Tourism as One of the Most Important Domains - Case Study Example

Halifax Case Study Objectives In the contemporary scenario, tourism is one of the most important domains that has major contributions towards the growth and development of any particular nation. Contextually, countries have the need to attract people from the tourism sector to visit their destination. In this regard, the role of tourism planning emerges into existence. It is believed that tourism is all about presenting the rich culture, heritage and other infrastructural developments of a destination in front of the potential visitors so that maximum number of people visit the place further boosting the economy of the nations (UNEP, 2014). Correspondingly, proper planning becomes quite crucial to ensure the sustainability of the tourism sector. Planning in the tourism sector can be done in various different levels including the national and the local level among the prime. In these different levels, concerned authorities in tourism destination involve in the process of development of individual sectors along with enhancing the prevailing services and facilities among others. This is done with the intention to structure the destination as per the needs and demands of the potential visitors (Angelfire, 2014). Contextually, this particular discussion will mainly intend to present and determine pertinent plans for Halifax Canada as a tourism destination that can facilitate to attract utmost level of global visitors. Halifax is one of the most renowned cities of Canada which has places and features that can encourage people to visit the same. This particular tourism planning report will mainly intend to evaluate the destination i.e. Halifax in order to identify its resources of tourism along with a few of the other attributes that are vital to attract tourists. Figure 1: Route From Ottawa (Capital of Canada) to Halifax (Adapted from: Google Maps) Planning and Goals of Tourism Authority of Halifax The goals of the tourism authority of Halifax are to present the place as one of the best tourism destination of the Canada. The sector is quite beneficial for the economy growth of the place and the authorities intends to assure maximum efficacy in the same so that positive results can be ascertained. Contextually, the planning of the concerned authorities include assuring utmost development and sustainability of the tourism sector of Halifax and attract potential visitors towards the place and gain positive experience in their leisure time (Nova Scotia, 2011). Survey and Analysis It has been noted that there are certain features of a particular destination that attract people to visit the same and spend their leisure time. Contextually, the place i.e. Halifax has certain environmental attributes along with certain tourism resources that might attract the attention of the visitors from all parts of the world. As far as the environmental attributes are concerned, there are certain aspects that most visitors must take into concern while conducting activities. The government is quite stern towards maintaining a proper environment owing to which tourists visiting the place are expected to depict similar sort of concern. Apart from this aspect, the government of the nation is also strict towards illegal activities such as hunting which is again one of the environmental concerns for the tourism authorities (Government of Saskatchewan, 2013; Government of Canada, 2011). All these aspects are directly relevant to the environmental wellbeing of the destination i.e. Halifax. However, there are various tourism resources that exist within the place which can attract maximum number of tourists to visit the location. These resources include festivals and events especially during the winter, art and culture of the place and the outdoor experiences it provides among others. These aspects together present Halifax as a potential destination for the Canadian tourism sector (Government of Saskatchewan, 2013; Government of Canada, 2011). Evaluation (Significant Features, Critical Areas and Compatible Activities) In the above section, it has been made apparent that Halifax has the potential to attract maximum tourists owing to a few of the attractive features and resources it possesses with regard to the tourism sector. These features could be elaborately described in order to provide a comprehensive understanding about the significant attractions of Halifax for the visitors. Notably, the place is known for a number of events and festivals that it hosts in the winter season. For instance, a few of the upcoming events and festivals including “4th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Hatfield Farm”, “Halifax Comedy Fest” and “City and Color live at the Metro Centre” provide high level of excitement for the viewers. Visitors can visit the place during the winter season to spend their leisure time with such exciting programs. Apart from these, the tourism authority of the place also ensures outdoor adventure programs which can again be an attractive element for many visitors belonging from the tourism sector. The place has also got national and provisional parks that can attract the visitors to the maximum level. A few of the parks including Amherst Shore, Cape Chignecto and Ellenwood Lake where people mainly prefer to visit owing to their natural heritage. The concerned authorities in the tourism sector ensure proper communication along with reasonable price as well as packages for the visitors so that they could be able to gather a positive and memorable experience for themselves. Notably, Halifax also offers visitors with the opportunity to spend their leisure time in museum and campgrounds where they could be able to acquire maximum enjoyment for themselves (Trip Advisor, 2014). The place also provides appreciable accommodation arrangement for people of different ages and genres including family tourists, youth tourists and business tourists among others with reasonable price as well as high quality products and services. A few of the renowned hotels in Halifax include “Comfort Hotel Bayers Lake”, “Radisson Suite Hotel Halifax”, and “Prince George Hotel” among others ([1] Destination Halifax, n.d.). These establishments ensure high quality accommodations along with services for the visitors. However, apart from presenting the features of the place to attract tourists from round the world, it is also important to insure a sustainable planning and development of the tourism sector. In this context, it will be vital to mention that the provincial government of Nova Scotia along with the concerned tourism authority are responsible for the sustainable development of the tourism sector of Halifax. The authority intends to present Halifax a prominent and sustainable tourism destination in the global tourism sector (Tians, 2006). Figure 2: Images of Amherst Shore and Cape Chignecto (Matthewsimages, 2010) Synthesis The place i.e. Halifax that has been depicted above is among the critical areas with which the visitors are to be attracted and encouraged to visit the probable attractions. Contextually, in order to ensure proper tourism planning, the above places will need to be segregated on the basis of the zones they belong to. Zones primarily include sanctuary, natural conservation, outdoor recreation and tourism development zone (TDZ) among others. Halifax has sanctuary to protect animals and plants which can again be used for tourist attractions and for providing a set of tourism benefits for the people as per tourism planning. The place i.e. Halifax also has natural conservation to preserve the natural heritage that prevails in the location. