hospitality current issue research
hospitality current issue research
The Geography of International Hospitality Development
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The world is divided into twenty-four time zones with the initial or zero zone beginning at the prime meridian at Greenwich. This zero time zone is traditionally known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
However, the term GMT was replaced in 1979 by Universal Time Coordinate (UTC) which is now used throughout the world for marine navigation. But GMT is still commonly used in the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Geographically, a location has two attributes that need to be examined before a hospitality business can be developed: absolute location and relative location.
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Absolute location refers to the precise location of a place, which can be pinpointed precisely by the measures of latitude and longitude. It is also known as the site, which refers to the physical characteristics of the place, including geological features, climatic conditions, bioresources, and cultural and economic characteristics, such as the ethnic makeup of the local population, their religious beliefs, and the level of living standards. The study of absolute location analyze the internal characteristics of a place.
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Relative location refers to the situation of the place, the external characteristics, such as proximity to major tourist markets and easy accessibility for tourists. It therefore refers to the location of places with respect to other places in order to understand interdependence at regional or international levels.
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An examination of international travel by region can reveal travel patterns in different parts of the world and identify potential opportunities for hospitality expansion.
Such travel patterns can be analyzed by hospitality corporations to make entry decisions for certain regions.
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There is no doubt that the hospitality industry follows international tourist demand. Regional hospitality development patterns are parallel to regional international travel patterns (see Exhibit 2.2).
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As discussed at the end of Chapter 1, various motivations have driven large hospitality corporations to expand operations beyond their own national boundaries. In the race to globalize hospitality operations, some giant corporations have emerged, in both the lodging and food service business.
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The internationalization of the food service industry was primarily pioneered by, and is now dominated by, U.S.-based quick-service restaurants (QSR), such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and Pizza Hut.
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The decision by these companies to go international was made to tap the great potential of foreign food service markets and to service Americans traveling abroad. It is interesting to note that American fast food is embraced by young people in many foreign countries as “fashion food”, an element of the popular Western culture.
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The casual and midscale food service operations have also entered the international market, such as U.S.-based Denny’s, Sizzler International, T.G.I. Friday’s, U.K.-based Forte Restauranta, and Mexico-based Chi Chi’s Restaurants. T.G.I. Friday’s, a member of Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, is a very aggressive international restaurant company.
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Europe:
This region will continue to be the leading international tourist destination. Its political and economic stability, close cultural ties with North America, and splendid cultural history will attract tourists from all over the world.
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North America:
The United States has become one of the top tourist destinations in the world. The implementation of NAFTA increased the flow of people and goods between the three North American countries.
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The Caribbean and Central and South America:
The Caribbean region has been a popular playground for international tourists. Its popularity will continue as demand for sun-sea-sand destinations grows.
However, an ecologically sensitive development approach has been emphasized by local governments in recent years.
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The Middle East:
This region has potential for future expansion. Traditionally, the oil-rich countries in the Middle East have set their economic priority on oil production and exportation.
Tourism, particularly leisure tourism, is not enthusiastically promoted by Saudi Arabia or other countries in the region.
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Africa:
Physical isolation, poverty, and internal turmoil have kept many tourists from visiting the region.
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Asia and the Pacific:
This region has two-fifths of the world’s population, which surely has hospitality developers pondering its market potential. In the first part of the 1990s, the economies of many countries in East and South Asia experienced marked improvement.
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