TOURISM PRODUCTS:

A tourism product can be defined as:

The sum of the physical and psychological satisfaction it provides to tourists during their travelling en
route a destination.

The product for the tourist covers the complete experience from the time a tourist leaves home to the
time he turns. The tourist product focuses on facilities and services designed to meet the needs of the
tourist. It can be seen as a composite product; as the sum total of a country’s tourist attractions,
transport, accommodation and entertainment which results in customer satisfaction.

Each of the components of a tourist product is supplied by individual providers of services like hotel
companies, airlines, travel agencies, etc. The tourist product can be analysed in terms of its attraction,
accessibility and accommodation.

Attractions/Destinations

Unless there is an attraction, the tourist will not be motivated to go to a particular place.

Inventory of Tourist Attractions

Cultural: Sites and areas of archaeological interest, historical buildings and monuments, places of
historical significance, museums, political and educational institutions, religious Institutions
Traditions: National Festivals, Arts and Handicrafts, Music, Folklore,
Native life and Customs Scenic: National Parks, Wildlife, Flora and Fauna, Beach Resorts, Mountain
Resorts.
Entertainment: Participation and Viewing sports, Amusement and Recreation Parks Zones and
Oceanariums, Cinemas and Theatres, Night Life and Cuisine.
Others: Climate, Health resorts or Spas, Unique characteristics not available elsewhere

The attractions of tourism are, to a very large extent, geographical in character. Location and
accessibility (whether a place has a coastal or inland position and the ease with which a given place can
be reached) are important. Climate conditions; especially in relation to the amount of sunshine,
temperature and precipitation (snow as well as rain); are of special significance too.

Accessibility
It is a means by which a tourist can reach the area where attractions are located. Tourist attractions of
whatever type would be of little importance if their locations are inaccessible by the normal means of
transport. A Tourist in order to get to his destination needs some mode of transport. This can be a motor
car, a coach, an aeroplane, a ship or a train which enables him to reach his destination. If tourist
destinations are located at places where no transport can reach or where there are inadequate
transport facilities, they become of little value. The tourist attractions, which are located near the
tourist-generating markets and are linked by a network of efficient means of transport, receive the
maximum number of tourists. Easy accessibility, thus is a key factor for the growth and development of
tourist movements.

Accommodation
The accommodation and other facilities complement the attractions. Accommodation plays a central
role and is very basic to tourist destinations. World Tourism Organization in its definition of a tourist has
stated that he must spend at least one night in the destination visited, to qualify as a tourist. This
presupposes availability of some kind of accommodation.

Accommodation may in itself be an important tourist attraction. In fact, a large number of tourists visit a
particular destination or town simply because there is a first class luxury hotel or resort which provides
excellent services and facilities. Some countries like Switzerland, Holland, France, Austria, and Belgium
have gained a reputation for providing excellent accommodation with especially the resort hotels, have
gained a reputation for their excellent cuisine, services and facilities.

Amenities
Facilities are a necessary aid to the tourist centre. For a sea-side resort, facilities like swimming, boating,
yachting, surf-riding, and other facilities like dancing, recreation and other amusements are important
for every tourist centre. Amenities can be of two types; natural, e.g. beaches, sea-bathing, possibilities
of fishing, opportunities for climbing, trekking, viewing, etc. and man-made, eg. various types of
entertainment and facilities which cater to the special needs of the tourists.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM PRODUCT

