A resort town, resort city or resort destination is an urban area where tourism or vacationing is the primary component of the local culture and economy. A typical resort town has one or more actual resorts in the surrounding area. Sometimes the term resort town is used simply for a locale popular among tourists. One task force in British Columbia used the definition of an incorporated or unincorporated contiguous area where the ratio of transient rooms, measured in bed units, is greater than 60% of the permanent population.[1]
Generally, tourism is the main export in a resort town economy, with most residents of the area working in the tourism or resort industry. Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally themed souvenirs, motels, and unique restaurants often proliferate the downtown areas of a resort town.
In the case of the United States, resort towns were created around the late 1800s and early 1900s with the development of early town-making.[2] Many resort towns feature ambitious architecture, romanticizing their location, and dependence on cheap labor.[2]
If the resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature (such as a ski resort), resort towns typically experience an on-season where the town is bustling with tourists and workers, and an off-season where the town is populated only by a small amount of local year-round residents.
In addition, resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes, which typically drives up property values and the cost of living in the region. Sometimes, resort towns can become boomtowns due to the quick development of retirement and vacation-based residences.[3]
However, most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live the area in which they are employed.[4] Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where the majority of the resort workforce lives.
Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth, due to the seasonal nature of the economy, the dependence on a single industry, and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce.[5]
Economic impact of tourismedit
Local residents are generally receptive of the economic impacts of tourism. Resort towns tend to enjoy lower unemployment rates, improved infrastructure, more advanced telecommunication and transportation capabilities, and higher standards of living and greater income in relation to those who live outside this area.[6] Increased economic activity in resort towns can also have positive effects on the country's overall economic growth and development. In addition, business generated by resort towns have been credited with supporting the local economy through times of national market failure and depression.[2]
In a study conducted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Istanbul Technical University, 401 local residents in the resort community of Antalya were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on the economic impacts of tourism. Among the participants, 67% had lived in Antalya for over ten years, 66% had at least a high school degree, and 30% reported jobs that were related to tourism.[7] The results are as follows:
Perceived impact on select economic impact items (Antalya)
Economic Item
% Totally agree
Standard deviation
Increase in cost of land and housing
97
0.82
Increase in prices of goods and services
97
0.81
More job opportunities in Antalya
98
0.71
Better maintenance of Antalya
96
0.86
Higher standard of roads and public facilities
95
0.90
Increased income for local people
92
0.94
Better appearance of Antalya
86
1.17
More shopping opportunities
85
1.03
Increased standard of living
80
1.06
Economic gains for ordinary people
17
1.12
A comic drawn for a newspaper in a resort area; it depicts elderly local residents with limited income who are used to visiting attractions nearby.
More recently, resort towns have come under greater scrutiny by local communities. Instances where resort towns are poorly managed have adverse effects on the local economy. One example is the uneven distribution of income and land ownership between local residents and businesses. During tourist season, increased demand for accommodation may raise the price of land, causing a simultaneous increase in rent for local residents whose income in invariably lower than foreign residents.[6] This results in a preponderance of foreigners in the land market and an erosion of economic opportunities for local residents.
The revenues amassed from tourism typically do not benefit the host country or the local communities. Income to local communities generated by tourism are all of the expenditures accrued after taxes, profits, and wages are paid out; however, around 80% of traveler's expenditures go to airlines, hotels, and international companies, not to local businesses.[8] These funds are referred to as leakages. Tourism has also been blamed for other negative economic impacts to local communities. Although resort towns usually boast more improved infrastructure than surrounding areas, these developments usually present high costs to local governments and tax payers.[8] Reallocating government funds to subsidize infrastructure and tax breaks to firms shift available funding to local education and health services. In addition, resort towns typically do not have dynamic economies, resulting in an over dependence on one industry. Economic dependence on tourism poses particular challenges to resort towns and its local residents given the seasonal nature of the job market in some areas.[8] Local residents of resort towns face job insecurity, difficulties in obtaining training, medical-benefits, and housing.
^Transitions: Planning, Servicing, and Local Governance in BC's Resort Communities (PDF) (Report). Vol. 1: Best Practices Project. Government of British Columbia. December 2004.
^ abcCrewe, Katherine. "Chandler's Hotel San Marcos: The Resort Impact on a Rural Town." Journal of Urban Design 16.1 (2011): 87-104. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 November 2014.
^. travelnevada.com. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
^Thrane, Christer. "Earnings differentiation in the tourism industry: Gender, human capital and socio-demographic effects." Tourism Management 29.3 (2008): 514-524.
