Destination – Factors To Consider When Choosing One

A destination represents an amalgamation of different tourism products which together provide a unique destination to experience to travelers. For most consumers (be them day or long-term tourists or vacationers) in leisure tourism, specifically, the destination is usually the main motivating factor behind the tourists choice and expectations. For example, it may be a beach destination, a resort town or a city with great food and wine. It might be because of climate conditions, the terrain, the culture, history, art and architecture or a combination of any of these factors, but whatever the primary driving force behind a visitor’s choice of a destination, one thing remains certain – the destination must be able to meet the needs and desires of the particular customer segment. Therefore, if one is looking to cater to the needs and desires of a typical leisure tourist, a destination would have to satisfy the following 3 requirements.

First, the destination must be accessible by car. The great majority of tourists today are looking for a place/city to go from where they are arriving and where they wish to go to. Therefore, if the transportation to the destination is not provided by the airline or trucking companies, the destination cannot be considered a great destination. In fact, if the destination cannot be accessed by the means of any of the commercial modes like air, rail or road, then it is considered to be inaccessible and not a preferred destination at all. Thus, if the primary factor for a visitor to a destination is accessibility, then the destination must not only provide comfortable and easy access by means of a road, rail or air but must also provide alternate means for travel.

Second, the destination must also be found in a place where there is a great mix of culture and tradition. While a city that has a rich history and heritage can be considered a great destination, so can a destination with strong cultural and traditional roots. Otherwise, unless the visitor is willing to travel to the country or other country where the roots of the culture are preserved, he or she will not appreciate the true beauty of a heritage culture. Otherwise, the visit will be mostly confined to visiting museums or galleries without exploring the roots of the culture.