1) Intangible
Unlike a tangible product, say, a motor car or refrigerator, no transfer of ownership of goods is involved
in tourism. The product here cannot be seen or inspected before its purchase. Instead, certain facilities,
installations, items of equipment are made available for a specified time and for a specified use. For
example, a seat in an aero plane is provided only for a specified time.
2) Psychological
A large component of tourism product is the satisfaction the consumer derives from its use. A tourist
acquires experiences while interacting with the new environment and his experiences help to attract
and motivate potential customers.
3) Highly Perishable
A travel agent or tour operator who sells a tourism product cannot store it. Production can only take
place if the customer is actually present. And once consumption begins, it cannot be stopped,
interrupted or modified. If the product remains unused, the chances are lost i.e. if tourists do not visit
particular place, the opportunity at that time is lost. It is due to this reason that heavy discount is
offered by hotels and transport generating organizations during off season.
4) Composite Product
The tourist product cannot be provided by a single enterprise unlike a manufactured product. The
tourist product covers the complete experience of a visit to a particular place. And many providers
contribute to this experience. For instance, airline supplies seats, a hotel provides rooms and
restaurants, travel agents make bookings for stay and sightseeing, etc.
5) Unstable Demand
Tourism demand is influenced by seasonal, economic political and other factors. There are certain times
of the year which see a greater demand than others. At these times there is a greater strain on services
like hotel bookings, employment, the transport system, etc.
6) Fixed supply in the short run
The tourism product, unlike a manufactured product, cannot be brought to the consumer; the consumer
must go to the product. This requires an in-depth study of users’ behavior, taste preferences, likes and
dislikes so that expectations and realities coincide for the maximum satisfaction of the consumer. The
supply of a tourism product is fixed in the short run and can only be increased in the long run following
increased demand patterns.
7) Absence of ownership
When you buy a car, the ownership of the car is transferred to you, but when you hire a taxi you buy the
right to be transported to a predetermined destination at a predetermined price (fare). You neither own
the automobile nor the driver of the vehicle. Similarly, hotel rooms, airline tickets, etc. can be used but
not owned. These services can be bought for consumption but ownership remains with the provider of
the service. So, a dance can be enjoyed by viewing it, but the dancer cannot be owned.
8) Heterogeneous
Tourism is not a homogeneous product since it tends to vary in standard and quality over time, unlike a
T.V set or any other manufactured product. A package tour or even a flight on an aircraft can’t be
consistent at all times. The reason is that this product is a service and services are people based. Due to
this, there is variability in this product. All individuals vary and even the same individual may not
perform the same every time. For instance, all air hostesses cannot provide the same quality of service
and even the same air hostess may not perform uniformly in the morning and evening. Thus, services
cannot be standardized.
9) Risky
The risk involved in the use of a tourism product is heightened since it has to be purchased before its
consumption. An element of chance is always present in its consumption. Like, a show might not be as
entertaining as it promises to be or a beach holiday might be disappointing due to heavy rain.
10) Marketable
Tourism product is marketed at two levels. At the first level, national and regional organizations engage
in persuading potential tourists to visit the country or a certain region. These official tourist
organizations first create knowledge of its country in tourist –generating markets and persuade visitors
in these markets to visit the country. At the second level, the various individual firms providing tourist
services, market their own components of the total tourist product to persuade potential tourists to visit
that region for which they are responsible.

The tourist product today is developed to meet the needs of the consumer. In the field of tourism this
process is taking place by the increased use of ‘package tours’. A package tour is a travel plan which
includes most elements of vacation, such as transportation, accommodation, sight- seeing and
entertainment. The tourist product is a composite product, whether it is sold as a package or assembled
by the individual himself or his travel agent. There are many tourism products that are available to the
consumer today. In modern times these products, whether traditional in nature like culture and
pilgrimage, or modern like adventure, conventions and conferences, health, medical, etc. are being
packaged, promoted and priced appropriately to woo as many tourists as possible.

1. NATURAL TOURISM PRODUCTS

These include natural resources such as areas, climate and its setting, landscape and natural
environment:

1) Countryside

2) Climate- temperature, rains, snowfall, days of sunshine

3) Natural Beauty- landforms, hills, rocks, gorges, terrain

4) Water- lakes, ponds, rivers, waterfalls, springs

5) Flora and Fauna

6) Wildlife

7) Beaches

8) Islands

9) Spas

10) Scenic Attractions

The climate of a tourist destination is often an important attraction. Good weather plays an important
role in making a holiday. Millions of tourists from countries with extreme climates visit beaches in search
of fine weather and sunshine. The sunshine and clear sea breeze at the beaches have attracted many
people for a very long time. In fact, development of spas and resorts along the sea coasts in many
countries were a result of the travelers having an urge to enjoy good weather and sunshine. In Europe,
countries like France, Italy, Spain and Greece have developed beautiful beach resorts. North Europeans
visit the Mediterranean coast searching for older resorts like Monte Carlo, Nice and Cannes on the
Riviera and new resorts in Spain and Italy. Beautiful beaches of India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, Indonesia
and Australia and some other new destinations are more examples of how good weather can attract
tourists. All these areas capitalise on good weather.

