A critical general analysis of the EEC's activities and attitudes towards tourism

Abstract

Tourism is a means of achieving peace through understanding people. It also brings in foreign currency and generates labour. On the other hand, drugs, disease importation, environmental and ecological problems have to be considered and controlled. The leisure seekers can be divided into two broad categories: The "mass-market" and the ''elite." These two classifications are at the extremes of a pyramid. Mass-market tourism can improve tourist arrivals while putting down standards in the Hospitality sector. Elite tourism, on the other hand, can boost the quality of tourism and hospitality in general. The infrastructure, rate of exchange, government restrictions and excessive control can have an effect on leisure, tourism and hospitality. Offshore banking, business conferences, individual businessmen all demand an efficient and speedy service from the hospitality sector. Yacht marinas, concerts, operas, theatres, historical places and iv museums improve standards. Overcrowding of beaches, shortage of commodities, shortage of water, electricity cuts and inadequate telecommunication, and low standards of hospitality will not help or please anyone. The socio-political, educational and cultural level of the tourist should be taken into consideration when planning the balancing of the ingredients required to make him achieve the aims of making the tour. Being in line with national policy will ensure that the right facilities and amenities are there for the market segments being sought. Targets and objectives can be crushed by many unforeseen factors such as fire, war, contamination and other crises in general. Hence the Manager must think and act at the same time as his product is perishable and the general situation is extremely dynamic. Unfortunately, there are third parties involved such as airlines, suppliers, tour operators and travel agents, that have great effects on standards. Classical hospitality can only be obtained through the direct relationship between the guest and his host. Tourism requires the Leisure and hospitality sectors to perform in such a way that both the natives and the visitors are happy with each other. v Unfortunately, politicians play with tourist arrivals to balance their budgets totally ignoring any side effects. Evil persons always take the first opportunity to make fortunes out of the innocent, people looking for a diversion from daily routine, and of selling anything that pleases the eye, mind or body, without taking into consideration natural and moral values. Although Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality are complementary, they create, through different needs and wants, negative effects on each other. Usually these negative effects are encountered by protests followed by new legislation either to restrict or further dilute a crisis. The professional legislator plans his marketing strategy and supports it with an infrastructure plan and encourages continuous updating to balance all interests in such a way as to have vigilance and control to increase standards of living without lowering the morals and dignity of his country and without depriving to-morrow's population of natural resources and beauty. These thoughts are aimed at politicians, investors, executives and employees in under-developed and developing countries. At an early planning stage in Tourism, all should be aware of their responsibilities to conserve their national resources, dignity and vi identity while building a new way to earn their living.