April 2014 – Moving Through Space to Discover a Place

Reference List

Victoria Pamela Bell / April 28, 2014April 28, 2014 / References

Belize.com (2014) The Belize.com list of top 10 things to do in Belize. [online] Belize.com. Available from: http://www.belize.com/top-ten-things-to-do-in-belize [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Boniface, M., Cooper. C. and Cooper, R. (2012) Worldwide destinations: the geography of travel and tourism. 6^th edition.London: Routledge.

Burton, R. (1995) Travel Geography. 2^nd edition. London: Pearson Education Limited.

Destination Belize (2013) About Belize. [online] Destination Belize. Available from: http://www.destinationbelize.com/travel-planner-about-belize/ [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Discover America (2014) New York: The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island. [online] Discover America. Available from: http://www.discoveramerica.com/usa/experiences/n/new-york/the-statue-of-liberty-and-ellis-island.aspx [Accessed 14 April 2014].

Discover America (2014) USA Travel Information. [online] Discover America. Available from http://www.discoveramerica.com/ [Accessed 26 February 2014].

Discover America (2014) Discover Route 66 from Chicago to Springfield in Illinois. [online video] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-NAx4KKH8E [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Eijgelaar, E., Peeters, P. and Piket, P. (2008) Domestic and International Tourism in a Globalised World. International Tourism, 1-26.

Google Images (2014) Available from: http://www.google.com/imghp [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Lonely Planet (2014) Introducing Niagara Falls. [online] Lonely Planet. Available from: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/ontario/niagara-falls [Accessed 14 April 2014].

National Park Foundation (2014) Grand Canyon National Park. [online] Washington: National Park Foundation. Available from: http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/grand-canyon-national-park?gclid=CMiUlYCs_L0CFabLtAodp0YASQ [Accessed 14 April 2014].

Niagara Falls Tourism (2014) Make Niagara Falls your next visit. [online] Niagara Falls Tourism. Available from: http://niagarafallstourism.com/ [Accessed 14 April 2014].

Nicholas Will (2013) Belize: Discover How to Be. [online video] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRMeZZKX-cY [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Park, E. (2014) The Nature of the Experience Economy in the Americas. [lecture] Space, Mobilities and the Experience Economy TOU1012M, University of Lincoln, 4 November.

STA Travel (2014) Canada’s Climate. [online] STA Travel. Available from: http://www.statravel.com/canada-climate.htm [Accessed 14 April 2014].

The Bahamas (2011) Beaches of the Bahamas. [online video] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLxlD0La6iM [Accessed 15 April 2014].

The Islands of the Bahamas (2014) Treasure Cay Beach. [online] The Islands of the Bahamas. Available from: https://www.bahamas.com [Accessed 14 April 2014].

The Islands of the Bahamas (2014) What is Junkanoo. [online] The Islands of the Bahamas. Available from: http://www.bahamas.co.uk/about/junkanoo/what-is-junkanoo [Accessed 14 April 2014].

Travel Belize (2013) Facts about Belize. [online] Travel Belize. Available from: http://www.travelbelize.org/facts-about-belize [Accessed 15 April 2014].

UNWTO (2013) UNWTO: Tourism Highlights. UNTWO. [online] Available from http://dtxtq4w60xqpw.cloudfront.net/sites/all/files/pdf/unwto_highlights13_en_hr.pdf [Accessed 26 February 2014].

Voyage Channel (2010) Junkanoo Festival: The Bahamas. [online video] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa5uX2TcrRo [Accessed 15 April 2014].

WDW Magic (2009) Walt Disney World History. [online] WDW Magic. Available from: http://www.wdwmagic.com/walt-disney-world-history.htm [Accessed 14 April 2014].

Revision Questions

Victoria Pamela Bell / April 28, 2014April 28, 2014 / Revision Questions

Revision Questions

The following questions are designed to test the readers’ knowledge to ensure the main points of the website have been brought to their attention.

Name 3 main attractions within the Americas
Describe the climate in the Caribbean
Which destinations are most popular amongst international visitors and where do they come from?

(Total word count: 2409)

Conclusion

Victoria Pamela Bell / April 27, 2014April 28, 2014 / Conclusion

The Americas are a great destination for people of all ages whether they be couples or families. All three sub-regions offer different tourism resources so there are activities suitable for everyone. North America has many coastal resources, predominantly in Florida and Miami, as well as natural resources such as the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls. In addition to this, the most popular destination for young families and international visitors is the Disney theme parks. Tourism in the central and south of the Americas focus more upon beach tourism and cultural attractions.

Due to the ranging climate across the region, tourism is viable all year round which is a big advantage. Furthermore, the region is also easily accessible via air travel, especially since the introduction of budget airlines, and there is a range of transport modes once within the region. The Americas is definitely worth a visit for those who have not done so already.

