Heiligendamm in Germany, established in 1793, the oldest seaside resort in continental Europe
Aerial view of the Cancún island, from the top of the Torre Escénicain, May 2008
Railway station in Tatranská Lomnica ski resort, Slovakia

A resort town, resort city or resort destination is an urban area where tourism or vacationing is the primary component of the local culture and economy. A typical resort town has one or more actual resorts in the surrounding area. Sometimes the term resort town is used simply for a locale popular among tourists. One task force in British Columbia used the definition of an incorporated or unincorporated contiguous area where the ratio of transient rooms, measured in bed units, is greater than 60% of the permanent population.[1]

Generally, tourism is the main export in a resort town economy, with most residents of the area working in the tourism or resort industry. Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally themed souvenirs, motels, and unique restaurants often proliferate the downtown areas of a resort town.

In the case of the United States, resort towns were created around the late 1800s and early 1900s with the development of early town-making.[2] Many resort towns feature ambitious architecture, romanticizing their location, and dependence on cheap labor.[2]

Resort town economy

If the resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature (such as a ski resort), resort towns typically experience an on-season where the town is bustling with tourists and workers, and an off-season where the town is populated only by a small amount of local year-round residents.

In addition, resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes, which typically drives up property values and the cost of living in the region. Sometimes, resort towns can become boomtowns due to the quick development of retirement and vacation-based residences.[3]

However, most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live the area in which they are employed.[4] Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where the majority of the resort workforce lives.

Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth, due to the seasonal nature of the economy, the dependence on a single industry, and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce.[5]

Economic impact of tourism

Local residents are generally receptive of the economic impacts of tourism. Resort towns tend to enjoy lower unemployment rates, improved infrastructure, more advanced telecommunication and transportation capabilities, and higher standards of living and greater income in relation to those who live outside this area.[6] Increased economic activity in resort towns can also have positive effects on the country's overall economic growth and development. In addition, business generated by resort towns have been credited with supporting the local economy through times of national market failure and depression.[2]

In a study conducted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Istanbul Technical University, 401 local residents in the resort community of Antalya were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on the economic impacts of tourism. Among the participants, 67% had lived in Antalya for over ten years, 66% had at least a high school degree, and 30% reported jobs that were related to tourism.[7] The results are as follows:

Perceived impact on select economic impact items (Antalya)

Economic Item% Totally agreeStandard deviation
Increase in cost of land and housing970.82
Increase in prices of goods and services970.81
More job opportunities in Antalya980.71
Better maintenance of Antalya960.86
Higher standard of roads and public facilities950.90
Increased income for local people920.94
Better appearance of Antalya861.17
More shopping opportunities851.03
Increased standard of living801.06
Economic gains for ordinary people171.12
A comic drawn for a newspaper in a resort area; it depicts elderly local residents with limited income who are used to visiting attractions nearby.

More recently, resort towns have come under greater scrutiny by local communities. Instances where resort towns are poorly managed have adverse effects on the local economy. One example is the uneven distribution of income and land ownership between local residents and businesses. During tourist season, increased demand for accommodation may raise the price of land, causing a simultaneous increase in rent for local residents whose income in invariably lower than foreign residents.[6] This results in a preponderance of foreigners in the land market and an erosion of economic opportunities for local residents.

The revenues amassed from tourism typically do not benefit the host country or the local communities. Income to local communities generated by tourism are all of the expenditures accrued after taxes, profits, and wages are paid out; however, around 80% of traveler's expenditures go to airlines, hotels, and international companies, not to local businesses.[8] These funds are referred to as leakages. Tourism has also been blamed for other negative economic impacts to local communities. Although resort towns usually boast more improved infrastructure than surrounding areas, these developments usually present high costs to local governments and tax payers.[8] Reallocating government funds to subsidize infrastructure and tax breaks to firms shift available funding to local education and health services. In addition, resort towns typically do not have dynamic economies, resulting in an over dependence on one industry. Economic dependence on tourism poses particular challenges to resort towns and its local residents given the seasonal nature of the job market in some areas.[8] Local residents of resort towns face job insecurity, difficulties in obtaining training, medical-benefits, and housing.

