The role of the transport system in destination development

✍ Scribed by Bruce Prideaux

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 207 KB
• Volume: 21
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0261-5177
• DOI: 10.1016/s0261-5177(99)00079-5

✦ Synopsis

Although the transport industry provides the link between tourism generating and destination regions the industry's role as an agent in destination development has been largely overlooked. If the ability of tourists to travel to preferred destinations is inhibited by ine$ciencies in the transport system there is some likelihood that they will seek alternative destinations. This paper outlines a transport cost model that identi"es the signi"cance of transport as a factor in destination development as well as in the selection of destinations by intending tourists. The model demonstrates the dynamic relationship between categories of holiday expenditure and tourists' point of origin. Increased distance generally leads to increased transport access costs and represents a signi"cant factor in total holiday cost. The model is tested by analyzing the role of transport in the development of Cairns as a destination by examining the e!ect of distance, transport access costs and competing destinations.