The importance of tourism in climatic-extreme destinations (eBook)

Seminar paper from the year 2022 in the subject Tourism - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,3, , language: English, abstract: This paper is about the importance of tourism in climatic-extreme destinations. Using the Coachella Valley and Mount Everest region as case studies.

The main aim of this research is to highlight the economic impacts on the local community to prove that both destinations are highly dependent on tourism. In the last chapter, the devastating economic impacts of the covid pandemic – as a contrary situation - on each destination are observed to substantiate the importance of seasonal tourists. Resulting, more concrete statements on tourism dependency will be made, as worldwide travel restrictions and lockdowns led to a slump in the tourism industry, directly affecting the local economy.

It is a well-known fact that the tourism sector can contribute to the economic growth of a region. This is why the tourism industry plays a crucial role in destination development – both directly and indirectly. As a result, tourism generates a variety of social benefits for a region like the creation of new jobs, infrastructural improvements and allows small-sized enterprises to grow.

Consequently, tourism is even more important for seasonal and climatically challenging destinations to guarantee the survivability of the local community during the low season with hardly any tourists. Therefore, it is highly relevant to illustrate this positive influence in more detail. Throughout the entire paper, case studies of two different and climatically distinct destinations will be used: The Coachella Valley as a desert in California and in contrast the Mount Everest region with unpredictable temperatures combined with a lack of oxygen.

There is no doubt that Mount Everest attracts significantly more spendy adventurers every single year. In addition, the Coachella Valley in California is primarily drawn by over 250,000 visitors in April from all over the globe to attend the famous "Coachella Valley Music" and "Arts Festival". It is even more interesting to observe how tourism influences spatial development, since both examples are climatic extremes with a significant tourism dependency.