Destinations with attractive winter climates, winter warmth and sunshine are also important centres of
tourist attraction. Many areas have become important winter holiday resorts attracting a large number
of tourists. Around these winter resorts, winter sport facilities have been installed to cater to the
increasing needs of tourists. People from warm climates travel to see snowfall and enjoy the cold
climate. In countries with tropical climates, many upland cool areas have been developed as ‘hill
stations’. Hence climate is of great significance as a tourism product. The scenery and natural beauty of
places has always attracted tourists. Tourists enjoy nature in all its various forms. There are land forms
like mountains, canyons, coral reefs, cliffs, etc. One of the great all time favourite tourist destination is
the Grand Canyon, Arizona. Mountain ranges like the Himalayas, Kilimanjaro, and Swiss Alps, etc.
There are water forms like rivers, lakes waterfalls, geysers, glaciers, etc. The Niagara Falls shared by
Canada and the United States is an example of how scenic waterfalls attract tourists. Lake Tahoe in
California and the, deserts of Egypt are other examples of great tourist products. Other great natural
wonders that attract tourists are the Giants Causeway of Northern Ireland, the Geysers of Iceland, the
glaciers of the Alps, the forests of Africa etc.

Vegetation like forests, grasslands, moors, etc. has been developed as tourist products. Flora attracts
many a tourist. Tourists like to know the various types of plants and trees that they see and which trees
are seen in which seasons. There are many plants which are specific to certain regions and many times
students and travellers visit those areas especially to see these varieties of plants. Thick forest covers,
attract tourists who enjoy trekking and hunting activities. Fauna attracts tourists who like to watch birds,
wild mammals, reptiles and other exotic and rare animals. Countries in South East Asia have crocodile
gardens, bird sanctuaries, and other tourist products that display the fauna of their region.
Spas are gaining popularity as modern tourism products all over the world. While most parts of the
world have their own therapies and treatments that are effective in restoring the wellness and beauty of
people. New kinds of health tours that are gaining popularity are spa tours. Spas offer the unique
advantages of taking the best from the West and the East, combining them with the indigenous system
and offering best of the two worlds. For example Swedish massages work well with the Javanese Mandy,
lulus, aromatherapy, reflexology and traditional ayurvedic procedures. Now various spa products are
being combined with yoga, meditation, giving a holistic experience to tourists. Spa treatments are now
combined with other medical treatments to treat blood pressure, insomnia, depression, paralysis and
some other diseases. People are now travelling to spas and clinics for curative baths and medical
treatment. In some countries like Italy, Austria and Germany, great importance is given to spa
treatments. In Russia along the Black Seacoast and in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, there are
many world famous sanatoria where millions of Russians and international tourists throng every year.

Beach tourism is very popular among the tourists today. Beach tourism activities include water and land
resource use. The water usage involves swimming, surfing, sailing, wind surfing, water scootering, Para-
sailing, motorboat rides, etc. The land use has multifacets like sunbathing; recreational areas for tourists
(parks, playgrounds, clubs, theatre, amusement parks, casinos, cultural museums, etc.), accommodation
facilities (hotels, cottages, villas, camping sites, etc.), car and bus parking areas, entertainment and
shopping complexes, access roads and transportation network. Due to its multidimensional
requirements the beach product needs special care. A beach resort needs to be developed as an
integrated complex to function as a self-contained community. Environmental management should also
ensure the availability of necessary infrastructure in the immediate hinterland to the coastal region in
support of the development on the coast to maintain its ecosystem.

Islands abound with natural beauty. This makes islands an ideal place for adventure. This tourist product
has great scope as these islands are being developed as tourist paradises. For example, Hawaii,
Maldives, Mauritius, Tahiti, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, etc. has developed with tourism activity
over the past few decades. The topography is generally undulating and they offer natural scenic beauty
with exotic flora and fauna. Most of these islands have places of worship like churches, temples, etc. As
an added attraction some of these islands have developed as tax havens thereby encouraging
commercial development of these economies. They offer social and cultural attractions as tourists can
experience the local lifestyle, local food, fairs and festivals, etc.