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) of Nova Scotia (Parent state of Halifax) intends to save the natural heritage of the place through their operations from the last forty years (Nature Conservancy of Canada, 2013). The place of Halifax has certain outdoor recreations which can also form a major component for the tourism sector of the nation. A few of the outdoor recreations of the place include ice skating, hiking, running events along with winter surfing among others (Destination Halifax, n.d.). All these aspects will present Halifax as a prosperous tourism development zone. Review From the above analysis, it is apparent that tourism is one of the major components, which has a major role to play in the economic development of a nation. Contextually, the analysis also depicts certain possibilities of the place to attract the tourism sector. It has been noted that with the development of the tourism sector the aspect of natural environment is deemed to get negatively impacted. In this context, it can be vital to depict that the tourism authorities in Canada are quite concerned towards protecting the environment and fulfilling the environmental priorities of the nation accordingly. These policies of the tourism sector of Canada might be implemented in protecting the tourism priorities of Halifax after it gets associated with the tourism sector. It is believed that the features and attractions that the place is capable of presenting are quite compatible with regard to the demand of the visitors or the customers in the tourism sector. Hence, it can be stated that the place has the potential to be explored by the tourism visitors of the world. The figure below depicts about the growth of the tourism sector of Canada in the last decade. Figure 3: Tourism Performance of Canada (Canadian Tourism Commission, 2010) However, it will be crucial to mention that in order to assure proper establishment of the place in the tourism purview, concerned authorities in the place will need to develop effective control strategies in order to safeguard and preserve the features and elements of the place that can be crucial for the tourism sector in the future context. It will be crucial to mention that the tourism authority of the Halifax work in a systematic manner to assure the deliverance of effective and efficient services. Contextually, the management of the tourism authority of Halifax works through covering the activities such as planning, development, marketing as well as operations of the overall tourism sector of Halifax. The Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism will involve in the analysis and evaluation of the tourism sector and work accordingly towards its sustainable development. The authority will initiate programs such as destination as well as industry development in order to develop Halifax as a prominent and sustainable tourism destination. Apart from that the tourism authority will also works with tour operators to enhance the services of the overall sector (Investin Cape Breton, 2014). Hence, it is apparent that the management of the tourism sector will work collaboratively for achieving desire outcome. Recommendations From the above analysis, it can be said that Halifax has the potential to explore the tourism sector of the world and attract people to visit the place for its cultural and natural heritage. However, there are certain aspects that will be recommended to the concerned authorities towards the establishment of Halifax as a high-class tourism destination. The authorities in the tourism sector will first need to finalize the zonal planning of Halifax for the tourism domain. Contextually, authorities will first need to determine the goals of the tourism sector and segregate the zones accordingly. The authorities in the sector will also need to determine the zoning formats and final zoning attributes that will be used or emphasized while establishing Halifax as a tourist destination. Contextually, the authorities will need to go through the planning of tourism in Halifax and emerge with a systematic approach of implementing the same in practice. This is quite vital step and a major portion of the success of the tourism planning is dependent on the same. Subsequently, feedback must be taken from the visitors in Halifax about the level of experience they acquire from their visits. Contextually, the management of tourism sector will need to develop their further moves in accordance with the perceptions of the visitors in order to ensure the fulfilment of the level of expectations of the visitors and influence them to visit the place repeatedly. References Angelfire. (2014). Tourism planning. Retrieved from http://www.angelfire.com/ks/andriotis/Chapter3.pdf Canadian Tourism Commission. (2010). Canada’s tourism performance national tourism indicators first quarter 2010. Retrieved from http://en-corporate.canada.travel/sites/default/files/pdf/Research/Stats-figures/Tourism-performance/Quarterly%20National%20Tourism%20Indicators/NTI_Q1_2010_EN.pdf [1] Destination Halifax (n.d.). Top experiences. Retrieved from http://www.destinationhalifax.com/entertainment Destination Halifax. (n.d.). Halifax, Nova Scotia. Retrieved from http://www.destinationhalifax.com/ Government of Canada. (2011). Environmental overview: the context for change. Retrieved from http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/034.nsf/eng/00039.html Government of Saskatchewan. (2013). Hunting. Retrieved from http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/hunting Investin Cape Breton. (2014). Nova Scotia department of economic and rural development and tourism. Retrieved from http://www.investincapebreton.com/new/upload/1330053984NS%20Dept%20of%20Economic%20&%20Rural%20Development%20&%20Tourism.pdf Matthewsimages. (2010). Summer Nova Scotia 2010. Retrieved from http://matthewsimages.ca/summer-nova-scotia-2010/amherst-shore-ns_02-12-2010/ Nature Conservancy of Canada. (2013). Nova Scotia. Retrieved from http://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/where-we-work/nova-scotia/ Nova Scotia. (2011). Tourism plan. Retrieved from http://www.novascotia.ca/econ/tourism/docs/Tians2011PlanBookPR.pdf Tians. (2006). Nova Scotia strategy for sustainable coastal tourism development. Retrieved from http://www.tians.org/pdf/StrategyCoastal.pdf Trip Advisor. (2014). Halifax hotels. Retrieved from http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotels-g154976-Halifax_Halifax_Regional_Municipality_Nova_Scotia-Hotels.html UNEP. (2014). Tourism. Retrieved from http://www.unep.org/resourceefficiency/Portals/24147/scp/business/tourism/greeneconomy_tourism.pdf Read More