Relationship between Transport, Recreation and Tourism

According to Patmore (1938), recreation and tourism activities occur in three contexts: (i) time not required for work or basic functions such as eating and sleeping; (ii) activities or recreation within leisure time; and (iii) an attitude of mind based upon perception of pleasure and enjoyment. Whatever may be the cause but the role of transport is of prime importance. Geogra­phers have studied tourism in their spatial context and have modelled and analysed these patterns at the domestic, intra-regional and international scale. Halsall (1982) identified the fundamental relationship between transport and leisure time as follows:

Transport is an integral part of much recreational behaviour, both as an aid to access to recreational opportunities, and as a recreational activity in its own right… Progressive reductions in the relative costs of travel, and in the frictional effects of distance, have dramatically increased the demand for recre­ational trips. In particular, the growth of car ownership has extended both the distances travelled and the range of recre­ational foci.

One of the important ways in which geographers have attempted to explain the relationship between transport, recre­ation and tourism is in terms of the development of models. Probably the most fundamental relationship examined in geographical analyses of leisure activity involves the linkages between origin and destination areas. Pearce (1995) identifies four types of models used by geographers to examine tourism and recreational travel: “those emphasising the travel or linkage component, origin-destination models, structural models and evolutionary models” (Pearce, 1995: 1).

Mariot (1969, cited in Matley, 1976) proposed three different routes that may link an origin area to a tourist centre (or a recreational site). As Figure 8.4 shows, the model identifies an access route, a return route and a recreational route. While the access and return routes are similar and work on the principle of selecting the most direct route, the recreational route highlights how the basic spatial principles developed in many of the models on minimising trip distance do not readily apply to recreational and tourist travel.

The model by Mariot indicates that the traveller may enter the recreational route at any time for only part of the journey, making modelling even less predictable given the range of possible options and motivations to tour. The most important spatial principle inherent in Mariot’s model is that of touring Mariot’s Model of Tourist Flows between Two Locations Access route -the concept of visiting several places during one trip, rather than travelling directly from A to B.

These principles are also embodied in Campbell’s (1967) model of travel away from an urban area. As Figure 8.5 shows, Campbell identified a range of users according to the relative importance of their travel and stay components of their trips. Geographers have also developed recreational travel models. Halsall (1982) analysed the range of recreational foci, while Elson (1979) observed, recreational trip taking in the UK with reference to problems of increased traffic from urban areas destined for the countryside. Pigram (1983) identified the central role of travel in the recreational decision-making process.

In brief, transport is a controlling factor of tourist industry. Each and every mode of transport has been utilised by the tourist. The road, rail water and air transport have had their role in tourist traffic. The car has revolutionised holiday habits, as Patmore (1983) said, “the car brought incomparably greater freedom to recreational travel…in the choice of destination…in the timing of journeys… to pause at a moment’s whim”.

The opening up of a country to tourists, and the development of new resort centres in most cases is dependent on an adequate road system to spread tourists around the country. Air transport, now has become a key component for tourist traffic, especially for international travels.

The use and development of air transport for tourism purposes has come about because of speed. Holiday destinations throughout the world are now within reach for the tourist. Both transport and tourism are interrelated to each other and development of tourism as an economic activity always depends upon transport.