toptermpaper.com

Vinpearl Resort and Spa with 485 rooms with beautiful architecture, the resort can satisfy the objects visitors by bringing them the comfort, privacy and convenience and perfect service. Natural beaches best 700m long Nha Trang, fine sand, blue sea make visitors just want to enjoy the waves in the region. System of modern outdoor swimming pool with an area of over 5700 m2 largest Southeast Asia, are arranged between coconut garden, lawn, garden trees. Services of health care, beauty and spa in entertainment programs, sports travel combined for many ages. Restaurants diversity here to satisfy all your culinary needs of your specific style to the style of Vietnam Asia, Europe. Guests will also meet health and fun shopping at Vinpearl Street shopping, recreation park, water park Vinpearl, Music Theater of packs or explore the beautiful ocean Water supply Vinpearl splendid. To meet the demand for MICE tourism as well as organizing events, Vinpearl Land also has a full conference room system, the center of Event 1500-seat theater and outdoor undercover seating 5000. After we analysis of Vinpearland we summary strength and weakness :

Yasaka Saigon Resort Hotel & Spa is located convenient to everything Nha Trang has to offer, and only 35 km (21 miles) from Nha Trang airport. There are 201 rooms in this resort, all equipped with modern equipment. All rooms have Non Smoking Rooms, Air Conditioning, Desk, Hair Dryer, Internet Access (wireless), in room safe, TV, bathtub and other amenities. In addition, hotels in Nha Trang also has 24 hour room service, shops, elevators, cafes, bars and restaurants wine. The hotel has facilities for recreation and leisure available include massage, Jacuzzi, exercise equipment, steam bath, sauna, tennis court. Some summary strength and weakness:

As you know Bai Dai in Cam Ranh town is the best known resort and town in Viet Nam, located half hours away from Nha Trang and about 12Km from Cam Ranh airport. As planned, the future area beaches will become a key tourist area south of Khanh Hoa province with total area of 200 ha will be use. Here will form the tourist areas 4, 5 star resort with the most beautiful in Asia.

Bai Dai combines numerous resorts and near the city is considered a touristic place, with this large rank of activities Nha Trang City is able to keep everyone occupied. Furthermore Nha Trang City has many different categories of hotels and resort that is why the competition of the Long island resort in Bai Dai is large compared to other resort in Nha Trang.

The strengths of the Long island resort are the best architecture and a lot of facility are composed, convenient location as the resort is close to airport, seaside and only a short distance from the main shopping center, it’s one of the biggest resort in the town that have the most guest rooms. Another way the size of the rooms and the comfort of the rooms are another strengths that Long island resort has.

And another strength of the Long island resort is the price of the rooms that is really low compared to the other hotels and resort at Nha Trang. For example at Vinpearl land resort the price will be 200 Usd/nights, or Ana yasaka sai gon nha trang resort and spa the price will be 150 Usd/per nights.

Main areas of resort will be open 24 hours operating time it can help guest easy to find information. The outside space layout and the High- quality gastronomy that all the F&B departments have inside the resort, it offers a prestigious and pleasant patio for all three meals. Restaurants have flexible opening hours throughout the day supported by well-presented food. It can increase quality services of resort. And also staff of Long island is very enthusiastic and young.

The weakness of Long island resort will be not concentrate conference facilities because we build our resort concentrate spa and heath. And another weakness od our resort are reputation and market share compare with other resort, because our reort is new so we don’t have good reputation and market share. Last point weakness of our resort are computation not hight and low market share because our are new resort so we will be not good for computation and market share is low.

Our oppurtunity of resort are: a lot of tour group during of the year it mean in Vietnam as we know during of the year we got a lot of tour group during season tourists from January to August especially from June to August that is season we a have a lot of tourists from oversea and another reason will be almost primary, high school, and university they finish study to get free time to relax after finish study course they really want to have relax after finish study in tired. Another oppurtunity will be business traveller spend more time and stay longer because as we know nowadays Vietnam has a lot of investor to come to Vietnam for many reason for example they come to Vietnam for business normaly if they stay long time for working their parent will be going Vietnam to visit or travel. After working sometime investors business feel so stress so they want to go another place to relax. So when they come to travel normally they will be choose a good place to stay. So when we build our resort as we mention before strength of our resort are spa and health so that we can take care them feel more comfortable and we also can bring them more and more interested in our resort. Last point of our oppurtunity is local even, in Vietnam we have many even during the years for example: traditional happy new year, international woman, normally they will bring our parent, employee to go to another place for travel, so we choose this is the point when we do oppurtunity.

Threat

In our summary about threat can influence to our resort, that are unpredictable market trends caused by natural disasters, it is not really directly to come our location but as we know climate of Vietnam have many change especially centre part of Vietnam have some nature disaster so sometime it can influence to our location because location of our resort nearly centre part of Vietnam. Another reason of threat are all competitors have a stable market share because our resort is new resort and another resort have very good reputation because they alredy have a good market share. Last point in our summary about threat is goverment policy and tax because in Vietnam goverment will be control everything about policy and tax, they give for us very high tax, so sometime investors can scare about policy of goverment, because when they investment at Vietnam it mean so long time they can take back budget.

Thailand has a big variety of cultures, traditions and natural resources, which makes it very attractive tourist destinations. The culture of Thailand incorporates a great deal of influence from China, Cambodia and India. Thailand’s national religion Theravada Buddhism is central to modern Thai characteristics and faith. More than a few different ethnic groups from Malaysia, Burma etc populate Thailand and have mediated change between their traditional local culture, national Thai and global cultural influences. In addition, tourism development creates socio-cultural impacts in Thailand both positive and negative. The term socio-cultural impacts refer to associated changes to resident’s daily life, their values, way of life, artistic and intellectual products, architecture of people and customs.

The social and cultural ramifications of tourism necessitate careful consideration because impacts can either become assets or detriments to the Thailand community. The use of culture as a tourist attraction increases support for the traditional Thailand cultures and displays of ethnic identity. It increases also the revitalization of traditional language, arts and festivals. The use of culture to attract tourists increases also conservation of the cultural heritage of Thailand which could otherwise be lost. In addition, it helps the development and maintenance of the theatres, museums and any other cultural facilities. When residents observe tourists appreciating their culture, then a sense of renews and reinforces coming up to them.

The direct contact between residents and tourists can lead on a breakdown of negative stereotypes and increase social opportunities. Moreover, gives an opportunity for cross- cultural exchange between the residents and the tourists who learn about one another’s culture. This direct contact with foreign people offers to residents the opportunity to meet people, learn about the world and expose themselves to new perspectives. This experience of different cultures broadens horizons and increases the appreciation of different ways of living.

Tourism creates changes in economic structure and jobs resulting in changes in social rules. It generates new social and economic opportunities to locals resulting in decrease of social inequity. Furthermore, improves the living standards of residents. It gives to the community money for improvement facilities and services. The development of tourist facilities like hotels, restaurants etc increased recreational opportunities. Generally, tourism improves the quality of life in an area by increasing the number of attractions, services and recreation opportunities.

Despite its positive effects Tourism has and negative consequences for the socio-cultural life of Thailand.

Tourism generally can cause change or totally loss of local identity and values of the host country. This can be made by:

a) Commodification. The increased number of tourists who visit Thailand can turn their cultures into commodities when traditional ethnic rites, religious rituals and festivals are reduced and sanitized in order to meet tourist’s expectations. Once Thailand is sold as a tourist destination, a tourism product, the supply of arts, souvenirs, entertainment to tourists is a necessity, and vital changes in resident’s values may occur. Finally, people will not more respect the sacred sites and objects as they are perceive them as goods to trade.

b)Standardization. Thailand may risk standardization while trying to satisfy tourists’ demand for familiarity, concerning the facilities of the destination. Landscape, hotels and all the accommodation facilities, food and drinks, must meet the tourists’ need for the new. At the same time they must not be too new because most tourists are looking for more familiar things. They actually are looking for recognizable facilities in the new environment. Even in Thailand people looking hotel chains to be accommodated and famous restaurants for their food.

c) Loss of authenticity and staged authenticity. By adapting cultural expressions to the tastes of tourists or even performing shows as if they were “real life” constitutes “staged authenticity”. The fact that tourists desire a glimpse of Thailand’s atmosphere, taste and a glance of their life, without knowledge, staging must be expected.

d) Adaptation to tourist demands. Tourists that visit Thailand they want to buy souvenirs, arts and any cultural manifestations but in the most cases craftsmen are changing the design of them in order to bring them more in line with the customers tastes. Moreover, the interest shown by tourists, contributes to the self-worth of the artists and helps conserve a cultural tradition. Cultural erosion may occur because of the commodification of cultural goods.

Culture clashes can take place in Thailand because of the diversity of tourists with different cultures, religion, languages, values and levels of propensity.

That can leads on an overexploitation of the social carrying capacity and cultural carrying capacity that are the limits of acceptable change in the culture and social life of the host community. The attitude of Thailand residents towards tourism development may unfold through apathy, irritation and potentially antagonism, instead of welcome, when anti-tourist attitudes begin growing among local people.

Cultural clashes may further arise through:

– Economic inequality. Many tourists that visit Thailand come from societies with different lifestyle than the local people. Being on holidays they seeking pleasure, they spend a lot of money and they treat in a ways that even they would not accept at home. The local people as they also need pleasure in their life they may develop a sort of copying of this behaviour.

– Irritation due to tourist behaviour. Sometimes people visiting Thailand failed to respect their customs and their moral values, out of ignorance or careless and local people feel irritated with this attitude.

– Job level friction. A huge number of hotel chains and restaurants in Thailand employee foreign people, with more professional skills and training than locals have, in the higher level jobs. This cause friction and locals usually feel irritated and the gap between the cultures increases.

– Ethical issues

Crime generation- The growth of tourism in Thailand increases the crime rates, like in any other county with a mass tourism. Tourists usually carry on them cameras, jewellery and a big amount of money that make them attractive to the thieves. Thailand has the highest death rate of any nation for Britons on holiday, some 224 Britons died in Thailand between April 2005 and March 2006.

Child labour- Young children are employed in jobs in the tourism sector with low pay. The most jobs in this sector have working conditions like long hours, unstable employment, little training and poor chances for qualification.

