QUESTION 1

Airports and business travellers- Singapore Changi airport

For frequent business travellers, airports are a necessary evil. A good airport can bring extra business to a city and its locally based carriers. For example, the efficiency of Schipol, Amsterdam, makes it a popular place for UK travellers to transfer on to flights to destinations that are further afield. This brings extra passengers to the Dutch airline, KLM, and extra revenue to the airport authorities through, for example, retail sales and food and drink sales

One of the best airports in the world for business travellers is Changi airport in Singapore. Many business travellers choose their itinerary, deliberately, to allow them to transfer flights or even stop over in Singapore. This is good for Singapore Airlines and for the airport authorities. But why is Singapore such a good airport for the business traveller?

First, it is clean, modern and airy with a relaxed but safe atmosphere. For transit passengers, the journey between flights is very efficient and stress free. If the passenger needs to change terminals for their next flight they can use the automated ‘skytrain' which makes the journey in around one minute

If passengers have a few hours to spare in Singapore, they can take a free bus tour of the city and be back in time for their onward flight

The airport has a range of facilities which the business traveller appreciates, including-

• A relatively inexpensive transit hotel where the traveller can rest between flights in a hotel room, with a shower, television and wake up call service

• A fitness centre with gym and sauna

• Various types of massage are available

• An excellent business centre offering a full range of services

• A wide variety of outlets offering all kinds of food and drink for travellers

• Excellent shopping facilities in both terminals

• Availability of staff speaking a wide variety of international languages

Singapore is regularly voted the best airport in the world by business travellers, some twenty years after it was first opened

(i) Discuss what you consider to be the four most important factors which influence whether or not a business traveller will enjoy using a particular airport

(ii) Select an airport with which you are familiar or which you have visited or read about. Evaluate its strengths and weaknesses from the point of view of a business traveller

(iii) Explain how the demand for business class products and services impacts on the development of airports

QUESTION 2

Evaluate the reasons for consumers being increasingly more willing to purchase airline seats as an impulse decision?

QUESTION 3

The cruising industry has faced many difficulties over the past century. Explain why this has been as such and what are cruise companies doing to remedy this problem?

QUESTION 4

What is the most used mode of transport for tourism in the world? Discuss on the advantages that make it so popular

QUESTION 5

Discuss on two main factors that influence the direction and volume of tourist travel between two different countries of the world