SOCIAL CHANGES & THE GROWTH OF TOURISM
L7
In Victorian times, it was very common for many ordinary people to have very little free time. Holidays
were often very short and only taken at special times, such as Christmas and a “Bank holiday”. Workers
in factories, shops and homes also worked very long hours, sometimes from early morning until late into
the evening. Sunday, regarded as a day of rest, may not have been a day off. At best it was set aside for
catching up with the domestic household tasks, with a short break to church. There was no such thing as a
40 or 35 hour week.
With the improvement in working conditions, the development of unions, improved cheap transport and
time saving home equipment such as the washing machine, dishwasher & more recently the microwave,
families found that they had more free time. During WWII many women had to work in factories and
after the war, it became more attractive and acceptable, that women should become major earners and
have greater employment rights. The idea of an acceptable basic wage in the last twenty years, has helped
to provide greater spending power for luxury items and holidays.
Tourism has always existed, even in Victorian times, but it was only for the very rich. Records show that
tourists came to Ironbridge in the 18th & 19th century. Things have now changed. Families now seek a
new range of affordable holidays. No longer are the traditional seaside resorts such as Brighton, Margate,
Scarborough and Colwyn Bay, the main yearly holiday destinations. Gone are the attractions of holiday
camps, and entertainment on the long seaside pier. These places are still seeing tourists, but often older
age groups, and as part of second holidays, or long weekend breaks and day trips. It is this group of
people that is now starting to make up the main group of visitors to Ironbridge.
NEW HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES
THEME PARKS
POOLSIDE HOLIDAYS
ADVENTURE PLAYGROUNDS
PACKAGE HOLILDAYS TO EXOTIC PLACES
CULTURAL TOURS ABROAD
WATER & EXTREAM SPORTS
CARAVAN HOLIDAYS
THE REASONS FOR THE CHANGE IN TOURISM
The following factors have helped to change the pattern of tourism.
IMPROVED TRANSPORT
GREATER CAR OWNERSHIP
SHORTER WORKING HOURS
MORE MONEY
LIFE EXPECTANCY
- fast roads & motorways give easy access to tourism spots
- more cars even two or three per family
- more free time
- higher wages enable more than one holiday
per year, short breaks & far more days out.
- people are living longer and able to enjoy longer retirements.
ACTIVITY
1. Study the TRENDS chart below. You could print off a copy if it is useful.
2. Describe the pattern for EACH of the FIVE TREND LINES in the chart. Try to give a reason for
the “change points” where the lines go up or down.
3. Give reasons for the social changes that have taken place over the last 150 years with special
reference to tourism.
SOCIAL TRENDS CHART
90
70
Life expectancy
60
Improved roads/car
ownership
50
Working hours
40
Wages
30
2nd wage earner
20
10
0
18
50
18
65
18
80
18
95
19
10
19
25
19
40
19
55
19
70
19
85
20
00
TREND
80
YEAR
DATA FOR TRENDS CHART
Note: Values are not raw figures & have only been used to construct the chart.
Life expectancy
1850
1855
1860
1865
1870
1875
1880
1885
1890
1895
1900
1905
1910
1915
1920
1925
1930
1935
1940
1945
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
6
10
11
11
12
12
15
18
20
24
25
26
27
20
29
30
31
32
29
31
35
36
37
38
39
43
46
52
62
70
78
Improved roads/car
ownership
Working hours
10
10
11
11
12
12
12
13
13
13
14
14
14
14
15
16
16
16
17
18
19
20
23
25
35
41
46
52
60
68
73
Wages
65
65
65
64
64
64
64
63
63
63
62
62
62
63
61
58
56
56
60
60
55
50
48
45
43
42
40
40
38
35
35
14
14
15
16
16
17
18
19
20
21
23
23
24
25
26
25
25
30
30
32
32
33
34
34
35
40
45
50
55
58
60
2nd wage earner
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
8
8
10
18
14
15
17
19
20
21
22
24
26
27
29
30