Introduction
The transportation industry has undergone massive changes with technological advancement. The commercialisation of the automobile industry has made vehicles a necessity. With the rise in popularity of automobiles, the number of tourists is increasing every year. Those who prefer to explore tourist destinations deep within their locality tend to use automobiles more often. As distance is now measured in hours and minutes rather than months or days, people are exploring tourist destinations more often. Part of this surge in tourism is due to the technological advancements in the transportation industry and automobiles. Roads, railroads, airports, helipads, yachts, and luxury cruisers are all contributing to the popularity of tourism.
International tourism is also growing in popularity every year. It was hindered only during the pandemic years. Unlike the backpackers from rich countries who went on adventures in the past, nowadays, explorers from every country are visiting countries around the world. The aviation industry has made world travel a dream come true for many. Although you can always find explorers visiting countries through all other transportation option
Many natural wonders and beautiful places in the world are hidden deep inside dense forests, hills, and mountain ranges, behind other such natural barriers. Only in the last century did the world become truly open to tourism. Until then, only local tourists would have known or visited such places, that too, if they had expendable income. Moreover, the difficulty in travelling long distances, and lack of speedy communication all kept the majority of mankind to stay in the know. Only after recent industrial and technological advances did the middle and lower classes of humanity have the option to consider tourism.
1. Air travel
Aviation is one of the defining moments in the history of mankind. Commercial aviation has made the world a smaller planet. International flights have reduced travel times to such a degree that it was never thought possible. The invention of jet engines and the popularity of passenger airlines, particularly chartered flights, have made aviation a significant contributor to the growth of the tourism industry. For example, the popular Indian tourist destination Goa receives over 400 chartered flights during peak tourism seasons every year. This brings foreign money into countries with natural tourism destinations.
As the aviation industry became sophisticated and cheaper, it also became popular among tourists. Travelling time has started to be measured in hours, not in distance. The world is opening more airports and flights every year. With globalisation, multinational corporations, and the digitalization of virtually everything, aviation has become both affordable and a tourist destination itself. Skydiving and parachuting are some of the more popular examples of this. According to the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), there are currently over 41,700 airports in the world. Airports bring all types of travellers in.
As most key decision-makers of corporate companies value time over anything else, flights are the primary means of transportation for them. This promotes business tourism and helps countries attract foreign investment. This indirectly impacts the ease of doing business index of the country. A robust aviation industry is a must in a prospective country for companies that need fast-moving cargo between nations.
Skydiving and hot air ballooning are also some of the most beloved activities that depend on air travel. Hot air ballooning was invented even before aviation and was used as a means of travel by early explorers. After the advancements in aviation, skydiving also became a popular aviation-dependant activity.
Hot air balloon
Source: Kyle Hinkson Unsplash
Hot air balloons are not too modern to be included in modern transportation. However, due to the surge in the use of technology in hot air ballooning, we can add it to our list. Modern weather prediction systems, GPS navigation, and advanced manufacturing techniques in fireproof lining material, burners, and tracking systems have made hot air ballooning one of the most enjoyable tourist attractions in the air. Modern balloons can take tourists several miles through the air, depending on the winds and weather. They are capable of longer travel as well.
Indeed, in 1999, Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones flew around the globe, covering 46,795 km in 19 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes. A Russian priest, Fedor Konykhov flew around the globe in just 11 days, covering 33,000 km (Source: Virgin Balloon Flights). Though not practical for mass travel, hot air ballooning is a booming industry in the tourism and travel industry. Hundreds of companies provide this as an adventure sport or adventure while travelling around the world (Source: Planetware).
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Skydiving
Similar to hot air ballooning, skydiving or parachuting is a treasured experience for adventurous tourists. In the USA alone, approximately 3.3 million people completed skydiving in 2018 (Source: Compare Camp). It is a growing industry, giving job opportunities as well as economic contribution to many countries.
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Eco-friendly travel
In the face of climate change, the aviation industry is constantly being criticised by environmental activists. The reason is that aviation is one of the most polluting means of transportation. A plane pollutes 10 to 50 times more than a high-speed electric train and 5 to 10 times more than a bus (Source: You Matter). Yet, due to the time constraints, high-value and perishable products are transported through aviation.
Modern jets with a lesser carbon footprint and large carriers are somewhat of a solution to the pollution problem, though they will not negate it.
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2. Land travel
Roads
Nepal had no international tourists until Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed the world's highest peak, Mount Everest. Since then, mass tourism has been seeing rapid growth in the Himalayas. The construction of roads after the Sino-Indian war of 1962 has contributed to the popularity of the Himalayas. Though the roads were built primarily for military purposes, tourism has spiked since the construction. For trekkers, riders, and the young population around the world, Ladakh has become one of the "must visit" places on earth (Source: Spaltenberger).
These are just a few examples of how connected roads can bring about change, economic growth, and development due to tourism activities. Nepal's tourism industry constitutes 10% of its GDP. Tourism has become the single most important source of foreign currency, so because of the beautiful natural tourist destinations, it has become available to travellers around the world. A significant part of India's tourism industry comes from the hill stations located in the Himalayan ranges. Well-connected motorways bring loads of tourism opportunities to virtually any part of the world.
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Trains
Source: Joel de Vriend Unsplash
The railway network is one of the most affordable mass transit solutions from the industrial revolution. They are economical, greatly reduce travel fatigue, and are a favourite means of long-distance travel for tourists. Though significantly slower than flights, trains are a popular mode of transportation.