Prostitution and sex tourism. Generally, the sexual exploitation of children is a worldwide phenomenon but in Asia is more prevalent than elsewhere. The exact number of child-prostitutes in Thailand is not known, but Thailand’s Research Institute reports that children in prostitution make up 40% of prostitutes in Thailand. It is a major destination for tourists from the Western World who travel to this country to have sex with prostitutes. The huge economic disparities between Thai locals and the Western tourists contribute to the proliferation of sex tourism to Thailand. Children are exploited in sex establishments and are also approached directly in the street by tourists seeking sexual contact. Thailand is also a top destination for victims of human trafficking and a major source of trafficked persons.

This research paper is focus on tourism industry ecotourism in Malaysia. The objective of this paper is to report on an empirical research study which investigated how to improve or develop the industry tourism (ecotourism) in Malaysia? Besides improvements, the important for this research is to concern about the contribution of the tourism industry on the Malaysia GDP. To understanding the natural sources that we owned and generate it to develop our country. Findings were from the analysis of data such as internet, newspaper, government data and source that prepared by other people. A regression model was developed as evidence to this. The literature on this aspect is limited. Thus, the research findings of this study are useful for future studies. This study also provides several recommendations for future research in this area.

Tourism is a relaxing activity for people to travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. Based on the World Tourism Organization describe that tourists is people who travel to other places and stay in places outside their usual environment. According to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism has become one of the global largest industries nowadays. In other word mean that tourism has become a well-liked global leisure activity. In year 2009, Tourism industry has contributed 9.4% of world GDP into the economy, or equivalent of 5433.7 US billion dollars. There are a lot of people who traveling around the world time by time just to release tension or enjoy their lifetime or business purpose. Based on WTO, there were over 922 million international tourist arrivals in 2008, with a growth of 1.9% as compared to 2007. In 2008, international tourism receipts grew to US$944 billion (euro 642 billion), corresponding to an increase in real terms of 1.8%. Furthermore, real GDP growth is expected to growth in average 4.4% over the coming ten years. In the other hand, tourism economy has provided a total 235 million jobs in the worldwide.

However, in the beginning of June 2008, international travel demand suffered a strong slowdown, with growth in international tourism arrivals worldwide falling to 2% during the boreal summer months. This negative trend become strong during 2009, worsen in some countries due to the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus, resulting in a worldwide decline of 4% in 2009 to 880 million international tourists arrivals, and an estimated 6% decline in international tourism receipts. The country that hit badly such as Mexico, experienced outbreaks of respiratory illness and enlarged reports of patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) in several areas of the country. Based on our tourism ministry Dr. Ng Yen Yen said that during that serious epidemic period, it unaffected our tourism sectors but further increase our tourist arrival. We can see that Malaysia is still attracting the tourist although there is happening the epidemic. This is also because our epidemic is still under control which mean our country less affected by H1N1, this caused to the people who favor on tour shift their planning to other more safety countries such as Malaysia.

In Malaysia, travel and tourism industry’s share of GDP has rise from 8.6%, worth RM8.02 billion in year 1988 to 14.1% of GDP, worth RM94.6 billion in years 2009. While travel and tourism direct industry (included transport, accommodations, food and beverages and etc.) has brought a total income of RM36.8 billions in year 2009, or 5.5% of GDP. Besides that, tourism has created a total job opportunities of 1395700, or equivalent of 12.7% of total employment. As we know that Malaysia is one of the country which held in the tropical area on the earth. Malaysia is an amazing country with immeasurable large quantity of biodiversity. It is not surprising to find that 75 percent of Malaysia’s land area is remains forested, with 60 percent virgin rainforest that unchanged for over millions years. The country is presented with numerous natural attractions such as amazing and diverse flora and fauna (refflesia, orang utan), white sandy beaches, exotic marine aqua life (Pulau Sipadan, Pulau Mataking), dense rainforests(Taman Negara) and the oldest and largest caves in the world (Deer cave).

To sharing of the mysteries in Malaysia, one of the twelve mega-biologically diverse countries in the world, which boasts at least 15,000 species of flowering plants, 286 species of mammals, 150,000 species of invertebrates, and 4,000 species of fishes in addition to the countless micro-organisms. Experience a huge range of outdoor activities, such as caving, hiking, jungle trekking, snorkeling, rock climbing, diving, river cruising and much more. Experienced outdoor professionals, who are well ready with the latest gear, can guide you through all of these activities. If you are looking for rich and exotic ecotourism experiences in balmy tropical weather, the time is now, the place is Malaysia.

This made Malaysia owned the potential to develop the ecotourism to growth up the economy furthermore can introduce Malaysia to other countries. To let others learn more about the natural better than keep reliance in the industrial sector to boost up the GDP. The widespread interest in ecotourism among tourism players is due to its direct linkage to the greater prospects for sound and sustainable tourism development with strong possibilities for appropriate local participation and shared responsibility for preserving the environment, cultural heritage and people’s way of life. It is needed everyone to responsibility to protect our natural environment well.

Research Problem

As we know that Malaysia is a tropical forest country that rich with the natural sources flora and fauna, white sandy beaches, exotic marine aqua life, dense rainforest and the oldest and largest caves in the world. Therefore we should introduce it to foreign country so that it can attract the foreign tourist to our country. But the problem is does it really known by other countries? What should we do to improve our natural sources to attract the tourist? What are the factors that influence the total number of tourist to Malaysia? Besides, how we going to develop it, so that it can more known by other counties tourists? However it is needed a sustainable develop to prevent it get harm to the biodiversity. And since we know that when there is a lot of tourist to our country sure it will generate capital flow into our country and increase our GDP. Therefore it is needed to understand the potential and how to attract tourists to generate our country income.

Research Question

What did the government do to develop the tourism industry?

Does it have the potential to attract the foreign tourists?

How to improve our ecotourism facilities and services?

What are the strategies to attract more tourists to visit Malaysia?

Research Objective

To realize the important of tourism industry.

To analyze the potential of tropical country that rich with immeasurable large quantity of biodiversity.

To examine what initiative will be taken by the government.

To analyze the contribution of tourism in our GDP.

Literature Review

http://www.apo-tokyo.org/gp/e_publi/gplinkeco/17chapter15.pdf

Mohammed Mohd. Daud, (n.d.) with his conference article “The Ecotourism Develop In Malaysia” mention that the services sector including the tourism industry, is the major revenue as well as the largest contributor to Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 46% in 1999. He specified that the tourism is a growing sector and gaining importance in the Malaysian economy. Besides, due to the existing legal requirements and the economic development strategy, the promotion of tourism and ecotourism activities in Malaysia involves a number of institutions and also including the statutory body – Tourism Malaysia to involve in marketing and promoting tourism product. Considering that the ecotourism objective such as the National Parks and wildlife sanctuaries are often located in distant places, but the government would provide basic infrastructure facilities such as roads, jetties and some amenities. Furthermore, the government is also supporting ecotourism development by means of sponsoring the cost of technical consultancy work on particular ecotourism destinations. For case study in this article mention that although the Kinabatangan Wildlife Safari has not matured yet in developing, it is already showing its potential in becoming a successful ecotourism destination where preservation of natural resources with sustainable development. It involves all parties such as the government, private sector, local communities and NGOs work together in a partnership to protect the priceless natural asset by translating business opportunities into maintenance benefits.

The purpose of this study is to calculate tourism’s contribution through deriving multipliers in terms of output, income, employment, value added, and import for Malaysian economy. Based on this study, they found that, tourism sector have been generated employment which is 174 full-time employee for every Ringgit of tourist expenditure. According to researcher, entertainment sector is most important sector that generated tourism income followed by accommodation and food& beverages. Malaysian tourism industry not only playing an important role for generating output, income, employment, value-added, and import but also creates spillover effects on other tourism related sectors of the economy. However, based on the analysis of this paper, it is obvious that tourism industry is contributing significantly to the Malaysian economy in terms of generating output, income, employment, and value-added.

http://www.google.com.my/#hl=en&source=hp&biw=1189&bih=544&q=DEVELOPMENT+OF+ECO-TOURISM+IN+TRIBAL+REGIONS+OF+ORISSA%3A+POTENTIAL+AND+RECOMMENDATIONS&rlz=1R2PPSU_enMY368&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=42cdcfe0f1684f63

Based on the Nilakantha Panigrahi research paper “DEVELOPMENT OF ECO-TOURISM IN TRIBAL REGIONS OF ORISSA: POTENTIAL AND RECOMMENDATIONS” had mention about the wealth in being tourism of the Orissa region in eastern India. He said that with the well develop in the ecotourism will generate some income for the state. Tourism is identifying as an industry in Orissa in generate the income from the foreign tourists because that place seem to have different type of attractive onwards the tourists especially the countless temples of Orissa scattered at the state. The attractiveness is that the state owned 79 heritage sites in Orissa which protected by Archaeological Survey of India. Western Orissa is known by a small temple town, besides particularly of the western Orissa have the streams and forests which show the natural beauty of Harisankar in Bolangir and Nrusinghanath in Balangir. Furthermore, Kalahandi area is endowed with the wealth of forests, for example existence of a rare species of black tiger, with a natural waterfall at Rabandar, and a host of temples situated at the hilltops of Bhawanipatna.

Nevertheless, the concept of museum is also being established by government for collected and displaying those artifacts by following the types of it. The record from 1990 until 1998 with the attraction of tourists is 86.58% in domestic and 11.50% for foreign tourists. This can be proved that the well known of domestic people and unrealized in the potential of the place as being a tourism destination for foreign tourists because of poor developing that place. However the tourist arrival show that the increasing trend from 1990 until 1997 but dropping in 1997-1999 due to the Asian financial crisis and then increase again in 1999 to 2000. Due to the Orissa heritage place, natural environment with flora and fauna it can be the successful destination for tourists. The reason that it cannot attract more is because of poor developing by government as a tourism destination from an ecological and cultural point of view.

http://www.uea.ac.uk/env/cserge/pub/wp/gec/gec_1995_30.pdf.