2- MAN- MADE TOURISM PRODUCTS

Man- made tourism products are created by man for pleasure, leisure or business. Man- made tourism
products include:

a) Culture: Sites and areas of archaeological interest, Historical buildings and monuments, Places of
historical significance, Museums and art galleries, Political and educational institution, Religious
institutions

Cultural tourism is based on the mosaic of places, traditions, art forms, celebrations and experiences
that portray the nation and its people, reflecting the diversity and character of a country.
The preservation of its culture is one of the basic responsibilities of any community. Tourism can
contribute unique benefits to the exploiting of the cultural heritage of a nation and can serve indirectly
to improve the individual cultural levels of both citizens and travellers. Cultural resources have another
specific characteristic, which many tourists want to experience. Culture means the prospect of contact
with other civilizations, their original and varied customs and tradition with their distinct characteristics.
This entire process creates a powerful motivator towards travel.

Various Museums also attract tourists like Madame Tussauds Museum in London, the Louvre Museum
in Paris, Smithsonian Washington Museum, Museums of famous painters like Salvador Dali, Pablo
Picasso, Natural History Museum, British Museum, Museum of Modern Art are also popular tourist
products.

Sites of archeological interest like remains of Mohenjodaro and Harrapan civilizations.

Sites for historical interest like city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, sites of holocaust in Germany, tombs of
various leaders and emperors.

Historical buildings like Warwick Castle, Tower of London, Stratford-on-Avon which is Shakespeare’s
birthplace, the Roman Baths are all popular with tourists. Stonehenge in United Kingdom, The White
House, Buckingham Palace and other places of political significance, are also great tourist draws.

b) Traditions

A pilgrimage is a term primarily used for a journey or a search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it
is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every
religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. Secular and
civic pilgrimages are also practiced, without regard for religion but rather of importance to a particular
society. For example, many people throughout the world travel to the City of Washington in the United
States for a pilgrimage to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United
States. British people often make pilgrimages to London to witness the public appearances of the
monarch of the United Kingdom. A large number of people have been making pilgrimages to sacred
religious places or holy places. This practice is widespread in many parts of the world. In the Christian
world, for instance, a visit to Jerusalem or the Vatican is considered auspicious. Among Muslims, a
pilgrimage to Makkah is considered a great act of faith. In India there are many pilgrimage centres and
holy places belonging to all major religions of the world.

Every country has certain traditional arts like soap sculptures and batik of Thailand; gems and jewellery,
tie and dye works, wood and marble carving in Indonesia; ivory, glasswork, hand block painting,
sandalwood, inlay work; are some of the examples of traditional art that attract tourists.

There are many forms of dance in the world like Salsa, Hip- Hop, Jazz, Flamingo, Ballet and Traditional
Dances. People who travel like to watch these dance performances and sometimes even take some
introductory classes.
Music can be either traditional or modern. Traditional music like folk music and classical and country
music is specific to every region and country. Modern forms include Blues, Rock, Pop, Jazz, Rap, Techno
and Hip- Hop. Music also adds to the attraction of a destination.

Fairs and Festivals capture the fun loving side and bring out the joyous celebrations of the community.
Festivals like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Eid, Ramadan, Diwali, and Holi and so on, also bring
people to destinations where the celebration can be enjoyed. Some popular Fairs which cater to fun and
work are Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan, Prêt fair in Paris, Magic Fair in Vegas for garments, Hong Kong
Fashion Week and various job fairs where people are recruited.

c) Entertainment  Amusement and recreation parks  Sporting events  Zoos and oceanariums 
Cinemas and theatre  Night life  Cuisine

Tourist products that have entertainment as their main characteristic are many. Just to name a few
there are amusement and recreational parks like Disneyworld in United States, Hong Kong, Paris,
Singapore and theme parks in various countries and cities like Appu Ghar and Fun and Food Village in
Delhi, Essel World in Mumbai and so on. Tourists may come to attend sports events and it is also an
opportunity to explore the country. The fundamental concept is that all tourist activities have an
influence on providing economic benefits and have a powerful influence in some definite locality, like
the Olympics in Athens has given immense benefit to all in tourism business in Athens in particular and
Greece in general. Many countries organise year round sports events like swimming meets, athletic
meets, weight lifting events, cricket matches, baseball and football events and many more such events
which encourage tourism.