Metros: Metro trains are a popular solution to traffic overload in major cities. With sophisticated technology and aesthetics, the metro itself is an attraction in many countries where it is introduced. These offer minimal fares, hassle-free travel, and save time within large cities. Urban tourism has boomed after the introduction of metro networks. As cities have several tourist destinations like history, entertainment, war, sports, etc., the metro can cover most of these destinations in a short amount of time. As of January 2021, 205 cities in 61 countries have metro networks (Source: Wikipedia)
Bullet trains: The Japanese bullet trains, or Maglev trains, have made land-based travel as fast as aviation. Surprising speeds, minimal costs, and luxury make bullet trains the preferred travel method of the future. Indeed, bullet trains can compete with short-distance domestic flights (Source: Railway-Technology). This is the only travel technology that has the potential to replace aviation in terms of travel time. Again, these trains are many times more eco-friendly than passenger airways. Just like domestic flights, bullet trains can cause tourism exchange between cities or parts of a country.
Eco-friendly travel
With the world crying over the dire effects of climate change, eco-friendly travel has become one of the most promising and most talked about subjects on the planet. Eco-friendly travellers are changing patterns of travel. The coronavirus lockdowns have kick-started a trend in local tourism. People have increasingly been exploring local tourist destinations rather than international travel. Though international tourism will never gain popularity, travel deep within one's own country has gained traction. Eco-friendly concerns have driven a surge in eco-friendly travel methods.
Public Transportation: More environmentally conscious tourists are ditching their own vehicles in favour of public transportation like buses, trains, and ships. In addition to fewer carbon emissions due to a larger user base, public transportation can save a considerable amount of money for economically minded tourists. Electric trains and Maglev trains like the metro and bullet trains further decrease the environmental risks while facilitating direct travel for mass tourists.
Bicycles: Bicycles are coming back in popularity for both eco-friendly travel, physical fitness, and the thrill of covering the terrain on a bicycle. Many luxury resorts all over the world have bicycles and mountain bikes to encourage tourists to explore nearby tourist destinations. In addition to car/bike rentals and taxi-on-hire services, bicycles have made their way into modern tourists' travel routines. Further, many towns, cities, and metro areas have established separate bicycle ways alongside their motorway network.
Electric vehicles: Worldwide, it has become a popular opinion that electrical vehicles will overtake IC-engine vehicles in the future. Whether or not that becomes a reality, electric vehicles have seen a surge in popularity among the general public. Electric car manufacturers like Tesla have incorporated AI self-driving systems within their cars, increasing their technological adaptability. With many innovative start-ups entering the EV sector, we can expect many more breakthroughs in EV technology soon.
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3. Sea/water travel
Ports and docks
Ports are a major destination for importing and exporting for most countries. They bring raw materials, products, and essentials like petroleum and gas into a country. Smaller ports and docks operated near popular beaches and islands bring loads of tourists in season. Islands like Hawaii and beaches like Goa are partly popular due to the sea transportation available there.
The Suez Canal is a very good example of how waterways can transform the tourism industry. It is a major source of tourism for countries next to it. Despite the Ukrainian crisis, Egypt is expecting a 10 - 12 billion dollar increase in tourism income through the Suez Canal (Source: Hindustan Times).
Source: Danilo Capece Unsplash
Luxury cruisers: Modern cruiser boats and ships come in all sizes and shapes. Many large cruisers have luxury accommodations and tour packages to popular locations like Hawaii, Goa, and the Caribbean islands. These cruisers often have restaurants, casinos, party halls, swimming pools, etc. Cruisers make travelling to a tourist destination an enjoyable experience in itself. This industry has been booming since it began in the steamship revolution. The cruisers were interrupted only by the two world wars and the recent pandemic. A considerable amount of the tourism industry's money comes from such luxury cruisers and gives employment to the workforce working for the industry.
Eco-friendly travel
Apart from the mainstream sea/river travelling methods, these are some of the adventurous travelling methods that are both tourist attractions and travel methods.
River Rafting: River Rafting has gained popularity among younger and more adventurous tourists. On weekends, rafting destinations are crowded, making it a popular activity on many rivers and reservoirs. River Rafting gives employment opportunities to local youth as rafting guides. The influx of adventure travellers brings economic opportunities to local populations. Modern, resilient rubber boats, created with the utmost safety management, have made river rafting possible even in hostile rivers with torrential currents.
Boating: It is a common means of transport to islands, river deltas, and backwaters created by oceans or large reservoirs. Venice and Alleppey are some of the popular backwater destinations. Traditional boats, modern boats, luxury boats, and boathouses are all popular travel and accommodation options in such tourist destinations. Additionally, sailboats, canoeing, and kayaking are all gaining popularity. Competitive tourists travel to and participate in these events, thereby contributing to the growth of the local tourism industry.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the more places the transportation industry connects, the more prosperity it brings to tourism. People enjoy travelling elsewhere for a variety of reasons, including the desire to meet new people, traditions, and customs, as well as for business and medical reasons. With time-efficient, cost-effective, and safe transportation, tourism can grow simultaneously. With the advancements in automobiles to jet engines, or the construction of highways, railroads, and airports, everything can deeply impact tourism in that particular country.
Tourism not only brings tourists but also job and business opportunities as well. These will cause local and economic development and ultimately result in a stable nation. Modern transportation like Maglev and metro trains will be a major driving force behind the growth of tourism. As more transportation methods are being refined, the future of tourism is going to be brighter.
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