From the “TOURISM AND SUSTAINABILITY IN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRAGILE AREAS: CASE STUDIES FROM THE MALDIVES AND NEPAL” research by Katrina Brown,R. Kerry Turner, Hala Hameed and Ian Bateman had said that Maldives and Nepal is a country which enrich with natural resources such as reefs, beaches, and mountains especially the most highest mountain in the world – Everest are attract many tourists to there. The amount of trekkers to Nepalese Himalaya grew by 25 percent per annum over the period 1985-1988. Furthermore, Maldives tourism visitors have increased from a total of less than 1000 per annum in 1972 to 178,000 in 1991. As we can see that the amount of tourist is increasing lead by globalization. It makes people able to move across to other countries. In analyzing the Maldives in 1991, total of tourists had increase to over 178,000 tourists. The annual rate is exceeds 30 percent for this period and this show that it stand at over 1.7 million. The total receipts are achieving 94 million in 1991 if compare to 1981 is just 15 million. However for Nepal, the data said that is just only 6179 tourists in 1962 but it change to a huge amount in almost 300,000 in 1991. This can show that the attracting to Nepal is increasing rapidly and with majority tourists came for the nature. This can be see that the successfulness of the ecotourism such as mountain or jungle trekking, jungle safaris, river rafting or ethnic tourism in Nepal. Both study also show that more tourists were came toward their country by enjoying the nature environment.

Research Hypothesis

By referring to the literature reviews mentioned, we are able to form 2 hypotheses that measure the growth of tourism sector that accelerated the industrialization process.

The first hypothesis model formed state that the contribution of tourism sector towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is influence by the foreign and domestic tourists and the number of projects approved by tourism department. Hence, the function below is formed:.

GDP = f (tourists)

However, the second hypothesis model formed state that the contribution of tourists towards the tourism is influence by the number of projects approved by tourism department. Hence, the function below is formed:

Tourism = f (tourism department)

Methodology

There are a few methods which can be used in order to search and gather the information that we needed such as by gathering the information from the internet. But mostly all data are collected through the secondary data. Based on my title which focuses on the ecotourism, I am referring to the news article which published by The Star, beside we were gone through the government website to get the current news to get the tourism issues, activities, government gazette and also the government statistical data. Those articles that related with my topic in internet also can be using as reference especially those research paper done passed researcher. Furthermore we compare country between countries in tourism performance.

Analysis
Income contribution

http://www.tourism.gov.my/corporate/research.asp?page=facts_figures

As we can see that the tourist’s arrival to Malaysia has increase year by year. We know that 1997 is happened Asian financial crisis the following is 2008-2009 global financial crises with epidemic of H1N1 together. However it does not give much impact on our tourism but further increase our percentage of tourist’s arrival. If we compare the amount of tourist in year 1998 with 5.5 million and 2009 with 23.6 million it is already 4.3 times than amount in 1998.

http://www.wttc.org/eng/tourism_research/economic_data_search_tool

The line graph indicates that the contribution of GDP by travel and tourism industry. From the graph, we can see that the avenue of travel and tourism industry has been increase over the year. Travel & tourism industry has recorded an amount of RM10.67 billion in year 1988. While in year 2008, according to world tourism council, Malaysia has recorded an amount of RM99.16 billion in year 2009, which is almost 10 times larger compared to 20 years ago. It indicates that the travel and tourism industry has been growing and believed to have the potential to keep expanding.

While the table shows the year to year growth of travel and tourism industry, and also the share of travel and tourism industry in Malaysia’s GDP. From the table above, we can know that at most of the years, the avenue of travel and tourism industry is increasing. While some of the year it may achieve negative grow due to incidents such as economic crisis, global diseases, and etc. The grow rate of travel and tourism industry is between -6.98 percent to 35.01 percent. From the view of share of GDP, travel and tourism industry has recorded 13.4 percent in year 2008, which considered a major part of total GDP. It places tourism as one of the largest industries in Malaysia, and the second largest earner of foreign exchange, following manufacturing industry.

http://www.yoursurgeryabroad.com/news/tourism-up-in-malaysia/

Due to the data, show that there is significant drop in year 1997 which caused by the Asian Financial crisis. Beside in year 2003, the tourism sector also decrease which caused by the SARS. The period for SARS epidemic is between the months of November 2002 and July 2003, and the epidemic is start spreading from Guangdong, China. However this gets effect in our tourism because this epidemic is serious happened in Asian region. If we compare with another epidemic (H1N1) which happened in 2009, this epidemic is start spreading from Mexico. But this epidemic is still make our tourism in well performing based on the news reported on Thursday, 23 July 2009, our Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen announced that tourism to Malaysia grew by 7.5% in June after a small 0.3% decline in May. The increase in tourism came despite an increase in confirmed H1N1 cases in the country. The decreasing show in 2008 is affect by the global financial crisis. Global financial crisis is a crisis caused by a liquidity shortfall in the United States banking system. It has shown in the collapse of large financial institutions, the bailout of banks by national governments, and downturns in stock markets around the world. Is because of the global financial crisis it does give effect on our industries such as tourism industries.

The expanding of travel and tourism industry is possible due to the increasing arriving and recipients of tourists from various countries. The policies that promoting Malaysia to the eye of the world in travel and tourism industry has seen to be quite successful. Various program such as Visit Malysia, Malaysia Shopping Carnivals and etc have been introduced and these programs have been able to attract more tourists come to our country.In addition, the increase in standard of living in Malaysia is also a major factor that stimulate the travel and tourism industry. Increase of income of Malaysia residents has increase of domestic demand in travel and tourism industry.

Employment contribution

http://www.epu.gov.my/html/themes/epu/images/common/pdf/rmk/rmk2/rancangan%20malaysia%20kedua%20-%20chapter%2011.pdf

http://www.epu.gov.my/html/themes/epu/images/common/pdf/buku%20rm%20ke%207%20-%20chapter%2016.pdf

http://www.epu.gov.my/html/themes/epu/images/common/pdf/8th_msia_plan_c15_cont.pdf

Based on the data above, we can see that during the period between 1960 until 1970, the employment is significant show that tourism is just contribute a little on economy only. For year 1965 is only contributed 287000 for employment (employment in hotel is 2700 in 1965), however for year 1970 it is slightly increase to become 340000 of employment (employment in hotel is reached 8000 in 1970) which contributed by the tourism. Furthermore, year 1975 tourism is only contributing 419000 employments. If we look seriously beginning from 1990, the employment is contribute a lot by the tourism in hotel industries, however hotel industries is just one of the part from the contribution of tourism, we can see clearly that it is quite potential in develop it. Based on the data show that the there is an increasing trend on employment which generate by the increasing in number of hotel, it can be show beginning from 1990 which is generated 39961 employments by 989 hotels, 1995 generated 67214 employments by 1220 hotels, 2000 generated 78671 employments by 1492 hotels and for year 2005 it generated 79603 employments by 1541 hotels. The opportunities in employment contributed by tourism are determined to achieve 1217000 thereby contributing 11.6% of total employment in year 2007. And the contribution of the Travel & Tourism economy to employment is 1,331,000 jobs in 2010 (Quarter 2).

http://www.wttc.org/eng/tourism_research/economic_data_search_tool

The table shows the total employment in travel and tourism industry. In year 1989, the total employment in travel and tourism industry recorded an amount of 514700, which in 8 % of total labor. From the table we’ll able to know that the total employment in travel and tourism industry has been increasing in most of the year, meanwhile the growth rate is between -14.9 percent to 21.94%. In year 2008, travel and tourism industry has achieved a total employment of 1249800 employees, which is 11.6% from the whole labor market. This indicates that the travel and tourism industry has contributed much in the labor market and has play a major role in labor market.

www.motour.gov.my/bm/…/166-national-ecotourism-plan–part-3.html

Contribution in development

The tourism can lead to develop in some area especially those rural, develop the rural area is good in helping our country economy, it can generate income and employment to the rural area people.

For example:

Based on the National Ecotourism Plan Malaysia, Pahang has implement national tourism development policies at state level. Pahang have such place can develop well to be a tourists attraction place such as in coasts area Pulau Tioman is Pahang main island resource, this is needed to plan further on the development within the carrying the capacity for each sector of activity. However for mountain in Pahang, with the highest mountain in Peninsular Malaysia is Gunung Tahan. Besides, there is also a Fraser’s Hill which is a main nature site with bungalows. Beside in lowland, there is Taman Negara which is a place that reserve with the flora and fauna. But there is also needed government in develop it to become a tourism place.

This is the table show the development of component and cost in developing the Fraser’s Hill.

For Terengganu, it does not have its own separate state tourism policies but it implement national policies. The potential nature place for Terengganu to develop to attract tourists is Rantau Abang at coasts side and island which is Pulau Redang, Pulau Perhentian, Lang Tengah, and also some mountain which attract some trekker to there.

This is the table show the development of component and cost in developing the Rantau Abang

This is the table show the development of component and cost in developing the Pulau Redang.

And for Sabah, it is rich in nature which can enrich to introduce it to foreign country, such as Mountain Kinabalu is one of most attraction in Sabah it mostly attract the tourists from Taiwan, Japan come over there. Beside it also have the popular island which name Pulau Sipadan which listed as the first best diving in world. This can be show that the potential in Sabah.

This is the table show the development of component and cost in developing the Kinabalu Park area.

All this is just a part of the potential area which shows in few states only, as we can see those areas is a potential place to develop to attracting the tourists. Those places are suitable to develop as tourism place since it is potential and rich in nature. Furthermore, by the way we develop the area to attract the tourists, first we have to develop the area which potential to be tourism, and through this development it is already develop our country. Developing our country is not only to attract the tourists but it also can strengthen our economy.