Night Life is one of the prime attractions in a holiday. Tourists like to especially visit areas in cities where
the night life activity is promoted. These areas are usually lit up with street stalls like flea markets and
food areas. Bars, night clubs, casinos and very often open air bands attract and add to the psychological
satisfaction and experience of tourists.

Cuisine is very often an understated but highly important part of any holiday. Now-a-days there is
cuisine from all areas of the world which is found at most tourist destinations. Specialty restaurants
serve Indian, Continental, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, Fast food, Mexican,
Mediterranean, and Arabic and so on. However, tourists usually like to eat the local food of the areas
they visit.

d) Business

People who travel in relation to their work come under the category of business tourism. However, such
travel for business purposes is also linked with tourist activity like visiting places of tourist attraction at
the destination, sight-seeing and excursion trips. Participants have a lot of leisure time at their disposal.
The conference organisers make this leisure time very rewarding for participants by organising many
activities for their pleasure and relaxation. The spouses and families accompanying the participants are
also well looked after by the organisers. The organisers plan sight-seeing tours and shopping tours for
the participants and their families. The principle suppliers like hotels, transporters, convention centres,
tour operators and travel agencies, tourism departments, exhibition organisers, sponsors etc. all benefit
from business travellers.

SYMBIOTIC TOURISM PRODUCTS

Some tourism products do not fall into the above categories. Wildlife sanctuary, Marine parks, Aero
products and Water sports, Flower festivals are the example of tourism products which are a blending of
nature and man. Nature has provided the resource and man has converted them into a tourism
product by managing them. National parks for example, are left in their natural state of beauty as far as
possible, but still need to be managed, through provision of access, parking facilities, limited
accommodation, litter bins etc. Yet the core attraction is still nature in this category of product. These
products are symbiosis of nature and man.

The basic element of adventure is the satisfaction of having complete command over one’s body, a
sense of risk in the process, an awareness of beauty and the exploration of the unknown. Adventure
tourism can be classified into aerial, water based and land based. Aerial adventure sports include the
following activities:

A) Parachuting, which involves jumping off from an aircraft or balloon and descending by means of a
parachute. The infrastructure required, includes an aircraft, parachutes and large landing zones.

B) Sky Diving, which involves a sky diver jumping off an aircraft or balloon at a much greater height
without deploying his parachute initially and opening it after some interval at a pre determined height.

C) Hang Gliding, which involves running off a mountain or being towed by a winch and essentially flying
like a glider where the directional control is achieved by a shift in his own weight by the pilot.

D) Para Gliding, is the latest aero-sport which has taken the world by storm. A Para Glider is a specially
designed square parachute, along with a harness attached by lines.

E) Para Sailing is a simple sport that involves towing a parachutist to a height of a few hundred feet in
the air and then descending by means of a parachute. As a year round activity, Para sailing can be done
on land and water.

F) Bungee Jumping, which requires no equipment except a ‘bungee cord’ made of nylon fiber of enough
elasticity to be able to absorb the shock at the end of the jump. The jumper makes a headlong jump into
empty space and the resultant rush of adrenalin makes the experience very exhilarating.

G) Ballooning, where a balloon is attached to a basket by steel wire ropes. By regulating hot and cold air,
the pilot can steer the balloon along any charted course.

Water based adventure sports include the following:

A) White water rafting which is one of the most important and exciting water sports, which involves
riding down water rapids in an inflatable raft which is used to negotiate fast flowing rivers.
B) Canoeing and Kayaking are adventure sports which begin upstream where the water is wild and
white. The gradient best suited for canoeing is the stage near the river’s entry into the plains where the
trip can be combined with a natural holiday in a forest. Kayaking is appealing as it enables innovation on
the river by one or two oarsman seated in tandem.

C) Adventure sports in the waters of the sea like wind surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, yachting, water
skiing, etc. also offer thrilling activities to the tourists.