Examples of resort towns

Grand Hotel Kurhaus in Resort architecture style, in Binz, Rügen (Germany)
An aerial view of the Naantali summertown in Finland
A pedestrian street in Jūrmala, Latvia
Nusa Dua in Bali, Indonesia

See also

References

  1. ↑ Transitions: Planning, Servicing, and Local Governance in BC's Resort Communities (PDF) (Report). Vol. 1: Best Practices Project. Government of British Columbia. December 2004.
  2. 1 2 3 Crewe, Katherine. "Chandler's Hotel San Marcos: The Resort Impact on a Rural Town." Journal of Urban Design 16.1 (2011): 87-104. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Nevada Commission on Tourism". travelnevada.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  4. ↑ Thrane, Christer. "Earnings differentiation in the tourism industry: Gender, human capital and socio-demographic effects." Tourism Management 29.3 (2008): 514-524.
  5. ↑ "MATR News: Resort towns struggle with growth". 26 August 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 TATOĞLU, Assist Prof EKREM, et al. "Resident perceptions of the impact of tourism in a Turkish resort town." Leisure Sciences (1998): 745-755.
  7. ↑ Korça, Perver. "Resident Perceptions of Tourism in a Resort Town." Leisure Sciences 20.3 (1998): 193. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "Negative Economic Impacts of Tourism". United Nations Environment Programme. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.
  9. ↑ "About St. Lawrence Gap - Otherwise Known as 'The Gap'". TotallyBarbados.com. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Tofino area is home of Canada's priciest hotel rooms". Archived from the original on 1 August 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  11. ↑ "Colombia's best beaches". 16 March 2013.
  12. ↑ Tourism Mariehamn & Mariehamn Travel Guide – Discovering Finland
  13. ↑ Naantali Tourism – Discovering Finland
  14. ↑ "to the glittering resort town along the French Riviera". Herald Scotland. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  15. ↑ Klein Leichman, Abigail (6 June 2011). "Turning Eilat into a priority resort". Israel 21c Innovation News Service. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  16. ↑ "Manuel Belletti wins short, sharp Coppi-Bartali opener". Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  17. ↑ "Multi-million dollar upgrade for Jamaica resort town". Caribbean360. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  18. ↑ "Sākumlapa |". Jurmala.lv. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  19. ↑ "Kurortų asociacija". www.kurortuasociacija.lt. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  20. 1 2 Resorts & Regions - visitmalta.com
  21. ↑ "Página Oficial | H. Ayuntamiento de Cancún". Cancun.gob.mx. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  22. ↑ "Queenstown New Zealand: Official Site". Queenstownnz.co.nz. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  23. ↑ "World's most exotic luxury ski resort? Hitting the slopes at Masik, North Korea". cnn.com. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "Wonsan, North Korean Beach Resort, Announced By Kim Jong Un". The Huffington Post. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  25. ↑ "Health resorts offer touch of history in south-western Poland". Monsters and Critics. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  26. ↑ "Faro Holiday - Faro Travel Guide". Wordtravels.com. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  27. ↑ "Sochi". Mahalo.com. 4 July 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Las Palmas Holiday - Las Palmas Travel Guide". Wordtravels.com. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  29. ↑ "Blackpool - Hotels, attractions, events, breaks, holidays, tourist information". Visitblackpool.com. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  30. ↑ "bosmag". Bournemouth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  31. ↑ "Weston-super-Mare Town Guide, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK - a complete guide to Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area - listing holtels, bed and breakfast, caravan sites, camping sites, businesses, attractions and much more". Weston super Mare. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  32. ↑ "Aspen Named Most Expensive Town in America". Fox News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  33. ↑ "Best of Nha Trang, Vietnam with video and photos". Worldbestplaces.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
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