Contribution in SME ( Small Medium Entrepreneur )
Government action

By the way it is needed for government action in supporting the tourism sector, without government implementation of policy or action in develop the tourism it is impossible for the tourism sector to growth itself. To attract more foreign tourists, government is needed to create some policy to strengthening the tourism, furthermore the government spending is also important so that the project that government planning can be successful to achieve. Besides, government activities in promoting the tourism or campaign is also helpful in introduce it to tourists and knowing by foreign country. There is some action by the government in above such as:

Campaign

VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2007

Tourism industry of Malaysia. Retrieved on October 12,2010 from http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2007/08/31/9636.html

Malaysia’s focus will be on the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007, it was focus aggressively promoting Malaysia, by the way encourage the foreign tourists arrival it also encourage domestic tourists. Coincidently, year 2007 is also the 50th anniversary of Malaysia Independence Day. As such, the Visit Malaysia Year campaign is a good time event to celebrate Malaysia’s golden festival. It is a good time to celebrate and to share with the world the unique and virtues that built up Malaysia to be the country until today. The VMY 2007 campaign is anticipated to raise the attraction of foreign tourists to facilitate them in planning their holidays in Malaysia. For the VMY 2007, it is set a target to attract amount of 20.1 million tourists come over our country. There are over 240 events in the year, of which, 50 being major events and 5 as international mega events. All these events is meaningful to presented in `One Golden Celebration`. This celebration will bring Malaysia to recognize by the world. The Visit Malaysia Year Grand Launch on 6 January by the Prime Minister of Malaysia is the first event of the year in the presence 500 international media and trade representatives from all over the world. Draw attention to the Grand Launch was the unveiling of the Eye on Malaysia, which is a 60-metre Ferris Wheel followed by the Flora Fest Parade, and also a fantastic display of floats dressed in all kinds of flowers found in Malaysia. The other mega events include the Malaysian International Aerospace Adventure, the International Fireworks Display, the Malaysian International Tattoo and the KL International Buskers Festival.

Malaysia My Second Home Programme

Malaysia My Second Home Programme .Retrieved on October 12, 2010 from http://www.mm2h.gov.my/

Beside, Malaysia government also promoted Malaysia My Second Home Programme is to allow foreigners who fulfill certain criteria, to stay in Malaysia for as long as possible on a multiple-entry social visit pass. The Social Visit Pass is renewable and is originally for a period of ten years. It is a chance for citizens of countries recognized by Malaysia, regardless of race, religion, gender or age. The programme allows applicants to bring with them their spouses, parents and children. For those foreign spouses of Malaysians after expiry of their Employment Passes who wish to retire in Malaysia are also qualified to apply to stay in Malaysia under this programme.

Promotion
Policy
Government spending

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/24/budget2010/4968158&sec=budget2010. October 12

Based on the news from The Star on Saturday October 24, 2009 reported that by the way of aggressive and innovative measures to attract FDI, our country government will spending RM899mil in 2010 for the tourism industry. The Main planned to be implemented is including attracting more tourists from Britain, Japan, South Korea, Middle East, India and China to participate in the Malaysia My Second Home programme. However, attraction will be successful by upgrading the quality of infrastructure in tourism centers throughout the country, this is the most important such as ecotourism development and upgrading homestay facilities; and ensuring front liners are locals.

Taxation

Incentives for Investment. Retrieved on October 12, 2010 from http://www.mida.gov.my/en_v2/index.php?page=tourism-industry

There are many incentives that government gives to tourism investors either old or new investors. The investor included such as hotel, travel agency, transportation and etc. There are some incentives from government to these investors.

Generally, a company granted Pioneer Status will enjoys a 5-year partial exemption from the payment of income tax. It will only need to pay tax on 30% of its statutory income. In order to promote some area, government will consider giving full income tax exemption and/or increased exemption tax until 10 years. In addition, there are some exemption for Sabah and Sarawak. The companies located there will only need to pay 15%of their statutory income in 5 years.

Besides, company also can get the Investment Tax Allowance (ITA). A company granted will be given allowance of 60% in respect of qualifying and offset against 70%of the statutory income in 5 years. Special for Sabah and Sarawak, companies located there will be given allowance of 80% in respect of qualifying and offset against 85% of the statutory income in 5 years.

Next,tax exemption for tour operators. First, for foreign tourists. Tour operators who bring in at least 500 foreign tourists a year through groups, inclusive tours that enter and exit the country by air, sea or land transportation, will be exempted from tax in respect of income derived from the business of operating such toursˆ®ˆ second, for local tourists. Companies that organise domestic tour packages for at last 1,200 local tourists per year get tax exemption on the income earned. A domestic tour means any tour package within Malaysia participated by local tourists (excluding inbound tourists) by air, land or sea transportation involving at least one night’s accommodation.

Recommendation

Recommendation to better improve the tourism industry to known by others country and attraction foreign tourist to generate our GDP will be identified after the full research has been completed.

The Ecotourism Development in Malaysia. Retrieved on October 12,2010 from http://www.apo-tokyo.org/gp/e_publi/gplinkeco/17chapter15.pdf

There are such ways to improve Malaysia ecotourism. As we know, we have many ecotourism place included Wildlife Protection Act, the National Park Act, the National Forestry Act, the Fisheries Act and the State Park Enactment (Pahang). These protected areas are gazetted under the various federal and state. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the Forestry Department, the Fisheries Department and the various

State Parks authorities have been responsible for managed these place.

First ways is ours tourism and travel agencies should be more creative to promoted ecotourism to attract more foreign tourist because government give many incentives to them. Creative means travel agencies should provide more packages for student, family, group and others. These packages will attract more tourists to visit Malaysia also attract local tourist. Local tourist actually more demand than foreign tourist because local tourists want different experience in the place they visit. Trav

In 1936, the League of Nations defined foreign tourists as someone traveling abroad for at least twenty-four hours. Its successor, the United Nations, amended this definition in 1945, by including a maximum stay of six months.

Since the human race existed they have been migrating, travelling all around to achieve different goals, religious purposes, sports, and other leisure activities, for better life, better facilities. In fact there can be hundred reasons for travelling.

There cant be fixed and set date to determine when and where and how the first pilgrimage occurred but we can say people started travelling and moving back and forth since they were born.

But if we look through the history then we see it happened in 5th and between 3rd millennia BC, when paganism was the culture and religion in the Europe.

In the Christian world people have been travelling to Israel where Jesus was born and lived because they spiritually relate themselves to the holiness, and to the shrines of disciples. In the Muslim world the first pilgrimage occurred in 629-628 CE. And it was from Makkah to medina. (www.grand-tour.org)

In the ancient times Hindus, Romans, Greeks have long been migrating, travelling for different reasons. So it’s not particularly related to any specific religion.

Grand Tours:

Grand Tour specifically means the travel taken by young, wealthy, privileged people for the purpose of education, enhancing their travelling experience to excel in their careers.

Grand tour’s history dates back to the 18th century Britain when the British people and their country was the wealthiest on the face of the earth. So the wealthy people used to send their young kids on grand tours to different countries, mainly to Europe to enhance their experience to practical life and for the education related purposed as well.

In Britain Thomas Coryat’s travel book Coryat’s Crudities(1611) was a great influence Grand Tour but it was the far more extensive tour through Italy as far as Naples undertaken by the ‘Collector’ Earl of Arundel, together with his wife and children in 1613-14 that established the most significant precedent.

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Tour

Grand Tours was involving a period of year long, because in those times the means of travelling were so slow and because the term grand tour ventures more than one country so it used to take one year or more.

As the time passed the means of travelling got so fast, challenging and more efficient the travelers went more far and far for more exotic places and countries.

James Boswell was the most famous in this regard who kept all records in a journal of his travelling and other experiences during such Tour. The first Journal ”Grand Tour and was published in 1749 by Thomas Nugent.

Regarding the professional Travel and tourism the first person to develop this idea was Thomas cook in 1850s he developed and then on he offered travel packages to all parts of the world. So this thing eventually made this effectively cheap and affordable for the middle class as well, as it was only affordable for rich people before.

In 1867, Mark Twain had a European and Eastern Mediterranean Tour and sent back the dispatches to Alta California, which was a San Francisco paper. His dispatches were later published a book called “The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrims Progress”.

In 1873 at the age of 10 William Randolph Hearst took Grand Tour, travelled one and a half year with the habit of collecting. And his collections can be seen at Hearst Castle in USA.

By the late 19th century, the Grand Tour had turned to be an American phenomenon because newly wealthy citizens related themselves to the heirs of the western traditions and they traced their cultural lineage from the Greece to the Roman Empire, European Renaissance. So during those times rich Americans would tour ancient cities of Mediterranean, great European cities as part of their Grand Tours. They felt so related and aspired by the Venice’s well-to-do merchants and traders who collected the wealth from around the world, loved the architecture.

From 1960s the grand tour has taken a totally new shape all over again, students are travelling with backpacks and living in the youth hostels and travelling around. Because the means of transportation are increased to the maximum level, things are starting to slow down a little bit like the olden days, i.e. people again starting to find ships, cruises more lovely and enjoyable like olden days. (www.grand-tour.org)

The Modern Tourism:

The difference between modern and past tourism is that, modern tourism involves mass availability and mass participations in holidays. Modern travel involves a universal access to travel for individual in every part of the world with destination on an international scale. Modern tourism involves many different types each that in turn have had an impact on the transport means. The different types of tourism can be divided based on the tourist’s main interest of their trip. Tourism can involve one of the following; adventure, pleasure, sports, cultural, sports, study, incentive, research, professional and country. (www.exampleessays.com)

Modern tourism is totally changed from the past because it has got vital modern tool which are high -tech and fast and they save a lot of time. So since the modern inventions have arrived such as, trains, airplanes, cruises, ships, roads, trains, they have changed the face of tourism tremendously. The whole scenarios have been changed. Travel has become cheap and within the access of everybody unlike the past where only rich and wealthy were the ones who were able to travel.

Now the tourism has become faster, easier and cheaper and easier and there are more varieties in the forms of tourism then the past.

Here we will discuss some of the modern historic developments that has helped modern tourism to take a whole new shape.

Factors Facilitating Growth of the Travel and Tourism:

The most important factors which are facilitating the travel and tourism and their growth are as follows:

Sea Travel.
Rail Travel.
Air Travel.

Sea, air and rail have been playing an important part in the growth of travel and tourism. With these factors the tremendous growth and increase in travel and tourism have become possible.

Trains:

In the past traveling was so slow, it was taking months and years to travel but since the invention of the trains it has become far easier and faster to move around and its one of the most enjoyable way of traveling among the tourists.

The history of rail transport dates back nearly 500 years, Modern rail transport systems first appeared in England in the 1820s. 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport.

Ships and Cruises:

The first boats are presumed to have been dugout canoes, developed independently by various Stone Age populations, and used for coastal fishing and travel.

