of Panama's receipts from tourism. Short excursions are also important. Panama's strategic location means that it attracts visitors from a wider variety of countries than any other Central American nation.

The West Indies

The Caribbean is commonly used as a synonym for the historically correct West Indies. The major islands that comprise the West Indies are the Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, the French West Indies, Haiti, the Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Tourism in the Caribbean dates back to the 1920s. Tremendous growth, however, is a post-World War II phenomenon. North American tourists account for approximately 75 per cent of the arrivals although an increasing number of Europeans are being attracted to the islands. The success of the Caribbean is due, however, to its proximity to North America. On some of the islands such as the Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands tourism is the major industry. On others, Jamaica and Puerto Rico, it ranks second or third in importance.

Tourists are attracted by the weather (tropical, cooled by ocean breezes, and offering almost constant sunshine), the varied scenery, the sandy beaches, the opportunities for water sports such as swimming, sailing, and snorkeling, and the color and culture of the islands. The islands were originally colonized by first the Spanish and then the British, the French, the Dutch, and the Americans. The influence of each culture can still be found there.

The most important tourist centers are Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Barbados.

Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico receives about half of all the visitors to the Caribbean. Puerto Ricans call their island La Isla del Encanto, or the Isle of Enchantment. The development of tourism there is the result of a number of factors. First, Puerto Rico possesses great natural beauty and a distinctive Spanish culture. Second, the government, beginning in the late 1940s, built a number of hotels at public expense. These facilities, in turn, attracted private capital and other hotel facilities. Third, the 1959 Cuban Revolution caused much of the tourist trade to divert from Cuba to Puerto Rico. Finally, air service between the US mainland and the island was very inexpensive. Originally set up to help migrant Puerto Ricans, the low prices encouraged Caribbean travel from the United States.

Typically we think of demand stimulating supply. That is, when there is a demand for vacations, people are encouraged to develop facilities to meet the demand. From this it can be seen that the supply of tourist facilities, such as hotels and cheap air travel, can actually stimulate demand for vacations.

US Virgin Islands. St Croix, St Thomas and St John make up the US Virgin Islands. Their free-port status means that goods, imported for resale, are exempt from duties and taxes. The result is that tourists can pick up many bargains. The largest island is St Croix, which is also the most historic. St Thomas, the liveliest, offers steel bands and limbo dancers. The most natural is St John with its quiet beaches and wooded mountains.

A problem for the islands is that tourism may have developed too fast and too soon. There is some criticism that speculators, having made a quick profit, have left behind a contrived tourist environment and residents who are unhappy with the way the development has occurred. The future success of these islands will depend on recapturing the original roots of the islands. In addition, the locals will have to be educated to see tourism as a long- term process to be encouraged slowly rather than as a way to make as much money as quickly as possible.

Jamaica. Jamaica receives approximately 85 per cent of its visitors from North America. Originally tourists came primarily by cruise ship and banana boat. Now the vast majority arrive by air. In addition to its proximity to the market, tourism development in Jamaica was aided by the Cuban Revolution and the excellent efforts of the Jamaican Tourist Board, thought by some to be the best in the Caribbean. Tourism is the second largest foreign- exchange earner and the third most important economic activity after bauxite mining and sugar production.

Jamaica is best-known for its clean beaches of white and pink sand and its sheltered waters. Montego Bay is an international resort; Port Antonio offers fishing and yachting; Kingston is the capital while the North Coast has beautiful beaches and protected bays.

Barbados. Barbados depends on North America for about 60 per cent of its tourist visitors. It is also a traditional vacation center for West Indians from neighboring islands. Recent attempts have been made to tempt more Britons and Europeans to vacation there.

Other tourist centers. There are numerous other islands in the West Indies that have great tourist potential. The British Virgin Islands offer facilities for sailing and other water sports. The attractions of Haiti, namely the culture, which includes voodoo, the Haitian Alps, and the beaches, are overshadowed by the unstable political system. The Dominican Republic, the burial place of Christopher Columbus, has gambling, free-port shopping and water sports. Tourism is the major economic activity for Bermuda. It is known for its coral reefs, its beautiful flowers, and its settings for water activities.