Land based adventure tourist products include the following:

A) Rock climbing which originated as a means of practicing techniques for ascending high mountains. It
was earlier provided as training to mountaineers but has now evolved into a highly developed sport. The
climber moves up, using knowledge of rope handling, climbing, securing one to another, etc. Very
sophisticated techniques and equipments are used nowadays to ascend or descend on very steep
terrain.

B) Mountaineering requires trained physical ability and suitable equipment. The higher peaks need
better equipment which is also costly. The challenges which mountains like the Indian Himalayas pose
attract mountaineers from various countries.

C) Trekking the mighty Himalayas which spread across five Indian states form a sweeping arc and
compress in its expanse a wide geographical variety and contrasting cultures.

D) Skiing is the practice of sliding over snow on runners, called skis, attached to each foot. There are
three types of ski resorts, the first are large towns, second type are alpine villages and the third resorts
built for skiing.

E) Heli skiing is a type of alpine skiing where the skier is dropped to the top of a mountain by a
helicopter and then he slides down on his own.

F) Motor Rally is a sport that tests the navigational skills of man and his endurance with the machine.
Motor rallies, grand prix racing, hill climbing rallies, vintage car rallies, sports car racing, etc. are some
forms of this tourism product.

G) Safaris were earlier taken on camel, horse and elephants as an excursion for hunting or a journey. As
a modern tourist product now safaris are taken on jeeps and in the form of caravans. Viewing and
enjoying nature, meeting the local villagers, seeing their traditions, customs and lifestyle, entertainment
and camp fires are some of the characteristics of modern safaris. Eg, Egypt desert safaris. Horse and
elephant safaris are arranged in most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

EVENT BASED TOURISM PRODUCTS

Where an event is an attraction, it as an event based tourist product. Events attract tourists as
spectators and also as participants in the events, sometimes for both. The Octoberfest organised in
Germany, Dubai and Singapore shopping festivals, the Camel Polo at Jaisalmer, Kite flying in Ahmedabad
attracts tourists, both as spectators and participants. Event attractions are temporary, and are often
mounted in order to increase the number of tourists to a particular destination. Some events have a
short time scale, such as the Republic Day Parade, others may last for many days.

OTHER TOURISM PRODUCTS

Health Tourism Holidaying is generally considered as an investment in health, a subject that presents
opportunities of cost- benefit analysis. The medical expertise of various countries has added a new
product to the existing tourism products. People are travelling to various countries for treatment of
various ailments and medical procedures like Cardio care, Bone Marrow Transplant, Dialysis and Kidney
transplant, Neuro surgery, Joint Replacement Surgery, even cosmetic surgery. Alternative medicines like
homeopathy, acupressure, ayurvedic medicines and naturopathy are also becoming tourism products
wherein travel companies are offering Yoga and Rejuvenation packages.

Tourists travel for what is illegal in one's own country, e.g. abortion, euthanasia; for instance, euthanasia
for noncitizens is provided by Dignities in Switzerland. Tourists travel also for advanced care that is not
available in one's own country, in the case that there are long waiting lists in one's own country or for
use of free or cheap healthcare organisations.

Eco-tourism

“Tourism that combines local economic development, protection of the quality of the environment and
promotion of the natural advantages and the history of an area”.

Rural Tourism

Any form of tourism that showcases the rural life, art, culture and heritage at rural locations, thereby,
benefiting the local community economically and socially as well as enabling interaction between the
tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience can be termed as rural tourism. It is
multifaceted and may entail farm/agricultural tourism, cultural tourism, nature tourism, adventure
tourism, and eco- tourism. The stresses of urban lifestyles have lead to this counter- urbanisation
approach to tourism. There are various factors that have lead to this changing trend towards rural
tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest in heritage and culture and improved
accessibility and environmental consciousness. Tourists like to visit villages to experience and live a
relaxed and healthy lifestyle.

Ethnic Tourism

Ethnic tourism is travelling for the purpose of observing the cultural expressions of lifestyles of truly
exotic people. Such tourism is exemplified by travel to Panama to study the San Blas Indians or to India
to observe the isolated hill tribes of Assam. Typical destination activities would include visits to native
homes, attending traditional ceremonies and dances, and possibly participating in religious rituals.