7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_history

The earliest boats were invented by Egyptians in 3100 BC, and then in 2700 BC they invented ships for trade. (www.localhistories.org)

The age of sail, technically and formally speaking, is the period in which international trade and naval warfare were both dominated by sailing ships. The age of sail mostly coincided with the age of discovery, from the 15th to the 18th century

9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_history

The modern cruises are the most modern addition to the sea travel. The cruises have casinos, swimming pools, playing fields, dance venues or we can say the provide almost all the facilities like any high class hotel.

Traveling through cruise has become posh and very fashionable and people are being drawn more towards the traveling through cruises.

Air Travel

The first hovercraft was launched in 1959. The first hovercraft passenger service began in 1962.

In 1919 aero planes began carrying passengers between London and Paris. Jet passenger aircraft were introduced in 1949.

However in the early 20th century flight was a luxury few people could afford. Furthermore only a small minority could afford foreign travel. Foreign holidays only became common in the 1960s. The Boeing 747, the first ‘Jumbo jet’ was introduced in 1970 and The Channel Tunnel opened in 1994.

(www.localhistories.org)

Since the invention of the aero planes the humans have traveled to even those parts of the world where traveling was literally, virtually was almost impossible.

Current and future Trends and Development in the travel and tourism sector.

In the travel and tourism sector with the modern hi-tech technology, faster means of communications, faster means of transportations, modernized approach in every part of the travel and tourism industry from travelling to hospitality to accommodation everything has become faster and more sophisticated. And in the recent years there has been huge rise in the sector. And the future trend is going up as well.

This assignment will take a radical approach to evaluate two interesting issues: contemporary issues facing resort managers, and the trends of resort management.

If hoteliers maintain the conventional staff training, customer satisfaction workshop, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) etc, they could confine to five-star service level. To rise beyond this level, resort managers need to go further miles.

Whilst superior services together with efficient SOPs could offer a five-star guest experience, the key to rise beyond the five-star level is to serve with extraordinary loving care that would touch the heart of every guest (McAlpine, 2008).

McAlpine (2008) argues resort managers can help their staff to create a loving guest experience. There are times that staff arrive at work with negative emotions like stressed, worried or burdened. In such situation, they cannot create a love and compassion experience for guests.

Resort managers should first learn meditation and then teach their staff. Medication with the right kinds of music and story can soften ones’ hearts and feelings; release the negative emotions so that staff could create a loving guest experience (McAlpine, 2008). The meditation also helps staff to overcome low self-esteem and fears, such as fear of talking to guests, selling to guests or offering service to guests. Managers should facilitate staff to exercise simple five-minute medications that will touch their heart and develop the feeling of love. Consequently they will disseminate the spirit of love, care, warmth, empathy and compassion that most resort guests can feel. After a busy period of service, staff should have a simple five-minute meditation to calm themselves down, increase their energy, or to re-energise themselves.

Resort managers could gain competitive edge, to encourage their staff do simple five-minute meditations daily. Consequently the happy staff could offer guests a desirable heart-warming, loving, caring spirit experiences and memories. Such competitive edge could not be clone by competitors easily, because they are developed over time.

Trends of Resort Management

Hoteliers also need to face the challenge of occupancy rates and revenue, particularly in low seasons.

Hotel Indoor Waterparks Attract More Visitors

According to an extensive survey from 1993 to 2001 about ‘Wisconsin Dells Hotels Performance’, many hotels with indoor waterparks recorded occupancy rates considerably higher than those without indoor waterparks (Haralson and Coy, 2001).

Most hoteliers package the waterpark admission charges into the room rate (Haralson and Coy, 2001). Once resort guests unpacked their suitcase, they are free to enjoy all the recreation and entertainment. When guests stay on-site of resort hotels for longer periods, they tend to spend money on other areas, such as restaurants, bar/grille, arcade game room and gift shop. Therefore the key to success is to be aware of the resort trend and be a pioneer in resort management, staying ahead of competitors.

Predictable Hotel Resort Trends

After examining various articles written on the trends of resort, I recommend resort hoteliers should make reference to the following analysis of Coy (2008) in their new projects and resort management.

The lodging, recreation and entertainment are merging.

In the urban areas of many countries, there are hotels, recreation, entertainment, sporting activities, shopping, convention centers and large-scale attractions are merging to become mixed-use resort destination developments.

Whereas in rural areas of some countries, there are hotels and indoor and outdoor waterparks merging with golf courses, ski hills, conference centers, medical centers, casinos and residential projects as well as second home, vacation home and resort retirement communities.

Long weekends are replacing long vacations.

More and more working couples find it difficult to coordinate vacation due to work demands. So they prefer longer weekends breaks than long vacations.

High gas prices, dissatisfaction with airlines and longer weekends all contribute to the trends of driving to regional resorts and the rapid growth of resort hotels with indoor waterparks.

Multi-generational family gatherings become popular.

In nations, which families often live in separate states, sharing a vacation is a way for grandparents, parents and children to expend quality time and make happy memories. Several waterpark resorts with large villas (sleeping 12 to 20 people) reported that these popular units sell out first. Thus create greater demands for indoor resorts suitable for all ages.

Mixed-use resort destinations are growing.

Almost every new hotel project includes a variety of components that create a destination for meeting, shopping, recreation and entertainment. Resort management increasingly try to eliminate the seasonality and weather factors.

To capture year round revenues, hoteliers tend to build recreational facilities for summer, fall, winter and spring; and convert more outdoor spaces into flexible indoor-outdoor components.

The growth of waterpark resorts is accelerating.

Hotels with waterparks fill empty rooms at higher room rates than hotels without waterparks. Moreover the positive hotel occupancy, room rates, room revenues and total guest spending accelerate the growth of waterpark resorts.

Indoor waterpark projects are getting bigger and bigger.

More and more hotel waterparks are adding meeting space to attract different types of customers during low periods of the year. Smart resort hoteliers will develop ‘high entertainment value’ to attract families with young children to spend more for resort vacations that create family quality times and happy memories.

Every outdoor sport will have an indoor version.

Many sport activities such as golfing, skiing, boarding, kayaking, rafting and surfing require natural settings like, mountains, rivers, oceans etc. It is difficult and expensive to travel to the coast when the perfect ocean wave is breaking or reach the backwoods when the whitewater river is cresting. So smart resort developers are building artificial facilities to simulate natural settings to bring outdoor sport ventures indoor.

Innovative Trends

The above trends of resort management are happening with pioneer resort developers, who are innovative to meet the resort guests’ desires. Smart hoteliers can have a combination of lodging, resorts, recreation, entertainment, conference center, restaurants, nightclubs, retail shopping, offices and residential components to create winning mixed-use regional destinations.

(Word count: 993)

The purpose of this assignment is to explore the types of flooring available suiting to the conditions desired and the decisive factor prior to selection of any kind of flooring according to the need of the floor. At the end I would give my suggestions and opinions and legitimate reasons for his recommendations. In this essay the areas under considerations are, the Coffee Shop, Main Reception and the Employee locker room. For choosing any kind of suitable flooring some factors require high value of pre selection consideration such as the location of the hotel, weather conditions and the flow of guests. As hotel is located near by the ocean so the weather tends to be tropical as the winter stays mild but summer remains warm, so the people who wished to stay in hotel mainly like to swim or to go to bank of the ocean, as the hotel also have two swimming pools in its premises. People pass the main front desk every time in order to get in the hotel or to go out of the hotel. Most of the time they use bathing suits and one can expect from them the dripping water from their swimming costumes and the sand particles along their clothes or shoes. Some may use coffee shop in the same robe. As the staff is using rare door for staff entrance only so is less likely to pass through main desk but in the event of rain it is most likely that staff also carry a bit of water and sand with their clothes and shoes, even staff member change their uniform and use the locker room to put their belongings. The locker room is situated near to changing room.

House keeping is the department having the main duties of keeping the hotel clean not only the work area but the guest area as well as the guest rooms. As this is the main department, generating revenue for the hotel, advocates its responsibilities and the significance of undertaking its operations within the federation. Being an executive house keeper it becomes vital to select the flooring by keeping in view the durability, beauty, attractiveness and the interiors of the hotel along with the fulfilment of the desired purpose in different areas of the hotel

With the changing time and continuous unpredictability of globalization and the recent steep growth in hospitality and tourism industry resulted in often visits in hotels where expectations are high and high level of comfort is desired by the customers. It has become challenging and mandatory to satisfy customer’s needs and to devise strategies at every level of management.

Now I will discuss the types of different floorings which can be used in commercial and non-commercial outlets and at the end I will propose the selection of the best flooring for those specific areas required.

What is flooring?

Flooring is the general term , covering the floor permanently or the work of installing for the floor covering. It is a term to describe any finish material work applied over a floor structure and make it for walking surface. There are different kinds of materials can use for floor covering include wood flooring, stone, ceramic tile, terrazzo and various other seamless chemical floor coatings.

Flooring can make the attractive difference in the appearance on floor especially in the hotels and also contribute to the ambiance of the hotel. Flooring plays a very important role for the hotel appearance and also has to satisfy many things because it needs to be attractive, durable, and easy to maintain and also be the cost effective. In these technological days floors have been updated to address the requirements needed in hotel flooring. There are many kinds of floorings for the hotels; restaurants and homes there are some kinds of flooring style from which to choose for the floor.

Types of flooring
Carpet flooring

Carpet is a common choice for any hotel flooring especially in the colder climate it is permeable therefore it can stain, but the luxury and warmth it provides still make and this is a popular choice. It is one of the best insulators against sound which is important factor in a hotel setting. There are so many colours, design and also the variety therefore carpets can be one of the least expensive for flooring option it depends the size and quality of the carpet. The installation of the carpet usually done in less time than other alternatives. Carpet does need change more often that the other flooring but involves high cost.

Concrete flooring

Concrete flooring can be used in a hotel setting; it is really durable but one of the more expensive and easily cleaned and will not be discoloured when used. The out lasts many other choices of flooring such as tile, wool and carpet. We can also add the colour tints in concrete which make the more choice in decorating schemes.

Ceramic Tile flooring

It is another choice which offers durability and visual value and easy to clean and retain. If broken, can easily be replaced by another. A ceramic tile adds a feeling of quality and worth of any room. A ceramic tile is one of the most expensive but it can be used longer and is also available in different colours and shapes, offer options for any type of furnishings.

