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.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2. Background on tourism in the Coachella Valley and Mount Everest area
3. Positive effects of tourism dependency
3.1. Improvements in the Coachella Valley through tourists
3.2. Improvements in the Mount Everest region through tourists
4. Influence of the covid pandemic as an instrument for tourism dependecy
4.1. Influence in the Coachella Valley
4.2. Influence in the Mount Everest region
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the significant role of tourism in the economic development of two climatically extreme locations, the Coachella Valley and the Mount Everest region. It aims to highlight the economic dependencies of these communities on seasonal tourism and investigates the severe socio-economic impacts caused by the collapse of the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Economic impact of seasonal tourism in desert and high-altitude environments.
- Case studies comparing the Coachella Valley and the Mount Everest region.
- The role of major events and adventure tourism in driving regional economies.
- Consequences of pandemic-related travel restrictions on local employment and small businesses.
- The vulnerability of tourism-dependent communities to global crises.
Excerpt from the book
3.1 Improvements in the Coachella Valley through tourists
In general, it can be said that the tourism industry is an economic engine in the Coachella Valley: a source of tax revenue, a job generator and it strengthens the regional economy (cf. Barkas, 2018). Before the coronavirus spread throughout the entire world, the desert hosted a significant record number of over 14,000,000 tourists – including 2,600,000 arrivals at the local airport (cf. Barkas, 2018; Biller, 2020). This soared increase directly refers to providing more than 53,000 jobs in the tourism sector as well as "(...) generating more than $7 billion in local economic impact in 2019" (...) and creat[ing] $592 million in state and local tax revenue" (Biller, 2020; Daniels & Olalde, 2020; Faughnder, 2016; Barkas, 2018). Some may not consider tourism to be a large part of employment in the Coachella Valley, but it accounts for 22% of the total local employment (cf. Daniels & Olalde, 2020).
This fact proves that without the increase in tourists, the number of employees in the hospitality sector would be remarkably less with a direct connection to a higher unemployment rate as well as a diminished quality of life.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of how tourism contributes to regional economic growth and introduces the two specific case studies, Coachella Valley and Mount Everest, as examples of climatically extreme destinations.
2. Background on tourism in the Coachella Valley and Mount Everest region: Investigates the seasonal nature of tourism in these locations, identifying the primary tourist groups and the factors attracting visitors to these distinct environments.
3. Positive effects of tourism dependency: Analyzes how tourism-related growth, such as the Coachella Music Festival or climbing expeditions in Nepal, generates employment and improves the financial livelihood of local residents.
4. Influence of the covid pandemic as an instrument for tourism dependecy: Documents the devastating financial consequences for local entrepreneurs and employees when tourism activity abruptly ceases due to global pandemic restrictions.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, reaffirming that both regions rely heavily on seasonal tourism and that the pandemic has severely deteriorated the economic stability of these communities.
Keywords
Tourism dependency, Economic growth, Coachella Valley, Mount Everest, Seasonal tourism, COVID-19 impact, Destination development, Regional economy, Hospitality sector, Employment, Climatic extremes, Small business survivability, Socio-economic crisis, Tourism arrivals, Local infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper primarily investigates the economic importance of the tourism industry for two climatically distinct, tourism-dependent regions: the Coachella Valley and the area around Mount Everest.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The main themes include the positive impacts of seasonal tourism on local job creation and tax income, and the subsequent economic vulnerability these regions face when tourism activity is interrupted.
What is the main objective or research question?
The goal is to demonstrate how essential tourism is to the economic survival and infrastructure of these regions by analyzing the drastic detrimental effects observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What scientific methods were used in the paper?
The author employs a comparative case study approach, utilizing secondary data, industry reports, and personal testimonials to analyze economic trends and social outcomes in both study locations.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body examines the pre-pandemic tourism boom, the specific economic drivers in the Coachella Valley and the Mount Everest region, and the subsequent financial fallout for small businesses such as lodges, restaurants, and local services like transport.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Key terms include tourism dependency, economic impact, seasonal industry, COVID-19, regional development, and local entrepreneurship.
How did the Coachella Valley specifically benefit from tourism before the pandemic?
The region benefited through record tourist arrivals, significant job creation in the hospitality and retail sectors, and massive tax revenues generated by events like the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
What specific challenges did the Mount Everest region face during the pandemic?
Local lodge owners and Sherpa guides faced a complete loss of income, forcing many to fall back on subsistence activities like herding or farming to survive, while struggling to meet rent and loan obligations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Talisa Gassmann (Autor:in), 2022, The importance of tourism in climatic-extreme destinations, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1242708