^"MATR News: Resort towns struggle with growth". 26 August 2004. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
^ abTATOĞLU, Assist Prof EKREM, et al. "Resident perceptions of the impact of tourism in a Turkish resort town." Leisure Sciences (1998): 745-755.
^Korça, Perver. "Resident Perceptions of Tourism in a Resort Town." Leisure Sciences 20.3 (1998): 193. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 November 2014.
^ abc. United Nations Environment Programme. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.
^"About St. Lawrence Gap - Otherwise Known as 'The Gap'". TotallyBarbados.com. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
^. Archived from the original on 1 August 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
^. Bournemouth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 19 July 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
^"Weston-super-Mare Town Guide, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK - a complete guide to Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area - listing holtels, bed and breakfast, caravan sites, camping sites, businesses, attractions and much more". Weston super Mare. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
^"Aspen Named Most Expensive Town in America". Fox News. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
^. Worldbestplaces.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
May 02, 2024
resort, town, confused, with, holiday, village, resort, village, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, new. Not to be confused with holiday village or resort village This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Resort town news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message A resort town resort city or resort destination is an urban area where tourism or vacationing is the primary component of the local culture and economy A typical resort town has one or more actual resorts in the surrounding area Sometimes the term resort town is used simply for a locale popular among tourists One task force in British Columbia used the definition of an incorporated or unincorporated contiguous area where the ratio of transient rooms measured in bed units is greater than 60 of the permanent population 1 Heiligendamm in Germany established in 1793 the oldest seaside resort in continental Europe Aerial view of the Cancun island from the top of the Torre Escenicain May 2008 Railway station in Tatranska Lomnica ski resort Slovakia Generally tourism is the main export in a resort town economy with most residents of the area working in the tourism or resort industry Shops and luxury boutiques selling locally themed souvenirs motels and unique restaurants often proliferate the downtown areas of a resort town In the case of the United States resort towns were created around the late 1800s and early 1900s with the development of early town making 2 Many resort towns feature ambitious architecture romanticizing their location and dependence on cheap labor 2 Contents 1 Resort town economy 2 Economic impact of tourism 3 Examples of resort towns 4 See also 5 ReferencesResort town economy editIf the resorts or tourist attractions are seasonal in nature such as a ski resort resort towns typically experience an on season where the town is bustling with tourists and workers and an off season where the town is populated only by a small amount of local year round residents In addition resort towns are often popular with wealthy retirees and people wishing to purchase vacation homes which typically drives up property values and the cost of living in the region Sometimes resort towns can become boomtowns due to the quick development of retirement and vacation based residences 3 However most of the employment available in resort towns are typically low paying and it can be difficult for workers to afford to live the area in which they are employed 4 Many resort towns have spawned nearby bedroom communities where the majority of the resort workforce lives Resorts towns sometimes struggle with problems regarding sustainable growth due to the seasonal nature of the economy the dependence on a single industry and the difficulties in retaining a stable workforce 5 Economic impact of tourism editLocal residents are generally receptive of the economic impacts of tourism Resort towns tend to enjoy lower unemployment rates improved infrastructure more advanced telecommunication and transportation capabilities and higher standards of living and greater income in relation to those who live outside this area 6 Increased economic activity in resort towns can also have positive effects on the