The Netherland Antilles, originally controlled by the Dutch, consist of the islands of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St Eustatius, St Maarten and Saba. Because each island offers something different, island-hopping is popular. The various islands have elements of culture from France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, as well as their own independent histories. Aruba was named "Ora Uba" or "there is gold" by the Spanish. It is best-known for its beaches. Curacao has developed a reputation for inexpensive shopping. Bonaire has great natural greenery. St Eustatius has stressed its history, while St Maarten promotes its dual cultures-French and Dutch. Both cuisines can be found on the island. Saba has no beaches. The local airport is built atop a mountain. Both ends of the air-strip plunge steeply to the sea below. Saba's cool climate (the island rises 884 meters from the ocean) encourages the growth of many flowers and trees.

Cuba was once an important tourist industry because of its political, geographic, and economic ties to the United States. In Havana, the capital, tourists could gamble the night away. After the revolution, Fidel Castro wanted to rid the country of its dependence on the United States. For its part the US government prohibited travel by American citizens to Cuba. As a result the tourist industry in Cuba collapsed.

The Bahamas. The Bahamas share the same kind of tourist attractions and rely on the same market as the other islands mentioned above. Consisting of 3,000 islands, islets, and rocks, this independent nation offers a healthy climate, beautiful marine scenery, some elements of its British colonial background, and excellent bathing, boating, and fishing facilities. Because it is so reliant on the North American market its economy lives or dies with the economic conditions in North America. It is said that the Bahamas catches a cold six months after the United States sneezes. Because of this Bahamian officials are trying to diversify their tourism by developing lower cost facilities to appeal to the Europeans, who tend to stay twice as long as do North Americans. Attempts are also being made to rely less heavily on tourism, although tourism still accounts for about half of all government revenue and provides jobs for almost three-quarters of the population.

The Bahamas' reputation as a retirement haven came about because of the sunshine, inexpensive land, and lack of taxes. Tourism has of late caused land prices to rise and has taken the bloom off this source of business.

Cruising. Caribbean cruising has undergone a remarkable growth in the past two decades. Several reasons account for this. With the introduction of the jet aircraft transatlantic crossing diminished sharply. The shipping companies were left with large ships and no passengers. Thus, they turned to cruising as a way of using their investment. The growing affluence of North Americans provided an impetus for the growth of cruises. Originally, most cruises left from New York, but now most leave from Florida ports. The reason was simple. Why sail through two days of cold, winter weather to reach the sun then leave that same sun early to sail back north?

Another factor that influenced cruising was the increasing cost of fuel. As fuel prices escalated dramatically in the 1970s it made economic sense to build ships specifically for cruising that were lighter than those necessary for a transatlantic crossing. It also made sense to visit a variety of ports rather than spend the entire cruise at sea. In port the ships were not burning up fuel. The variety of islands in the Caribbean offered ships the opportunity to sail from port to port, sometimes spending each day in a different island. Apart from the Greek islands, there is no other part of the world where this is possible.

Again we see an example of supply influencing demand. A combination of supply, transatlantic liners, and demand by affluent Americans led to the development of more cruises by the shipping companies. The price of fuel and the availability of numerous stopping places influenced the present shape of cruising.

South America

South America has outstanding and varied scenery, good beaches, more ski areas than Europe, an attractive climate, numerous wildlife, interesting cultures and examples of important archaeological sites. Yet it is responsible for just over 1 per cent of tourist arrivals worldwide. There are three reasons for this. First, South America is, by and large, undeveloped in terms of attractions and facilities. Second, it is a great distance from the major tourist- generating areas of the world. Brazil, for example, is 4,828 kilometers from both the United States and Europe. Third, there are many intervening opportunities (countries offering the same type of attractions) between South America and the tourist-generating countries.

