Mass tourism
Features
mass tourismTourism on a large scale with many people visiting. occurs when large numbers of people visit the same place at any one time. This includes sunbathing on a beach, eg the Costa Del Sol (Spain), skiing in the mountains such as the Swiss Alps, visiting a National ParkAn area that is protected by law to ensure its conservation. such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (Scotland), or travelling to a theme park, eg Disney World in Florida.

Governments and local people often favour mass tourism as it generates a lot of income. Mass tourism is often the most popular forms of tourism as it is usually the cheapest way to go on holiday, by booking a package deal through a travel agentA company that arranges holidays by booking flights, transfers and hotels for customers..
Causes of mass tourism
- Improvements in communicationsRoad, rail and air travel. - road, rail and air travel.
- Purpose built resortsA place used for leisure or relaxation and provides services for tourists., spasA place used for relaxation and treatments such as massages. and holiday camps.
- Increase in paid time off work, following the 1871 Bank Holiday ActA law passed by Government stating that employers must pay people for Bank Holidays..
- Ability to finance time off work with holiday pay, following the 1938 Holidays with Pay ActA law passed by Government stating that employers must pay people for holidays..
- More free time to travel and holiday at home and abroad.
- Enhanced standard of livingThe amount of wealth or personal comfort that a person or group of people have. and more disposable incomeThe income available for spending after taxes. .
- The impact of tour operatorsA holiday company that combines tours and travel. and travel agents making it easier to holiday with package dealA holiday that includes flights, hotel and transfers., which often include flights, transfers and meals.
- Travel programmes on TV and social network sitesInternet websites that allow people to communicate, eg Facebook. encouraging people to visit different places.
- Cheap package holidays and budget airlines making holidays more affordable to many people.
- Attitudes to going abroad have changed as tour operators eliminate the stress by employing tour repsPeople who are employed in resorts to assist tourists e.g. Book excursions. in the resorts.
- Desire to experience different climates and guaranteed sunshine - away from the great Scottish summer!
- Demand to explore different places of historicalEvents in the past. Also used to describe ancient buildings or places., cultureIdeas, customs and social behaviour of a society., religiousA belief in a god or a deity. or environmentalThe natural world around us, such as the land, air and water. interest.