The Tourism and Hospitality Business Essay Example

super powers like the United States and European nations. The recession caused a decrease in luxurious visits and a loss of jobs, leading to low business activities in these industries. Slow recovery from the recession continues to impact these industries, especially considering that most travel from such countries to Africa is primarily leisure-based, rather than business-oriented. Financial status plays a significant role in determining whether people spend money on luxury or economize during hard economic times. Tourism and hospitality businesses are highly vulnerable to demand fluctuations caused by institutional or environmental forces, which can be predicted to anticipate seasonal impacts for businesses, lenders, and investors. Alina and Dallas (2007) and Baum et al (1997) support this observation.

The diversity of tourist attractions allows for many tourism and hospitality businesses to remain on the cutting edge. However, the bio-physical environment greatly impacts the plight of tourism activities, with countries such as Kenya negatively affected by climate change. In addition, socio-political factors also play a key role in hospitality and tourism businesses, as seen in Kenya's heavy losses due to post-election violence. Mckercher (1993) notes that tourism as an industrial activity consumes resources, creates waste, and has specific infrastructural needs. This implies that tourism and hospitality impact the environment not only in terms of consumption but also through cultural factors that determine such activities. The trading of indigenous foods and ornaments may serve as tourist attractions, but they must also be considered when setting up a tourism and hospitality business. Overall, these issues show that tourism and hospitality business activities are some of the most dynamic ventures globally.

The technology innovation transfer has facilitated the growth

of the tourism and hospitality industry, making it a top earner in many countries. Private players dominate the industry, with little government involvement. In some countries like Poland, business activities are not affected by seasonal changes. However, in Kenya, tourism experiences a seasonal flow whereby more tourists are received during peak times, and hotels have to be pre-booked earlier. Conversely, low tourism activities are recorded during off-peak times.
References:
Alina, M.Z., Dallas B., (2007) Managing family business in the tourism and hospitality industry: the transitional economy of Poland, vol.25.Sv.1.pp 141-165, retrieved at hrcak.srce.hr/file/19395
Baum, T., Hahan, L. (1007) Responses to reasonability in tourism: the experience of peripheral destinations, Conference paper, International Tourism Research Conference on Peripheral Area Tourism.The Research Center of Bornholm, Denmark (pp 8-12), references various sources on the topic of tourism and its impacts. Mckercher (2009), from Charles Sturt University, discusses the social and environmental impacts of tourism in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism (vol.1 issue 1, pp 6-16). The Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, provides a Career Guide to Industries (2010-11 Edition) which includes information on hotels and other accommodations, found at www.bls.gov/oco/cgs036.htm as of 10th May 2010. Economic Watch (2009) discusses the hospitality industry and its global impact and was retrieved from www.economywatch.com;World Industries on 10th May 2010 at 1600Hrs. Additionally, Hassan (2000) provides insight on the determinants of market competitiveness in an environmentally sustainable tourism industry in the Journal of Travel Research (vol.38, no.3, pp 239-245) from the Department of Marketing of the School of Business and Public Management at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.