Argentina. Argentina attracts the largest number of visitors to a South American country. Most come from the neighboring countries of Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay. The largest numbers come in the winter months. When Argentinians travel abroad they go primarily to Uruguay, Brazil and Chile. North America and Europe are the favored destinations of the relatively small number of Argentinians who travel overseas.

The country has a number of attractions. Its capital, Buenos Aires, is well known. The Iguassu Falls, on the river of the same name, is more spectacular than either Niagara or Victoria falls. The Lake District of western Argentina attracts visitors primarily to the northern lakes. Long coastal stretches offer excellent beaches, casinos and resorts. Patagonia in the south marks the foothills of the Andes. The area offers recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, and golf in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Uruguay. Tourism is the third most important of Uruguay's exports. Approximately 90 per cent of its visitors come from Argentina and Brazil. Of the two, Argentina is more important. The tourists are primarily made up of those wealthy enough to escape from the summer heat. From Montevideo 322 kilometers north to La Paloma there are excellent beaches for sunning and swimming.

Brazil. Brazil is the largest country in South America, the fifth largest in the world. It runs a negative balance in its tourism account. Much less is brought in by tourism than is spent by Brazilians abroad. The United States is the principal source of visitors, followed by Argentina and Uruguay. Brazil's historical ties with Portugal result in a number of visitors annually from that country.

Brazil is seeking to develop tourism from a domestic base. Domestic tourism, however, is a fairly recent phenomenon. The popularity of water spa resorts in the 1930s led to the beginnings of domestic tourism. A small number of very rich and a growing middle class are stimulating the demand for vacations. The effort has also been helped by the setting up in the mid-1960s of Embratur and the National Tourism Council. Both have sought to assist in planning and financing the development of badly needed accommodation and other facilities such as roads.

There are three major areas of tourist potential. Amazonia has exotic wildlife and huge rain forests. Trips up the Amazon River appeal to a relatively small number of people.

The Northeast has magnificent natural resources including beaches and sunshine, wonderful churches, and towns brimming with what in tourism is called "local charm". The region is called the "Venice of America".

The South-Central region is the heartland of the country. It is the most densely populated port, the most economically developed, and the most urbanized. Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide for its Copacabana Beach. Sao Paulo is the commercial center of Brazil, and its capital, Brasilia, attracts much business traffic. The mountain resorts of the state of Rio de Janeiro serve as weekend retreats for office workers from the cities.

Other countries. Bolivia has a number of resources that have tourist potential such as archaeological and historic sites. However, little has been done to encourage tourism and thus it is of little importance to Bolivia.

The vast majority of tourists to Chile come from Argentina. They are drawn by the spectacular scenery of the Lake District. Portillo, in the Andes in central Chile, is the biggest center of skiing in South America. The ski season runs from June to October although the major months for tourism are January and February. (Remember, the seasons are reversed south of the equator.) There are a number of coastal resorts including the major port of Valparaiso. The island of Juan Fernandez is 643 kilometers west and the setting for Robinson Crusoe. The capital of Santiago is Chile's major tourist city.

Colombia attracts visitors from Venezuela, the United States, and, a distant third, Ecuador. Tourism is encouraged, and there are a number of resorts as well as scenic valleys and dense jungles. The tourist season is year-round and peaks in December.

Tourism is also encouraged in Ecuador. Tourism peaks in the summer months. The largest tourist-generating country is the United States. Visitors are attracted by the mountains, the volcanoes and the local Indian culture.

Paraguay is known for its lakes, rivers and waterfalls. Its capital and the main city to visit is Asuncion.

The United States is the leading generator of tourists to Peru. It accounts for more than twice as many visitors as the second-generating country, Argentina. Peru is known as the site of the lost city of the Incas at Machu Picchu. Extensive ruins are also found in Cuzco and on the plains. The capital, Lima, offers palaces, museums, and a colorful changing-of-the-guard ceremony.