Mass Tourism and Niche Tourism
Mass Tourism
Close your eyes and picture a beach town on a long weekend. Do you see the traffic along the downtown strip? Do you see people crowding the sidewalks, stores and of course the beach? The number of people is absolutely an indicator of mass tourism existing in a destination. But, what about the tourism packages being offered to tourists? Or the non-locals who own the shops downtown? We must consider if the tourism activities and businesses in the community are having a beneficial impact on the local economy and those who live in the community.
With mass tourism, comes economic leakage. Think of all the resorts in the Caribbean that are owned by international corporations. These multi-million dollar companies economically benefit from the high volume of tourists, not the local communities. Instead, locals have their limited natural resources used up by tourists, watch their home land be destroyed, and experience social implications. This may not always be the case, but the point is that mass tourism is high impact, convenient, standardized and affordable, making it ideal for the majority of tourists.
Niche Tourism
Mass tourism continues to exist in many destinations across the world, but we are starting to see the emergence of new tourism. Niche tourism has come about from the reaction to the negative impacts of mass tourism, along with a cultural and economic shift. Instead of providing standardized products, niche tourism provides individual experiences. There is an increased focus on economies of scope (providing more options) instead of economies of scale. Thus, there is more flexible production and niche markets.
Now close your eyes and picture yourself on a hiking trail in Point Pelee with a group of five people. You have a local guide who has introduced themself and addresses you by your name. While hiking, the guide points out birds and explains their origins, but you are also telling the guide about where you are from and they explain living in the local community. Now think, will every visitor have the same experience when hiking with this guide? Would you have learned about the local culture if your guide wasn’t a resident? How is this experience different than taking a standardized tour with a large company? Notice the unique experience that each visitor will have and the appreciation for a destination that tourists are able to develop.
Types of Niche Tourism
Ecotourism focuses on tourists visiting a natural environment with the intention to support conservation, observe wildlife, sustain the local community, and minimize their environmental impact.
Sustainable tourism involves visiting a destination and making optimal use of the natural resources, respecting the local community, and contributing to a long term economic impact for the host community.
Community based tourism takes place when locals invite tourists to their community to experience their way of life.