Vinyl flooring

Vinyl is other popular choice for hotel flooring. These are easy to clean, stain resistant and durable and also serve both the purposes of practicality and aesthetics. These tiles have the huge variety in designs and colours. The imitation of natural material can offer an economical way to have appeared of a more expensive floor covering. This choice allows you to have the look of wood, slate, brick for a division of the cost of the real thing.

Rubber Flooring

These types of tile are naturally hygienic and water-proof. It also offers the sound proofing, cushioning and insulating properties to the rooms of a hotel. It is stain-resistant, durable and easy to clean. It is not the most deluxe looking choice but it will fir in well when going for the minimalist look that is popular in these day. It is reasonable price not to much expensive and can last longer than the other choices.

Bamboo flooring

Bamboo flooring is one of the new flooring in flooring industry; it is more environmentally friendly than hardwood because it is not wood it is actually the grass therefore it is very graceful, durable and flexible. The colour of bamboo flooring is naturally variations there it is unique and usually use in a honey brown colour or light tan.

Laminate flooring

Laminate flooring are the fastest growing in America now a days it is not too much expensive than the hardwood flooring and easy to maintain. It comes from Europe but is increasingly popular in United States. Laminate flooring is almost resistant to burn, chipping and scratches.

Cork flooring

Cork flooring used over a thousand years before but mostly people think that it’s new. It is a naturally harvested and comes from Portugal and Spain. It retrieved only from mature tress and is harvested every 9 years, therefore it is very economical. It is available in different styles, sizes and colours. It also helps to insulate against sound and is rot-resistant and non-slip, even when it wets and also soft and comfortable to walk on as well as being warm underfoot.

Stone flooring

Stone flooring includes many options, such as limestone, marble and slate and also has a price valve out of most people’s price range. Naturally, it is resistant to wear & tear and completely waterproof. It is very cold underfoot and also hard. It is very slippery when wet and especially when polish.

Flooring for hotel

Flooring for hotel and all other places in hotel is of utmost important it is not only the matter of the tear and heavy foot traffic but it must also be easy clean and maintain and also stain resistant.

In the past there was not the variety of flooring and therefore luxury hotel often had match the flooring such as marble and tiles but now a days there are so many types of flooring and because of it most modern and luxury hotels want more cost effective options, to choose the floor with the current trend.

There are a lot of choices of floor when choosing the flooring and it is also an expensive part of decorating the floor but the decision of flooring is very important for the hotel because the right decision for flooring save the money and also the long life. It is not easy to place the flooring for twice a year because the lot of money involved in it and therefore decision making is important for make the life easier.

Stone, bamboo and cork tile flooring offering the natural beauty and tough wearing surfaces but laminate, resilient vinyl flooring easy to maintain and fit for budget and ceramic tiles are hardwearing and classic.

Significant criteria of selection

Now days every thing is improving fast and in every thing there is a competition and especially in hotel and tourism industries this industry is moving forward day by day therefore in hotel every hotel have the plan in every department before starting the construction of hotel. flooring is one of them before that there is no main concept of flooring and every organization and hotel used just the limited type of flooring but now flooring is also the main aspect because every it involve the high volume of foot traffic and flooring make the attraction for any place and people feel very easy to walk on floor.

There are so many places in the hotel where a hotel can use the different types of flooring and these flooring can be different in every area according to the situation because in the open area like main reception, where the people came first on the front office for reservation flooring can be different from the hotel guest’s room and also the restaurant, gym, bars, etc.

On the other hand kitchen flooring and employee locker’s room flooring will different for the other flooring. Locker room for the hotel staff is not very useable staff just came to change their dresses and keep their other stuff therefore kitchen and staff locker room is the behind the scenes area and hotel lobbies, swimming pools, main entrances is the good example of the front of the house. One more thing is important for flooring in the hotel is that the hotel can choose the different types of flooring in every department but it is important that every floor should be match with each other in which style, theme and colour because in my opinion if these things are not match able each other that looks not the beautiful although hotel have the many choices for flooring therefore I should be considered that each flooring appearance looks the same like the other flooring.

Here I have the task for the signification criteria of selection of flooring for the coffee shop, main reception area and staff locker room. Coffee shop and the main reception there are the places where people come and go every single moment specially in the coffee shop where people not only come but also sit there for coffee and talking each other but staff locker room where staff just come to change their dresses and mostly they came there twice first when they start their job and second when they finished. Therefore the hotel considers the some basic points before selection the new flooring. Now we will see these points for each of them

Main points for coffee shop

Types of material which they will use

Capacity of the people

Nature of business

Location (where the hotel is it is located in the city centre or near the sea side)

Style of hotel

Designed

Colour (which they used is the match with design and style of hotel)

Comfortable for walking

Easy to clean

According to the budget

Warranty of flooring (flooring which will use how long it will)

Maintenance after fixing

If the little damage in any place easy to replace

Resistant against stains

If wet but not slippery

Easy to dry

Main points for main reception

Main reception and the coffee shop as we discuss is the place where people come and go in every time the only difference is that on the main reception people will not stay more than but in the coffee shop people stay their to talk each other and also for drinking coffee therefore there is not to much different in these two area the main points for main reception is

Attractive

Durability

Easy to maintain

Cost effective

Easy to clean

Comfortable

Stain resistant

Floor does not fade

Not slippery

Traffic

Safety

Water & moisture

Style (formal & informal)

Floor material & condition

Significant criteria for locker room

As we know that the hotel is one of the fastest industry and therefore hotel have the so many staff they came in the hotel in different time because hotel is almost 24/7 jobs and therefore well standard hotel have the many employee and hotel provide their employee locker room facilities to change clothes and contain locker for the storage of their clothes and others stuff during the shift. Locker room is just use for the hotel’s employee therefore it is not important to spend the extra money on the flooring therefore in this area the point can consider before selection of flooring is that

Economical

Comfortable

Water proof

Long term durability

Resistant against stains

Design

Colour

Recommendation

In my opinion as the executive house keeper I will suggest that kind of flooring which really match according to the condition of the Florida weather condition and the floor should be the long term durability and also easy to clean and look more attractive for the hotel’s customers. It is also in the budget of the hotel and colouring should be more beautiful for every customers. The flooring is matter of a lot of money therefore I tired my best as the executive house keeper to spend the less money and get the long period benefit.

Now I will recommend the different types of flooring for coffee shop, main reception and also the employee locker room.

Flooring for coffee shop
Ceramic tile

After front office and restaurant coffee shop is the third main department in the hotel to increase the hotel’s revenue. Coffee shop is that place where people come with their friend, family, and children, talking each other and spending some time on there.

As we know the weather condition of the Florida there fore we cannot choose the carpet or rubber flooring for the coffee shop because coffee shop is the place where lot of people come and go every time and also the people come with their wet clothes and water falling down on the floor therefore if we will use the carpet for the coffee shop it will always wet and look completely rubbish there fore ceramic tile for my opinion is the best suggestion for the coffee shop.

As we discuss flooring is the matter of the lot money therefore we should to use that flooring which is also if one of the breaks it is simply to replace and coffee shop is the place where internal and external customer come and on the other hand if we will use the carpet or rubber flooring it no matter a lot of chance of damaging and if the carpet will damage of cut of any place we cannot replace it therefore in my opinion ceramic tile is the best for the coffee shop.

Some advantages of ceramic tile

Choice of colouring

Easy to clean

Easy to dry

Durability

Stain resistant

Easy to replace one of them

Available larger and smaller size

Easy to maintain

Use in hygienic material

Smooth surface

Flooring for main reception

Main reception or front office is the most important place in the hotel because when the customer comes in the hotel they come straight forward on the main reception and from there they can easily guess the atmosphere of the hotel service standard and also the behaviour of the staff. Therefore in the hotel the hotel should to make the well attractive and more beautiful main reception area for the hotel,

Resort hotel are that hotel where people comes to spend their holidays and want to enjoy every moment and resort hotel in Florida where the weather condition is totally different in each season the choice of floor should be given the same result for both season.

As the executive house keeper I would suggest the vinyl tile for the front office because it is a little bit rough on the top of the floor and it is available in many design and colour. We cannot use the carpet or wood en type of flooring and also the marble tile because the marble tile is the slippery and people come on the front desk with wet clothes. Rubber tile is also the not good because the condition of the weather is not good for the rubbing flooring and rubber flooring tile is not good in the hot weather but the vinyl tile is better in hot condition and as well as in cold weather. It is made with the curtain type of stone that keep the maintenance of the tile in every weather. It is also available in wide range and has the lot of variety.

The main advantages of that tile are that:

Huge variety

Lot of colouring

Easy to maintain

Easy to clean

Not slippery

Stain resistant

Elegant appearance

Affordable cost

Comfortable under foot

Flooring for locker room

Locker room is the place where the hotel employees come to change their dresses when they come on the job and finish there work. As we know that the hotel is the growing fast industry in the whole world and hotel also provided the best facilities of their customers as well as they provides the facilities their staff as well therefore the hotel maintain their standard they provides the best facilities of their staff.

As the hotel standard staff locker room should be the clean and tidy because if the staff locker room will clean it creates the good impact on staff performance and also the staff locker room should be the according to the government law health and safety law.

As the executive house keeper I would suggest the carpet flooring for the locker room because the locker room is the place where staff not to use too much and not for the other two places where the customer comes with wet clothes but in locker room employees just come and go therefore in my opinion I will suggest the carpet flooring for the locker room.

The advantages of carpet flooring are

Huge variety

durability

Lot of colour

Easy to clean

Easy to cover

Not to clean every day

Safety and comfort

Steam cleaning

Easy to maintain

Affordable

Tourism is one of key industry in the development of some countries in Asia. Malaysia, itself depend on tourism in its nation growth. In Asia, country like Malaysia has benefited a lot from the development of its tourism industry. The developments of tourism in Asia are differing amongst countries. Natural disaster such as air pollution, floods and earthquake will bring an effect on the tourism industry in Asia.

