Tourism

Tourism

Pictures

Identify and compare the different types of holiday in the pictures. Which of the destinations you choose and why?

I can see different types of holiday in the pictures.

Picture 1 (pyramídy)

In the first Picture I can see pyramids and Sphings in Egypt. I think it´s holiday with sightseeing. On such a holiday you admire the history and culture of Egypt.

Picture 2 (grécke mestečko)

In the second Picture I can see a small Greek town. It might be sightseeing or sun-and-sea holiday.

Picture 3 (turisti v prírode)

In the third Picture I can see backpackers. They are hiking and maybe climbing. It´s a kind of adventure travel.

Picture 4 (lyžovačka)

In the last Picture I can see a type of winter holiday- skiing in the mountains.

Me, personally, I would choose sun-and-sea holiday in Greece. I like sunbathing and swimming.

2 Give some reasons why tourism has become one of the most important industries in each country. Speak about services which it requires to be highly developed.

Many countries of the world live from tourism. They offer natural beauty or historical monuments that attract tourists. Tourism can be divided into domestic – when we stay at different places in our own country, and international – when we travel abroad.

People travel because they want to know new places and admire the history, culture, language and traditons of the world.

Nowadays more and more travellers choose more exotic destinations such as China, Africa or Asia.

These days the following types of holidays are popular:

• Sun and sea holiday (or beach holiday)
• Adventure travel – across the Sahara on a camel, sleeping under the stars
• Ecotourism – on the farm, helping with animals
• Sightseeing – admiring historical monuments
• Spa holiday – connecting with health care and treatment with drinking mineral waters, bathing, mud wrapping, massages, balneotherapy, rehabilitations, whirpool, solarium etc.
• Cruises – spending holiday on the big boat that looks like floating hotel with restaurants, bars, cinemas, pools, casinos, fitcentres etc.
• Alternative holidays – holiday centres offer activities and courses such as yoga, meditation, artistic skills like painting, pottery, sports holidays
• Backpacking holidays – backpackers arrange everything on their own – accommodation, tickets, visa, money etc.

Tourism is also very important for the economics of the country. It brings a number of jobs. People can find jobs in different parts of the travel industry: airlines – stewards, hotels – housekeepers, waiters, bartenders, receptionists, tour-guides.

Many people use the services of travel agencies and buy so called package holidays: bed and breakfast, half board or full board, insurance, all inclusive.

What can Slovakia offer to foreigners from the point of view of tourism.

Material and spiritual culture of Slovakia are represented by historical monuments, interesting towns and places as well as many natural areas.

There are 5 national parks and protected gardens, places, animals and plants in Slovakia.

Tatra National Park (TANAP)  is the oldest one in Slovakia. It covers all High Tatras. In the TANAP territory there are good conditions for mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, recreation and climatic treatment. In the High Tatras can be seen Alpine flora and fauna that includes bears, marmots and chamois (šemuaz).

It is a suitable place for winter and summer holidays.

The Low Tatras can offer almost the same as High Tatras do and in addition its large caves – Demänovská cave of Freedom and Demänovská Ice cave – one of the prettiest in Europe.

Pieniny National Park offers beautiful countryside with a number of rocky shapes and deep canyon of the Dunajec river which is famous for attractive rafting.

In Slovakia there are many towns and interesting places worth visiting, e.g. Banská Štiavnica – an old mining town, Kremnica – it has a big tradition in striking coins. Today it makes coins of SR. Banská Bystrica – it was centre of the Slovak National Uprising against Nacism in 1944 and also it was and still is the centre of the political, national and cultural life of Central Slovakia. Trnava – the „Slovak Rome“ because of many churches and monasteries which were built in and around Trnava. Nitra – an important Slovak town with a rich history, one of the centres of the Great Moravian Empire. Today Nitra offers two universities and as well known exhibition place called the Agrokomplex. Čičmany – a little village in the district of Žilina. Nowadays it is a museum of folk architecture with wooden houses.

In Slovakia there are many localities with mineral springs, thermal and hot springs. One of the world known localities is spa Piešťany with its curative water and radioactive mud. The symbol of the town is a healed man breaking his crutch. The spa treats mainly illnesses of the locomotory system and rheumatism.

Trenčianske Teplice – famous spa from the times of the Kingdom of Hungary. The thermal water has excellent properties for treating rheumatism and neurological disorders.

Dudince – a spa where the hot springs have excellent properties for healing illnesses of the joints and digestion problems.

Sliač – the spa specialized in the treatment of heart diseases.

Bardejov – springs of iron-rich mineral water provide healing treatments of the digestion and respiratory system.

The Slovak spas play a very important role in Slovak tourist industry. Many foreign visitors spend their money in our spas for services , which support our economics a lot. The offer of services is not as good as it should be so far but all the Slovak spas try to improve their level of services and products offered to clients.

What types of accommodation and board are offered in our country?

People can choose different kinds of accommodation:

• Camp site – a place where you can have a tent or park a caravan
• Self-catering flat – you cook for yourself
• Guest house – accommodation like a hotel but cheaper
• Hostel – cheap accommodation for young people with ten or more beds or bunk beds in one room
• Hotels

Sometimes hotel guests have special needs.

A disabled person – they need special toilets for people on a wheelchairs, a low-level front desk, lifts, special ramps, special wide doors. The blind guests would like to have notices in Braile.

A family with a baby – would like to find nappy-changing facilities in toilets and special rooms, a resident au-pair, a playground or play room, organized games and activities, menu for little children, high chair in the hotel restaurant.

A businessman – he has special needs about meeting rooms, laundry service, Internet connection, wellness centre, etc.

How do you imagine your summer holiday? Where, who with, how would you like to spend it?

Každý individuálne s využitím predchádzajúcej slovnej zásoby.

3 Simulation

Think of special requirements which different types of clients might have in a hotel.

• The disabled people
• A family with a baby
• Businessmen