Based on Venice, Analyse the Factors Which Determine How Successful It Is. Essay Example
Based on Venice, Analyse the Factors Which Determine How Successful It Is. Essay Example

Based on Venice, Analyse the Factors Which Determine How Successful It Is. Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1584 words)
  • Published: October 27, 2017
  • Type: Case Study
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Venice is renowned for its stunning architecture and draws tourists from around the globe. Historical data indicates a steady rise in visitor numbers over time, with approximately 500,000 tourists staying for a total of 1.2 million nights in Venice accommodations back in 1952. Nowadays, there has been a notable increase in the number of tourists visiting the city.

Glasson, Godfrey & Goodey (1997) and Page (2007) state that Venice had a significant number of tourists and overnight stays until 1992, which created business opportunities. However, tourism demand has decreased due to various factors such as an unfavorable exchange rate of US dollars and acts of terrorism in the years 1985 and 1986. The Gulf War in 1991 also affected tourism income. Despite these challenges, it is expected that tourist arrivals will continue to increase, indicating positive effects of tourism in Venice (Glasson, Godf

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rey & Goodey 1997; Tyler, Guerrier & Robertson 1998).

Visitors flock to the historic center of Venice for personalized experiences, whether it be exploring the local cuisine or immersing themselves in the cultural offerings. Venice offers a multitude of activities, catering to various desires and requirements including fine art, galleries, and the Carnival. This essay examines the types of visitors who are drawn to Venice for special interest tourism and provides a theoretical framework for analyzing the factors contributing to its success as a destination. Undeniably, Venice holds an undeniable allure for countless tourists with shared special interests.

Special interest tourism (SIT) is a type of tourism where culture enthusiasts, such as tourists visiting Venice, engage in activities like exploring St. Mark’s square and St. Mark’s Cathedral (Norman, Ngaire & Ros 2001). Unlike

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mass tourism, SIT involves individuals bringing their special interests with them on holidays.

In addition, a substantial part of tourists' vacations is dedicated to specific activities, as stated by Norman, Ngaire ; Ros (2001). To exemplify, in Venice, visitors roam the streets, make stops at Hurry's bar, and explore museums like Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Undoubtedly, SIT plays a crucial role in the local economy of Venice due to its attractive locations, historic buildings, ambiance, and artistic qualities. Therefore, SIT contributes to the success of Venice as a tourist destination by providing economic opportunities for cultural tourism. SIT can be further divided into subsets, including festival tourism, film festival, and heritage tourism. Travelling in Venice offers an unparalleled experience that resembles life in the 18th century. The Venetian carnival, in particular, attracts travelers seeking a unique atmosphere.

The carnival in the city attracts musicians and acrobats, and attendees don masks and elaborate costumes while enjoying the atmosphere without concern for their true identities. The reasons for hosting the carnival vary, including political, cultural, economic, or environmental motivations (Frisby & Getz 1989; Getz 1993). One strong motivator may be the promotion of cultures, the celebration of traditions, and the unique way of life in the community (Dunstan 1994; Frisby & Getz 1989). Additionally, the festival has a significant impact on generating revenue (Mayfield & Crompton 1995; Dunstan 1994).

The text discusses the relationship between job opportunities and the appeal of a carnival. It states that an increase in job opportunities for residents is a driving factor for the attractiveness of a carnival (Backman, Backman, Uysal & Sunshine 1995; Getz 1991). The longer travelers stay at the carnival, the more

they tend to spend on hotels. The carnival successfully attracts visitors from around the world and introduces a new theme each year to attract special interest tourists. Additionally, on the island of Lido, the oldest film festival in the world called Venice film festival takes place annually. This festival specifically appeals to cultural tourists who have a fascination with film professionals, actors, and filmmakers.

The tourism industry in Venice is experiencing continuous growth, which brings significant economic benefits. Visitors are making important financial contributions to the hotel industry by staying for longer periods of time. Additionally, heritage tourism is a widely popular attraction, as it provides people with recreational opportunities. (Conlin & Baum 1995)

Venice leverages its diverse heritage to blend culture and tourism, generating benefits in the tourism industry. The direct relationship between the tourism industry and cultural heritage resources is crucial for local economic growth (Conlin & Baum 1995). Norman, Ngaire & Ros (2001) define heritage tourism as a form of tourism that attracts individuals with educational or special interests. This encompasses tangible components such as museums, galleries, and historic houses. Additionally, Galla (1998) proposes that it also encompasses intangible aspects like people's traditions.