There has been previous research regarding to tourism which study the relationship between natural disaster and tourism. In the year of 2010, hazardous flooding in Pakistan has influence its economy growth. Decision-making by tourists on travel plan is influenced by economic, technological, international or political, sociocultural and environmental factors including those directly related to environmental and natural hazards ( Mathieson and Wall, 1993). According to Sinclair and Stabler (1997), the range of goods and services encompassing tourism include natural resources and especially the non-price feature and the positive benefits derived from attractive environment and the negative effect of pollution. Sinclair and Stabler noted that the perceived cost of travel increases by the realization of natural disaster has effect tourism at all.

The research by Campos, (1999) stated that there was relationship between tropical cyclone (natural disaster) and the income of hotels (tourism industry), meanwhile Chang (1983) found that hurricane and other natural disaster can decreases revenues to a municipality through reduce tourism revenues, although the increases assistant by Federal Government to the effect area.

Comparison and effect of tourism in Asia on the development of economy can be discussed specifically by making comparison between the chosen countries. The countries included on the list of this study were Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia,Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambondia.

1.3.1 Malaysia

The research by Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah and Mohd Fauzi Mohd Harun in June 2010 regarding to tourism in Malaysia show that tourism in Malaysia is the third largest industry after oil and automobiles. Malaysian economy will increase due to the increase in tourism sector. Number of tourists visits Malaysia is a major factor which influences the Malaysian economy alone. During Asian Financial Crisis 1997, number of tourists declined and reached a new record after the economic stalemate.

There was another research which shows how tourists influence the growth of tourism in some countries. According to Song and Witt (2000), they described tourist products as the amount of tourism demand that the consumers are willing to acquire during a specific period of time and under certain conditions which controlled by the explanatory factors used in the demand equation. Smeral (1988) and Syriopoulos and Sinclair (1993) empirically examined the relationships between the variables underlying the determinants of tourism demand. Lim (1997), Song and Witt (2000) and Song et al. (2003), used econometrics forecasting model to which forecasts changed as a result of changes in the variables that act as economic drivers of tourism. Loeb (1982), Nordstrom (1996), Uysal and Crompton (1982) have used the demand function approach to identify the quantitative relationships of tourism demand. Jorgensen (1996) and Muller (1999) have focus on the statistical properties of an important time series, namely on the international tourist demand.

1.3.2 Singapore

In Singapore the research analysis on tourism was done by Xianming Meng, Mahinda Siriwardana, Brian Dollery and Stuart Mounter in June 2010 on the impact of the World Financial crisis in 2008 by using CGE analysis. They found that tourism industry is one of the important sectors in Singapore that contribute to the increase in the country economy development. Singapore tourism was greatly effect during the World Financial Crisis in 2008. It shows on Singapore Tourism Board (2009), tourism declined 13.5% in the first half of 2009 compared with the first half of 2008.

Blake and Sinclair (2003) used a 98-sector CGE model of the US economy to estimate the impact of 911-event in the absence of any offsetting policy response which is when the fall in the tourism expenditures reduces GDP and it will worsen the government budget and under different policy responses. Blake et al. (2003) use CGE model to analyse the impact of Foot and Mouth decease (FMD) on tourism and the UK economy. From the model it can be consider that there is a fall on the real GDP, declining in exports, increase in BOP deficit and falls in government revenue.

1.3.3 Brunei

The research by Kwabena A. Anaman and Chee N. Looi in September 2000 was on Economic impact of haze-related air pollution on the tourism industry in Brunei Darussalam.They found that haze-related air pollution is a major problem why Brunei has a problem on increasing their number of visitors comes to their country. The causes of this problem in Brunei tourism is because of the pollution that happen and country losses about one million to the tourism industry. The pollution and human health effects tourists to visit Brunei and this will decreased the benefits of Brunei economy.

1.3.4 Philippines

In Philippines, study by (October 2000) by P.L. Cadiz and H.P. Calumpong (2000) on the revenues gained from tourism show that Philippines has a potential to increase in the tourism industry especially in Apo Island. According to White and Dobias 1990, the overall cost and benefits of tourism development options showed from a particularly of who is incurring the cost and who is benefiting. They also agree that tourist will visits Philippines because of the beautiful beaches and marine parks. From study of White 1996, the entire island coral reef was declared a marine reserve and a small portion a fish sanctuary in 1986 and this boost the economy growth.

1.3.5 Indonesia

Local Economic Impacts of Dragon tourism in Indonesia (2000) by Matthew J. Walpole and Harold J. Goodwin (2000) in their study of Local Economic Impacts of Dragon tourism found that tourism in Indonesia is an important industry to increase Indonesia economy so they can compete with other country. The number of tourists visit Indonesia will be show from the environment of this country.

According to Goodwin, Kent, parker and Walpole 1997 and1998, many international tourism emerged rather than industrialize countries. Brohman 1996, believe that tourism industry are increasingly being promoted in rural areas as a means to combat the historic trends of dependency and inequality. From Boo 1992 perspective, ecotourism is increasingly held to embody both sustainable development ideals and conservation.

1.3.6 Thailand

The study by Aswin Sangpikul and Ardash Batra (2007) on perpective of Thai Youths regarding to ecotourim found that Thai youths had a general knowledge and experience on ecotourism industry. The study is to decide their knowledge and attitude towards ecotourism as well as to survey their travel experiences relating to ecotourism. From the statement of Walailak University, 1997, they believe that people are regarded as one of the key factors for the success of ecotourism development. The study shows that Thai youths still have a limited knowledge on ecotourism but they understood the meaning of ecotourism. Thai youths also have a problem to know on how ecotourism can effect on Thailand tourism. Besides, youths on Thailand like to visit places that are maintained and preserved beauty and pureness.From the previous study of Tonekaew, 1998 and Kunarucks, 2000, two concerned parties have been identified to provide more knowledge and promote ecotourism among Thai youths, namely educational institutes and government agencies.

1.3.7 Vietnam

Professor Malcolm cooper (1998) makes a research about the roles of IT in the development of tourism. He found that IT playing important roles in developing a national tourism industry based on the sustainable development model. Vietnam is located in both a tropical and a temperate zone. This is because it is a fastest way to inform others about the tourism industry in Vietnam. The study is to compare the information provided by current systems, and managing development while preserving the value of the cultural and physical environment. Besides, Vietnam contributes on the increase in the country’s GDP. Good environment quality leads country to have more tourists visiting Vietnam.

1.3.8 Laos

Steven Schipani (2006) study how tourism benefitted Upland Rubber Cultivation in Laos. In the study, he found that Laos tourism will reach a million of tourists arrive over a year. The study of Laos’s tourism estimated that visitors are interested in the country’s natural and cultural attractions. The study of Laos industry is to examine the ecotourism as an alternative to Upland Rubber cultivation in the Nam Ha National protected Area, Luang Namtha. Ecotourism in Luang Namtha generate financial benefits for local people, providing small group for cultural exchange, minimising adverse cultural and environmental impacts and generating public funds for environmental and cultural protection. Ecotourism activities and rubber plantations can both be conducted independently.

1.3.9 Cambodia

Kathryn Conway (2008) whom make a research of ecotourism, poverty, and conservation in Prek Toal found that ecotourism revenues can be analyzed using poor subsistence fishing village on Cambodia’s Tonle sap lake, the conservation organization Osmose to finance poverty intervention programs and promote conservation in a threatened ecosystem. This study is to examine the local perceptions of tourism.

According to Valene Smith, she’s defines tourism as a temporary and voluntary travel to ‘a place away from home for the purpose of experiencing a change’. In Cambodia tourism, the level of general awareness of tourists’ activities is low in the community wide. Besides there is a limitation on the perceptions of any negative impacts associated with tourism.

1.4 Method and Analysis used by Researcher in The Past

Method and the way analysis which has been used by previous researcher are vital in this research and therefore it will bring great advantages in this research especially in chapter 3 which will be discussed later.

Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah and Mohd Fauzi Mohd Harun (June 2010) study on Malaysia tourism use Gravity model and economic data to analyse the tourism demand in Malaysia. Xianming Meng, Mahinda Siriwardana, Brian Dollery and Stuart Mounter ( June 2010) study on Singapore tourism use CGE models, data and parameters to estimate the negative effects of the 2008 world Finacial Crisis. Kwabena A. Anaman and Chee N. Looi (Septemver 2000) using OLS regression Model and Linear and log-linear on the visitor and tourist..P.L. Cadiz and H.P. Calumpong (October 2000) study on Philippines tourism used questionnaire to determine the number of tourists visiting Apo Island every month other than monitor the number of visitors diving and snorkelling outside and inside the marine sanctuary.

Meanwhile, Matthew J. Walpole and Harold J. Goodwin (2000) study on Indonesia tourism used macroeconomics techniques ,questionnaire and ANOVA test to examine the magnitude and distribution of tourism employment and revenue generation in communities in an Indonesian Park.Aswin Sangpikul and Ardash Batra (2007) study on Thailand tourism used questionnaire and ANOVA test to decide their knowledge and attitude towards ecotourism as well as to survey their travel experiences relating to ecotourism.. Professor Malcolm cooper (1998) study on Vietnam tourism, Steven Schipani (2006) study on Laos tourism use data management and forecasting method. Kathryn Conway (2008) study on Cambodia tourism used fieldwork timeline, translator / assistant, sampling, consent process, data collection and data management to examine the local perceptions of tourism.

1.5 Conclusion

As every of us knew tourism play a big role in the development of economy in some countries. Issue such as natural disaster certainly degrades the growth of tourism in the country and of course economy as well. In this research, the event of how the situation of tourism in some countries in Asia will be used in completing this research successfully. Besides, the method and analysis used by previous researcher will give a big help in this research as it will help the researcher in the formation of questionnaire and other relevant analysis. And this will include how tourist had a strong relationship in the development of tourism economy.

Sky Diving – A New Era of Indian Adventure

Skydiving is a very old and most popular sport. It is a diversion from the normal parachuting which was discovered some centuries ago. Basically sky diving is an adventure sport wherein the diver jumps from an aircraft from at least an altitude 1500 m. The participants experience a free fall and they even do different stunts in the air before they release their parachutes and are safely on the ground. Sky diving requires average levels of fitness. If you are in doubt you can ask for medical clearance before setting out for this journey. The best things about sky diving is the advantage you have due to such high altitude. You do not feel any sort of motion sickness like you would experience if you were in a roller coaster ride. It is the closest experience humans can have to flying.

