Tourist aspects of transport

Abstract

A great deal has been written about the economics of transport in recent years. Most of the views expressed, however, deal with transport as an essential industrial factor in the national economy. The importance of the contribution of the transport system to the national economy is very often held up as an end in itself, so much so that the normal considerations of competitive efficiency and meeting consumer demand are not applied. It is quite true, of course, that transport is a public utility and, especially the railways, represents an important element in the stability of the community both strategically and economically. It may perhaps be claimed that far less attention has been paid to tourist aspects of transport in recent years compared with the situation of 50 or even 100 years ago. Admittedly all forms of transport by road, rail, sea and air deal not only with passengers, but also with freight, and for many transport companies the tourist demand is a marginal one. Nevertheless from the tourist's point of view transport charges are an essential factor in determining his own expenditure and therefore transport charges play an important role in limiting the expenditure of the whole of the tourist trade.

Citation

Lickorish, L.J. and Kershaw, A.G. (1955), "Tourist aspects of transport", The Tourist Review, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb059750