According to Norman, Ngaire, and Ros (2001, p. 67), a heritage city serves as both an identity and a sense of place. Venice, specifically, not only caters to various preferences (Russo, 1999) but also promotes the importance of heritage preservation. Given the increasing focus on sustainable development, it is advisable for operators to consider the heritage in this context.

According to this concept, it is crucial to develop suitable strategies to maximize the heritage values and attract the majority of tourists who make

the most contribution. While Venice is able to draw global visitors, it cannot handle an unlimited number of day-trippers (Glasson, Godfrey ; Goodey 1997). The presence of many people on the busy streets may reduce the quality of visitors' experience (Tyler, Guerrier, & Robertson 1998). As argued by Glasson, Godfrey & Goodey (1997), regular visitors simply wander around Venice's center without bringing any economic benefits. Specifically, the excursionists or day-trippers crowd St.

Mark's square and spending less money on sight-seeing in Venice have social costs (Van der borg 1991). One of the main reasons is that there are more tourists than available accommodations, and this lack of facilities hinders tourism in Venice (Tyler, Guerrier, & Robertson 1998). As a result, many travelers who want to visit Venice choose nearby cities for their accommodations, allowing them to save money. According to Tyler, Guerrier, & Robertson (1998), there should be more hotel beds to meet the growing demand for tourism. In 1994, the introduction of the Venice card had a significant impact on tourism management, especially in controlling day-trippers. These day-trippers spend only a few hours in Venice, leading to overcrowding at popular tourist attractions and causing transportation and sanitation issues in the city.

To address the problem, the Venice card was created to manage the issue. It established an information infrastructure that allowed access to city attractions and events, as well as offering advanced booking services. The Venice card offers various incentives to cultural tourists, including discounts on museum admissions, transportation fares, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Additionally, it provides information on special events for visitors (Russo, 1999). As a result, special interest visitors can easily access event

information and plan their itineraries accordingly. Furthermore, the use of the card can encourage travelers to visit Venice during specific periods. The impact of this information system extends beyond Venice to other cities in northeastern Italy (Russo, 1999).

In other words, if a city’s hotels are fully-booked, the system will suggest alternative accommodation. The Venice card serves a deeper purpose beyond the obvious reasons for its implementation. It helps to control and monitor the influx of tourists in real time, supporting sustainable development (Tyler, Guerrier, & Robertson 1998). Sustainable tourism development involves using limited resources optimally for tourism purposes in order to protect the interests of both current and future residents (Pearce & Turner 1990). The carrying capacity of tourism development is the maximum number of visitors that can be allowed into a city without hindering its other functions (Tyler, Guerrier, & Robertson 1998, p. 131).

The Venice card is an effective tool for managing carrying capacity as it encourages visitors to book their trips in advance. By doing so, the system can distribute day-trippers evenly across the city, minimizing the impact of tourism. Additionally, using alternative routes helps reduce overcrowding at popular tourist sites and promotes exploration of lesser-known attractions. This approach also incentivizes visitors to extend their stay, which further mitigates the effects of carrying capacity on sustainable development (Tyler, Guerrier, & Robertson, 1998).

Cultural heritage tourism offers visitors a chance to learn and expand their knowledge while traveling. One of the most thrilling aspects for visitors is the opportunity to visit historic sites and capture a unique experience that can't be replicated anywhere else on the planet (Conlin ; Baum 1995). Venice aims to effectively

utilize its cultural heritage by creating alternative routes. The advantage of these routes is that they alleviate the pressure on specific historical areas. To maintain sustainability, it is essential to minimize the impact of tourism.

The main goal is to optimize the use of facilities in Venice and distribute visitors in a rational manner. Ultimately, factors like special interest tourism and the utilization of information technology aid in making Venice a successful destination, providing economic opportunities for the local community. Additionally, Venice offers cultural heritage, mask festivals, and film festivals that attract large numbers of visitors annually. The mask festival promotes culture, celebrations, and a unique way of life. Meanwhile, the film festival contributes to longer visitor stays and extra benefits. However, due to the growing number of visitors, there is a lack of accommodation and facilities in the city. To address this issue, the Venice card encourages visitors to book hotels in advance, promoting control and rational distribution of travelers. This approach aligns with the principles of sustainable development and carrying capacity.

In addition, there are forecasts for the development of more alternative routes to enhance amenities and reduce the ecological consequences of tourism. Additionally, it is expected that visitors from around the globe will keep coming to Venice. Consequently, if operators fail to cooperate in accordance with sustainable growth, Venice may not only forfeit its distinctive advantages but also miss out on potential future benefits.

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