Geography of Tourism
Case Study--Perisher Blue Ski Resort
Tourism to Australia takes many forms:
Scale International Regional National Local
Tourist groups and Individuals range of scenic and human heritage sites
Adventure Tourists extreme sports locations
Recreational tourists Beach sports, Overland activities, Riverine landscapes,
Ocean, Sea, and Island possibilities, Montaine retreats
Examine factors of location, interactions between dynamic forces (factors) and
issues that effect that site
1. Copy the potential essay questions on page 313. Then prepare outlines for possible
essays after collecting additional data from the internet or utilising resources to assist
you with the essay. This will be a study guide for the exam.
2. Define the terms listed in the glossary on page 314.
Alpine Ecosystem, Capacity, Climate Change, Ecological Integrity,
Ecological process, Ecologically Sustainable Development,
Precautionary Principle, Rehabilitation
3. Identify Perisher Blue Ski resort as your case study. Describe the nature of the
Economic Enterprise (about 10 sentences) pages 314-315
Describe the location of Perisher Blue Ski Resort. (Lat., Long, Alt. Range, distance
from cities, relations to nearby landforms and oceans, etc) pages 321-326
4. Review the history of Skiing and Alpine Recreation in Australia. How have human
and environmental conditions changed through time. Pages 318-319
5. Look at the statistics for Perisher Blue & analyse the patterns you may distinguish.
a. Analyse the profile of Australian Snow Travellers page 319
b. Where do the snow bunnies come from? Factors like distance, wealth, etc.
c. What factors might influence visitations to the snow fields (economic, environmental, etc.)
6. Outline the locational factors that influence Perisher Blue as a Site for Tourism
Seasonality, Climate, Latitude, Slope, Destination Potential, Accessibility, Social and cultural
factors, Technology, Politics, economic factors
7. Describe the Ecological Dimensions of Perisher Blue
E.D.= interrelationships-- mostly environmental
pages 326-331
a. What are Ecological dimensions?
b. List the main Ecological Dimensions of Perisher Blue
8. Outline the Human Impact upon water quality at Perisher Blue?
What is Perisher Blue's response to water quality issues
9. Outline the possible impacts of global climatic change on Perisher Blue?
10. What is meant by the terms precautionary principles and intergenerational equity?
How do these apply to Perisher Blue
11. Outline the future planning that influence Perisher Blue
Linkages- An economic activity has links or connections with people, suppliers of
goods and services, and sources of finance, technology and ideas. These linkages exist
at a local level, regional level, national level and global level.
12. List the human resources and connections involved with the operation at Perisher
Blue Eg labour, tourists, instructors and management pages 332-336
13. List the sources of finance and management involved with the operation at
Perisher Blue
14. What other components are linked to Perisher Bule?
Ideas and technology,page 337, Equipment and engineering page 337
Utilities, Accommodation and transport.
15. What role does the local government play in this operation?
16. List the functions of State Government in the operation at Perisher Blue.
17. What are the outputs of the operation at Perisher Blue
18. Outline the Alpine Resorts Plan page 334-335
19.
Review the Perisher Range Resorts Master Plan, Then discuss how planning
seeks to satisfy human needs, commercial considerations and sustainable
environmental activities
20. Outline the flow of good and services to Perisher Blue
21 Make a mind map of the economic significance of Australian Alpine Resorts from
the geofocus block on page 336
22. What is snow making? Discuss the potential environmental impact of this
technology.
23. How might global climate change affect the Australian Snowfields?
24. Outline sources and potential of global competition in Alpine Recreation. What is
Perisher Blue's response?
One of the basic questions in Geography of Economic Activity is to describe and
assess the factors influencing the location of a particular activity. The factors include:
Market-where is the product sold? Does the activity locate in or near the point of sale
or consumption. With tourism usually the point of production and consumption
coincide.
Raw Materials or Components- Where do the raw materials come from? Raw
Materials are the resurces used to produce a product (Coal+iron Ore+limestone=Iron)
or (soil + water +seeds+ grain). Coal and Iron Ore and Market are frequently found in
different places so the Iron and Steel works locate at a mutually convenient transport
site-Wollongong Harbour. Farms locate in areas with the best mix of climate, soil and
landforms. Tourism takes place where environmental conditions and human activities
coincide.
Transport- Transportation is the movement of raw materials or products to the point
of consumption. Ships, pipelines and trains for bulk transfer. Planes for rapid high
value transfer. Tourism moves consumers to the tourist activity. The cost of
transportation (including fuel and port facilities) is critical to the viability of a tourist
activity.