country s overall economic growth and development In addition business generated by resort towns have been credited with supporting the local economy through times of national market failure and depression 2 In a study conducted by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of Istanbul Technical University 401 local residents in the resort community of Antalya were interviewed and asked to give their opinion on the economic impacts of tourism Among the participants 67 had lived in Antalya for over ten years 66 had at least a high school degree and 30 reported jobs that were related to tourism 7 The results are as follows Perceived impact on select economic impact items Antalya Economic Item Totally agree Standard deviation Increase in cost of land and housing 97 0 82 Increase in prices of goods and services 97 0 81 More job opportunities in Antalya 98 0 71 Better maintenance of Antalya 96 0 86 Higher standard of roads and public facilities 95 0 90 Increased income for local people 92 0 94 Better appearance of Antalya 86 1 17 More shopping opportunities 85 1 03 Increased standard of living 80 1 06 Economic gains for ordinary people 17 1 12 nbsp A comic drawn for a newspaper in a resort area it depicts elderly local residents with limited income who are used to visiting attractions nearby More recently resort towns have come under greater scrutiny by local communities Instances where resort towns are poorly managed have adverse effects on the local economy One example is the uneven distribution of income and land ownership between local residents and businesses During tourist season increased demand for accommodation may raise the price of land causing a simultaneous increase in rent for local residents whose income in invariably lower than foreign residents 6 This results in a preponderance of foreigners in the land market and an erosion of economic opportunities for local residents The revenues amassed from tourism typically do not benefit the host country or the local communities Income to local communities generated by tourism are all of the expenditures accrued after taxes profits and wages are paid out however around 80 of traveler s expenditures go to airlines hotels and international companies not to local businesses 8 These funds are referred to as leakages Tourism has also been blamed for other negative economic impacts to local communities Although resort towns usually boast more improved infrastructure than surrounding areas these developments usually present high costs to local governments and tax payers 8 Reallocating government funds to subsidize infrastructure and tax breaks to firms shift available funding to local education and health services In addition resort towns typically do not have dynamic economies resulting in an over dependence on one industry Economic dependence on tourism poses particular challenges to resort towns and its local residents given the seasonal nature of the job market in some areas 8 Local residents of resort towns face job insecurity difficulties in obtaining training medical benefits and housing Examples of resort towns edit nbsp Grand Hotel Kurhaus in Resort architecture style in Binz Rugen Germany nbsp An aerial view of the Naantali summertown in Finland nbsp Ft Lauderdale Florida nbsp A pedestrian street in Jurmala Latvia nbsp Nusa Dua in Bali Indonesia See also Category Spa towns and Category Resorts by country Argentina Bariloche Mar del Plata Villa Gesell Australia Cairns Gold Coast Daylesford Hamilton Island Katoomba Port Douglas Shoalhaven Sunshine Coast Thredbo Yulara Austria Ischgl Tirol Kitzbuhel Tirol St Anton Tirol Azerbaijan Nabran Shaki Shamakhi Shahdag Mountain Resort Bahamas Cable Beach Paradise Island Bangladesh Cox s Bazar Barbados Saint Lawrence Gap 9 Belize Caye Caulker Village Placencia San Pedro Town Belgium De Panne Brazil Aguas de Lindoia Aguas de Sao Pedro Angra dos Reis Arraial do Cabo Balneario Camboriu Buzios Caldas Novas Canoa Quebrada Costa do Sauipe Campos do Jordao Canela Fernando de Noronha Florianopolis Fortaleza Foz do Iguacu Gramado Guaruja Jericoacoara Maragogi Olimpia Paraty Petropolis Pocos de Caldas Porto de Galinhas Porto Seguro Pipa Beach Rio de Janeiro Rio Quente Sao Miguel dos Milagres Serra Negra Trancoso Bulgaria Borovets Golden Sands Sunny Beach Cambodia Sihanoukville Siem Reap Canada see also cottage country Banff Barrie Canmore Collingwood Fernie Jasper Kelowna Kimberley Lake Cowichan Lake Louise Mont Tremblant Niagara Falls Saint Andrews Tofino 10 The Blue Mountains Whistler Chile Algarrobo Santo Domingo Pucon Villarrica Zapallar China Kuling town Lijiang Macau Sanya Colombia Baru Island