Most popular Sky diving destinations in the world

Today skydiving is a dear activity the world over. For some of the best sky diving experiences you will have to travel the corners of the world. Nevertheless here is a list of few places which give you that complete experience that you are looking for. The first destination is Guam which is one of the several pacific islands. The place is commendable for its coast to coast view and blue skies. The views of the islands are fantastic and incomparable.

Next on the list of the best sites is the Swiss Alps. Being a few thousand meters high above the ground and surrounded by white snow everywhere, decked up in a warm winter jacket and jumping of an airplane to float in the air above the Alps is an unforgettable experience. In summers the views get even lovelier with the glaciers melting and the summer sun peeking fro between the mountains.

So far the best sites are still owned by the country of kiwis-Australia and its neighbor New Zealand. They are an adventure lover’s haven. And why not, if you have aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef and the vast rainforests in the east or the profiles of Queensland or Mission beach in the west,

Sky Diving in India

Skydiving in India began way back in 1994 when Agni Aviation promoted sky diving as a recreational activity. At that time people were clueless about aero-sports in India. The first sky diving was carried out in Jakkur near Bangalore on a 900 meter tarred airstrip.

Ever since Sky diving has started at many other location in India. If we speak of sky diving and do not talk about Rachael Thomas then the discussions is incomplete. Rachael is the first and the only civilian sky diver of India. Her journey as a sky diver began in the year 1979 after she signed up for sky diving lessons with a French woman. Since then she has had a record of more than 700 jumps in all. It has been more than 25 years now and she has won several accolades for her stints. She is the winner of Padma Shri for having a successful sky diving career of more than 25 years. She is also the first Indian to receive a national Adventure Award in 1994 which is an equivalent of Arjuna Award. She is doing her best to promote sky diving culture in India. She has also started ‘Women Sky Divers of India’ league which promotes sky diving among women. This institute is on its way to turns it visions of being the ‘first skydiving civilian school’ of India into reality.

Shirdi

Shirdi is a small town located in the Ahmednagar district in the western Indian state of Maharashta and is a religious destination of universal appeal – Shirdi is perhaps one of those revered destinations that attracts devouts across all religions.

Significance

Unlike other holy cities in India that can trace their origins to thousands of years back, some cities were known places of religious importance as early as the pre Christian era, Shirdi’s rise to reverence and as a religious destination is quite recent.

Shirdi has been home to Shri Sai Baba, one of India’s most revered saints. It is believed that Shri Sai Baba lived and gained spiritual awakening in Shirdi. Some devotees believe that he was an incarnation of Lord Shiva or Lord Dattatreya. His teachings combined the religious teachings of Hinduism and Islam and thousands of devouts converge on Shirdi each year to seek his blessings.

Attractions

The Sai Baba Temple: The Sai Baba temple is the principal attraction in Shirdi and is thronged by thousands of devotees each year, irrespective of religion, caste and creed. The temple, built to commemorate Sai Baba, is built at the spot where Sai Baba is said to have taken his Samadhi.

The temple is professionally managed by the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan and devotees can offer puja services throughout the day and can also see the aarti ritual which happens five times every day. The most calming and spiritually awakening ritual is the ‘Kakad Aarti’ that happens every morning with the opening of the temple. The penultimate aarti ritual is called the ‘Shej Aarti’ and signals the end of the day. The temple remains open overnight only on Gurupoornima, Dassera and Ramnavami.

The temple also has a massive hall that cam accommodate around 600 visitors. Within the mandir one can also find a personal museum of Sai Baba that showcases the things that Sai Baba used in his lifetime.

Samadhi Mandir: This is another, smaller shrine that marks the exact spot of Sai Baba’s Samadhi that is built with while marble. The Samadhi is enclosed with decorated marble railings and is watched over by a statue of Sai Baba carved from white Italian marble.

Dwarkamai: History records that Sai Baba left Shirdi for some years but eventually returned to Shirdi with a marriage procession and stayed at Dwarkamai, a mosque situated on the right of the entrance to the Samadhi mandir. The main attraction of Dwarkamai is the oil painting of Sai Baba sitting in a carved wooden shrine.

How to Reach

Shirdi is well connected by rail and road to the rest of India. The nearest airport is at Nasik, 75 km away. Shirdi is also slated to have its own airport by 2012. Shirdi also has a rail station and is connected by rail to other cities in India. A dedicated train service is available from Mumbai. Shirdi, given its religious importance, is also well connected by road with the other cities in India.

AbstractLost faith in religion

In today’s society, forces of modernization have caused religion top change in such ways that it has long lost its social significance resulting in making the belief in God a personal instead of an enforced communal option.

Although it is a fact that church attendance has been declining, due to factors such as the ageing memberships of religious orders and more importantly a diminishment of Catholic identity over the last decades, the religious destinations and itineraries have seen an extraordinary massification in the ever increasing number of visitors. In this matter tourism has had a major contribution as it caused religious destinations and itineraries to become internationalised, due to lower transport costs, group excursions and online information. Whereas religious tourism was previously a largely domestic phenomenon, it now attracts different nationalities and different types of believers. These developments have allowed religious destinations and pilgrimage routes to retain the prominent character they enjoyed in the past; however this is not longer based on religious motives but on secular and touristic purposes. Therefore the religious destinations and itineraries have gained great value as tourist products to which authorities devote their full attention to. Also it allows improvements and resulting in substantial benefits for the local communities.

Religious tourism is described by the UNWTO as one of seven types of tourism based on the motivations of the tourist, including three main forms of religious tourism in relation with their dimensions and the destination where they are practised: 1) pilgrimages at destinations whose activity has become mainly touristic; (2) Religious and spiritual gatherings; (3) Itineraries and routes that lead to pilgrimage sites or to religious places, monuments and sanctuaries through rural spaces and territories that are consolidating themselves or are experiencing a revival.

The concept of religious tourism has been further elucidated by Rinschede (1192), as he argues that pilgrimages and other religious journeys as forms of religious tourism are “tied to other types of tourism, perhaps more closely today than ever before and religious tourism is closely connected with holiday and cultural tourism”. Although the distinction between the different types can be transparent, religious tourism varies from the other two in the fact that participants are motivated exclusively or partly for religious reasons. However in the course of the pilgrimage journey other types of tourism, motivations and goals can become more dominant as well as other types of tourism have increasingly included religious aspects. For example, tourist on a beach holiday may also visit holy places and include that as part of their holiday experience.

The rising popularity of pilgrimages as a tourism activity

This information formed the background of an extensive study regarding religious tourism along the Camino Frances, the French route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The challenging assumption that the growing interest much be influence by forces of modernity within Western societies, resulting in the establishment of pilgrimages as a tourism activity, led to a lengthy research which was concluded in May 2007. The selected forces consisted of alienation, secularisation and secularization. The scope of the research was the pilgrimage route along the Camino Frances, or French route, to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Over the last years millions of people have visited the city of Santiago de Compostela. Most of them are tourists who arrive in the city by bus or car. However, about 100,000 people are visiting the city as official pilgrims, as they have walked or travelled on horseback at least the last 100 kilometres or biked at least the last 200 kilometres. At their final destination, Santiago de Compostela, they receive the Compostela certificate. Surprisingly, three out of every four Spanish visitors to Santiago are below the age of thirty, and every third Spanish pilgrim is a student. The stereotypical pilgrim – Jacob with a hat,, cloak and staff – is just one of a number of different sorts of people who go on a pilgrimage and the modern pilgrim is more likely to be a youngster wearing jeans.

The Camino Frances is just one of several routes; however the majority of people start on this French route. The route gained its popularity due to the good infrastructure of pilgrims’ accommodation, cultural cities and sites, monasteries, hermitages and churches. Although it is not the longest footpath in the world and, perhaps, not the most beautiful one it is claimed to be the route with the most cultural richness and historical associations. The route is therefore proclaimed the first European Cultural Itinerary by the council of Europe in 1987 and declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. The growing interest from established organisations, governments and tourists has led to a worldwide popularity as a tourism product in the last 20 years and has led to a growing market of merchandise and literature and a growing interest from the academic field.

The derived theoretical framework of the research, based on an extensive literature study, illustrated that within the pilgrimage-tourism spectrum a growing field of religious tourism is coming into existence, including aspects of both antagonisms. This field also includes pilgrimages, which are said to descend from and influenced by selected forces of modernity. These forces are considered to be prominent push factors for travel motives, causing the rising popularity of religious tourism, especially pilgrimages, as a tourism activity. The theoretical framework was tested through conducting an empirical study among forty Dutch pilgrims who walked, biked or went on horseback along the Camino Frances and on arrival received the Compostela certificate.

The results showed that it can be presumed that the rising popularity is not caused by a growing interest in religiosity among the respondents, the physical challenges and the cultural and historical aspects of the journey as just as important motives. The results furthermore showed that certain forces of modernity do have an influence as a push factor although it is not clear to state to what extent they influence the pilgrimage. The results confirmed that contacts along the journey were established more easily, less complicated and trouble-free in comparison to daily life situations; however they did not lead to and profound friendships after returning home. The contacts nevertheless fulfilled the need for intimacy and closeness during the journey and this might imply that the contacts were temporal and with a short time span.

The results also showed that the immediate earthly gratifications during the journey were considered (more) important then heavenly after-life heavenly rewards amongst the Dutch respondents. This might implicate that the attention towards modern spiritualities, emphasizing the here-and-now versus the traditional life after death rewards, derives from the awareness of personal instead of institutional authority. To conclude, it can be assumed that the niche market of religious, or perhaps, spiritual tourism does not only exist on paper but is also slowly appearing in the mind of the general public. The respondents stated that several tourism activities and pilgrimages journeys have similarities, and that their inter4est in spirituality combined with tourism activities including physical challenges and cultural and historical aspects, is increasing. To conclude, the selected forces of modernity seem to influence the nature and popularity and experience along the pilgrimage journey, although only to a certain extent.

Further research should focus on comprising a more precise definition of religious and/or spiritual tourism in order to make it possible to use the same concepts and measures and to gain a better grasp of its dimensions, forms, management and impact on local communities.