Environment-Environmental aspects such as Climate, soil, native vegetation, rocks,
landforms and water supply (and even native animals) are particularly important to
farming and tourism; Particularly recreational tourism and scenic wonders. Climate
frequently determines the seasonality and duration of tourist activities. Over coming
environmental issues (heat with air conditioning or water supply with dams and
storages) is a cost factor that may limit tourist activities. Buildings and infrastructure
also help to overcome environmental constraints. Factories and Shops frequently
require buildings to hose their activities. Accommodation and Recreation Spaces also
utilise buildings to overcome the environment
Land- Land and/or landforms are an environmental factor of particular importance to
farms, factories and many tertiary activities. Land or soil quality is of particular
importance to farmers. Flat land available for work and sale space is important to all
enterprises. The shape of the land in scenic wonders is obviously very important to
tourism. Land shape and location near water is important to many forms of
recreational tourism.
Labour- Unskilled or semi skilled Workers and Skilled Technicians are vital to many
enterprises. Some industries locate near a pool of skilled or semi skilled labour, eg
iron and steel works near where metal workers live. Tourism is a labour intensive
industry and draws workers with many skills from the local area. Tourism attracts
trained professionals to the site of the activities. These people must have
accommodation and support services.
Capital and Enterprise- Capital is the money invested in a business. Most successful
businesses must have access to a large source of money to sustainably carry out there
operations. Banks and other financial institutions lend money to businesses. Some
businesses locate near the source of capital (banks+insurance co. + stock markets).
Tourism must attract capital to fund the development of the site and maintain it's
operations. Many tourist activities are seasonal or irregular in their operation and
require long term investments.
Enterprise is the skill of manipulating land, labour and capital in a successful business
operation. This is the role of management. Small scale tourist operations require a
clever manager to continue to be successful. Large scale tourist operations must
attract skilled managers, this can be difficult in remote locations
Management is the administrative and financial pool of workers who supervise the
business. Some businesses locate near the managers home or where they can attract
management personelle. Like labour these are skilled workers and some businesses
(like accountants marketing firms and lawyers) locate near their skilled workers.
Tourist operations must attract management personel to their site of operation.
Government- Governments seldom operate businesses, that is the role of free
enterprise and the entrepenure. Governments act to regulate businesses, encourage
critical or strategic industries, tax businesses, and provide community services and
infrastructure. Governments act at a local level to encourage business and regulate
business activities in the community interest. State and National Governments have
broader responsibilities but may seek to encourage particular activities that benefit the
region or the nation. As a locational factor businesses may be attracted to an area by
government incentives (like tax breaks, free land, discounted services)-eg Skiing in
NSW State Forests or National Parks. Governments can also discourage businesses
from operating in certain areas, like Hotels in Environmentally sensitive areas.
Governments may contract businesses to provide services or manufacture things, like
road contractors, or armorment, manufacturers. Some community needs are supplied
by governments where there is no private business capable of providing the service,
eg Water Supply, Electricity, Railroads. Government services may defy locational
restraints to put operations in places that are not profitable or in some cases not
logical.
Utilities and Infrastructure- Water, electricity, gas, other energy supplies,
telecommunications, roads, ports, airports and waste disposal are community needs
that must be available for businesses to operate. Some industries require extensive
infrastructure (eg.pipelines to an oil refinery) and large amounts of water or energy
(eg. Aluminium Refineries need a lot of electricity) These industries will locate near
supplies of cheap water, power or fuel. Tourism requires moderate but reliable
utilities and infrastructure to support the activity. This is not a problem in the city.
However some tourist operations are located in remote areas and the infrastructure
must be supplied at great cost to these locations.
Water- As mentioned above, water supply is a vital raw material for some industries.
The infrastructure to supply water can be costly. Farms and some industries require
large amounts of water. Some tourist activities require large amounts of water, eg.
The aquarium or a Wet and Wild Recreation Park. They will locate near a reliable,
safe water supply
Energy- As mentioned above Energy and fuel are locational factors for some
industries like oil refineries, iron and steel manufacture or most heavy manufacturing.
Tourism requires reliable sources of energy and in some cases fuel to provide heat
and power.
Technology and Innovation- Some industries require the latest information and skilled
technicians to provide sophisticated services or products in a fast paced industry.
Silicon Valley in California is an example of where industries with the need for the
latest innovations and technological support services have agglomerated. The
"wiz=bang factor" in some high tech tourist activities like the Science Museums in
many cities rely on universities, scientists and technicians to support their activities.
The latest snow related technology is attracted to locations where "cashed up" tourists
are likely to gather
Historical Inertia--Historical inertia is a tendency for remain in a location enven
though the factors that enhanced that location have changed. A Fort might be build in
a strategic position (hilltop near a trade route), however, if defense conditions (like
big guns and missiles) change the need for a fort; it will remain there despite the
changed conditions. Then, in time it may change function to a tourist site and a new
set of factors will act upon this location.
Culture-Aspects of arts, cuisine, language, religion, etc. may enhance a particular
location for many tertiary activities. Tourism to places with unique cultural features
(museum, churches) or customs is a very important locational factor.
Related Industries-Industrial agglomeration is where similar industries will seek to
locate in a preferred location. Some times competitors share the same location, eg.
Hotels near tourist sites. Many times related industries or support services will
agglomerate near their clients or sources of customers, eg restaurants near hotels, or
cleaning services, accounting services near hotels.