Bocagrande Cartagena Covenas 11 Girardot Melgar Palomino San Andres Island Tierra Bomba Island Cuba Varadero Czech Republic Stare Splavy Dominican Republic Punta Cana Ecuador Montanita Egypt El Gouna Marina Sahl Hasheesh Sharm el Sheikh Siwa Oasis Estonia Haapsalu Kuressaare Parnu Finland Hanko Kittila Mariehamn 12 Naantali 13 France Cannes 14 Deauville Nice Georgia Shovi Bakhmaro Gudauri Germany Baden Baden Binz Garmisch Partenkirchen Heiligendamm Heringsdorf Rust Sassnitz Sellin Spiekeroog Warnemunde part of Rostock Greece Asprovalta Arachova Aidipsos Chalkidiki Corfu Elatochori Hydra Kamena Vourla Karystos Katakolo Kineta Kissamos Kythnos Laganas Leptokarya Litochoro Loutraki Malia Monemvasia Nafpaktos Neoi Poroi Olympic Coast Parga Platamon Porto Cheli Pylos Santorini Skyros Island Syvota Hungary Buk Heviz India Andaman amp Nicobar Island Panaji Gulmarg Shimla Manali Mussoorie Lakshadweep Ooty Puducherry Alappuzha Madikeri Darjeeling Udaipur Indonesia Mandalika Nusa Dua Iran Sareyn Namak Abrud Ireland Bray Clonakilty Tramore Israel Eilat 15 Italy Portofino Riccione 16 Rimini Jamaica Negril Ocho Rios 17 Japan Karuizawa Hakone Beppu Atami Hakuba Niseko Wakayama Marina City Latvia Jurmala 18 Lithuania Birstonas Druskininkai Neringa Palanga 19 Malaysia Langkawi Penang Pangkor Cameron Highlands Genting Highlands Port Dickson Malacca City Desaru Kuala Terengganu Kundasang Malta St Julian s incl Paceville 20 Sliema 20 Mexico Acapulco Cabo San Lucas Cancun 21 Cozumel Isla Mujeres Puerto Penasco Puerto Vallarta Playa del Carmen Morocco Ifrane New Zealand Queenstown 22 Wanaka South Africa Ballito Langebaan Plettenberg Bay Port Elizabeth Umhlanga Nepal Pokhara North Korea Wonsan 23 24 North Macedonia Mavrovo Ohrid Peru Urubamba Machupicchu Pueblo Philippines Baguio El Nido Island Garden City of Samal Lapu Lapu City Cebu Malay Boracay Pagudpud Panglao Puerto Galera Tagaytay Vigan Poland Jedlina Zdroj 25 Krynica Gorska Misdroy Sopot Zakopane Portugal Caldas da Rainha Estoril Faro 26 Figueira da Foz Lagos Puerto Rico Ponce Romania Mamaia Poiana Brasov Russia Anapa Sochi 27 Gelendzhik Singapore Sentosa Slovakia Piestany Stary Smokovec Strbske pleso Tatranska Lomnica South Korea Jeju Spain Benidorm Blanes Calp Canary Islands Denia Gran Canaria Ibiza Las Palmas 28 Lloret de Mar Marbella Tenerife Torrevieja Tossa de Mar other in Category Resorts in Spain Switzerland Gstaad St Moritz Verbier Thailand Pattaya Phuket Hua Hin Cha am Koh Samui Chiang Mai Pai Thailand Turkey Antalya Bodrum Kusadasi Marmaris United Kingdom Ayr Blackpool 29 Bournemouth 30 Brighton Burntisland Deal Kent Girvan Largs Llandudno Nairn Rothesay Saltcoats Skegness Southend on Sea Southport St Leonards on Sea Torquay Weston super Mare 31 United States Aspen Colorado 32 Allenhurst New Jersey Angel Fire New Mexico Asbury Park New Jersey Asheville North Carolina Atlantic City New Jersey Aventura Florida Bar Harbor Maine Big Bear Lake California Big Sky Montana Biloxi Mississippi Branson Missouri Bull Shoals Arkansas Camden Maine Cape May New Jersey Carlsbad California Cloudcroft New Mexico Coronado California Daytona Beach Florida Deal New Jersey Destin Florida Eagle Nest New Mexico East Hampton New York Eatontown New Jersey Edgartown Massachusetts Elberon New Jersey Fire Island New York Fish Creek Wisconsin Door County Galveston Texas Gatlinburg Tennessee Glenwood Springs Colorado Gulf Shores Alabama Hershey Pennsylvania Highlands North Carolina Hilton Head Island South Carolina Hot Springs Arkansas Incline Village Nevada Jackson Wyoming Jacksonville Beach Florida Jekyll Island Georgia Kennebunkport Maine Key West Florida Laguna Beach California Lake Geneva Wisconsin Lake George New York Las Vegas Nevada Laughlin Nevada Loch Arbour New Jersey Long Beach California Long Branch New Jersey Mackinac Island Michigan Mackinaw City Michigan Mammoth Wyoming Mammoth Lakes California Marathon Texas Marfa Texas Martha s Vineyard Massachusetts Medicine Park Oklahoma Miami Beach Florida Moab Utah Montauk New York Monterey Bay California Myrtle Beach South Carolina Nahant Massachusetts Nantucket Massachusetts Newport Rhode Island New Smyrna Beach Florida Niagara Falls New York Oak Bluffs Massachusetts Ocean Beach New York Ocean City Maryland Ocean City New Jersey Ocean Park Maine Orange Beach Alabama Orlando Florida Ogunquit Maine Old Orchard Beach Maine Palm Beach Florida Palm Springs California Pinehurst North Carolina Panama City Beach Florida Park City Utah Pigeon Forge Tennessee Provincetown Massachusetts Put In Bay Ohio Red River New Mexico Rehoboth Beach Delaware Ruidoso New Mexico Sandusky Ohio Santa Claus Indiana Santa Cruz California Santa