Evaluation of Region

Victoria Pamela Bell / April 27, 2014April 28, 2014 / Evaluation of Region

The Americas is a vast continent with a range of tourist resources available throughout the year. Due to the size of the whole region, there is a wealth of tourist resources for both domestic and international visitors. Although there are resources ranging from natural to cultural to man-made attractions, when people think of the Americas, it tends to be thought of as quite a commercialised destination. This can especially be the case when regarding North America; destinations such as Las Vegas and the Disney Resorts reinforce this view. This is highlighted with the majority of international arrivals visiting the North of America, with New York and Florida being amongst the most popular cities.

Despite this slight weakness, the region redeems itself as it actually possesses a large amount of cultural and historical resources as discussed in the visitor attractions section. These are particularly predominant in the central and south of the Americas. If the Americas are to be an even bigger success than they already are, they need to celebrate and promote their cultural resources on a bigger scale to attract more international visitors to its southern regions. If this is done successfully, it should boost the level of tourism in the south so that it is similar to that of North America.

Belize

Victoria Pamela Bell / April 27, 2014April 28, 2014 / Case Study

(YouTube, 2013)

Geography
Belize is situated in Central America and is bordered by Mexico in the north, by Guatemala to the south and west and by the Caribbean Sea to the east. It is one of the smallest countries in Central America and is mainly forested with swampy coasts. Not only is it one of the smallest countries, it also has one of the smallest populations; in 2010, the population was estimated to be just over 300,000 people (Destination Belize, 2013). It boasts a range of various cultures, with ancestors being from the Mayan descent.

The coast is mainly swampy with mangrove swamps but there are some good sandy beaches (Burton, 1995). However, to the south there are hills and low lying mountains. In addition to this, Belize has many jungles and wildlife reserves that have a variety of flora and fauna as well as animals such as the jaguar (Travel Belize, 2013).

(Google Images, 2014)

Climate
Belize’s climate is tropical to subtropical and consists of a wet and dry season, with most rainfall occurring from June through to December. There is also a hurricane season during the months June – November (Destination Belize, 2013). The average temperature throughout the year is 29°C although the humidity in the summer months can make it feel slightly hotter. The temperature remains relatively warm even during the winter months (November-March), rarely falling below 16°C (Travel Belize, 2013).

Language
English is widely spoken throughout Belize with it being the only English-speaking country in Central America (Travel Belize, 2013). Despite this, Creole is the official language of Belize, which is an English derived dialect (Belize.com, 2013). In addition to this, Spanish is also prominently spoken throughout the country.

Tourism Resources
Although Belize is such a small country, it still boasts a wealth of tourism activities. One of the main tourist attractions is the 185km long coral reef barrier situated just off the coast. It is the second largest coral barrier reef in the world (Burton 1995). Other popular attractions include the wildlife and the ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization. Below is a detailed list of all activities that can be experienced during a vacation to Belize.

Coastal Tourism:
Although Belize has many swamps, the coastline extends some 270 miles along the Caribbean Sea. Many of the best beaches are in the Cayes (offshore islands) where there is the opportunity to go diving, snorkeling, fishing and yachting (Burton, 1995).

(Google Images, 2014)

For those who want to fish, Turneffe Atoll is a good destination to catch bonefish, permit and tarpon. With such an abundance of fish, the destination is excellent for all year round fishing (Travel Belize, 2013).

(Google Images, 2014)

Snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea is also a popular activity. There are many snorkeling destinations along the Belizean coast and local guides are on hand to help explore the coral reefs, sponges and over 500 species of fish and marine life (Travel Belize, 2013).

(Google Images, 2014)

Scuba diving is probably the most popular tourist activity due to the coral barrier reef just off the coast. Caye Caulker is well-known for its underwater caves and is a particular attraction for divers.

(Google Images, 2014)

Wildlife Tourism:

There are many National Parks across Belize, with the main wildlife attractions being Jaguars, Howler Monkeys, Orchids and butterflies (Burton, 1995).

Another wildlife attraction is the Belize Zoo. It is locates 31 miles west of Belize City and is accessible by bus, car or taxi. The zoo exhibits over 150 native animals and the natural enclosures are large, airy and comfortable (Belize.com, 2013).

(Google Images, 2014)

Historic Attractions:
Belize’s Maya occupation began all the way back in 1500 BC (Travel Belize, 2013) and to this day, cultural sites are left behind for tourists to visit. The most popular Mayan sites are near to the Guatemalan border, at Xunantunich, Cahal Pech and Caracol (Burton, 1995). Tour operators give tourists the chance to visit the ruins but families from the Mayan decent are also happy to tell visitors of their culture and share stories that have been passed down through generations.

(Google Images, 2014)

Belize is a great tourist destination for people of all ages. It has a range of tourist attractions that ensure there is something for everyone to do. The warm tropical climate also means that tourism is feasible all year round. This tourism destination offers tourists something more than just a sun and sea holiday, with culture being a large part of the Belizean lifestyle.