Fe New Mexico Santa Monica California Saint George Utah Saint Simons Island Georgia Scottsdale Arizona Sedro Woolley Washington Sevierville Tennessee Seward Alaska Southampton New York South Lake Tahoe California South Padre Island Texas Spearfish South Dakota Stehekin Washington Stowe Vermont Sunny Isles Florida Sun Valley Idaho Terlingua Texas Traverse City Michigan Vail Colorado Vincennes Indiana Virginia Beach Virginia Wells Maine West Baden Springs Indiana West Yellowstone Montana Whitefish Montana Wildwood New Jersey Williamsburg Virginia Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Wrightsville Beach North Carolina Wrightwood California York Beach Maine Uruguay Atlantida La Paloma Punta del Este Piriapolis Vietnam Nha Trang 33 See also editTourist attraction Tourist region Hill stationReferences edit Transitions Planning Servicing and Local Governance in BC s Resort Communities PDF Report Vol 1 Best Practices Project Government of British Columbia December 2004 a b c Crewe Katherine Chandler s Hotel San Marcos The Resort Impact on a Rural Town Journal of Urban Design 16 1 2011 87 104 Academic Search Premier Web 3 November 2014 Nevada Commission on Tourism travelnevada com Archived from the original on 11 March 2007 Retrieved 3 April 2018 Thrane Christer Earnings differentiation in the tourism industry Gender human capital and socio demographic effects Tourism Management 29 3 2008 514 524 MATR News Resort towns struggle with growth 26 August 2004 Retrieved 10 August 2015 a b TATOGLU Assist Prof EKREM et al Resident perceptions of the impact of tourism in a Turkish resort town Leisure Sciences 1998 745 755 Korca Perver Resident Perceptions of Tourism in a Resort Town Leisure Sciences 20 3 1998 193 Academic Search Premier Web 3 November 2014 a b c Negative Economic Impacts of Tourism United Nations Environment Programme Archived from the original on 16 October 2013 About St Lawrence Gap Otherwise Known as The Gap TotallyBarbados com Retrieved 19 September 2014 Tofino area is home of Canada s priciest hotel rooms Archived from the original on 1 August 2011 Retrieved 17 February 2016 Colombia s best beaches 16 March 2013 Tourism Mariehamn amp Mariehamn Travel Guide Discovering Finland Naantali Tourism Discovering Finland to the glittering resort town along the French Riviera Herald Scotland 26 May 2007 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Klein Leichman Abigail 6 June 2011 Turning Eilat into a priority resort Israel 21c Innovation News Service Archived from the original on 15 June 2011 Retrieved 26 June 2011 Manuel Belletti wins short sharp Coppi Bartali opener Retrieved 10 August 2015 Multi million dollar upgrade for Jamaica resort town Caribbean360 17 July 2009 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Sakumlapa Jurmala lv Retrieved 30 April 2013 Kurortu asociacija www kurortuasociacija lt Retrieved 3 April 2018 a b Resorts amp Regions visitmalta com Pagina Oficial H Ayuntamiento de Cancun Cancun gob mx Retrieved 30 April 2013 Queenstown New Zealand Official Site Queenstownnz co nz 23 November 2012 Retrieved 30 April 2013 World s most exotic luxury ski resort Hitting the slopes at Masik North Korea cnn com 15 January 2014 Retrieved 3 April 2018 Wonsan North Korean Beach Resort Announced By Kim Jong Un The Huffington Post 28 June 2013 Retrieved 10 August 2015 Health resorts offer touch of history in south western Poland Monsters and Critics 22 March 2011 Archived from the original on 14 October 2012 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Faro Holiday Faro Travel Guide Wordtravels com Retrieved 30 April 2013 Sochi Mahalo com 4 July 2007 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Las Palmas Holiday Las Palmas Travel Guide Wordtravels com Retrieved 30 April 2013 Blackpool Hotels attractions events breaks holidays tourist information Visitblackpool com Retrieved 30 April 2013 bosmag Bournemouth co uk Archived from the original on 19 July 2013 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Weston super Mare Town Guide Weston super Mare Somerset UK a complete guide to Weston super Mare and the surrounding area listing holtels bed and breakfast caravan sites camping sites businesses attractions and much more Weston super Mare Retrieved 30 April 2013 Aspen Named Most Expensive Town in America Fox News 4 March 2011 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Best of Nha Trang Vietnam with video and photos Worldbestplaces com Archived from the original on 28 August 2011 Retrieved 30 April 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Resort town amp oldid 1219447841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
