Inside tourism: Transport for tourism

Transport for tourists can be divided into three main categories: journeys by air, journeys on water, and journeys on ___ ¹. Within each category there are several types of transport.

Air travel usually means a short-haul or ___ ² international ___ ³, operating from large ___ ⁴, which in big cities often have more than one ___⁵ building. But in some more remote places there may be little more than a small airstrip with only one simple ___ ⁶ for planes to land and take off. At some tourist destinations air transport may include short transfers or sightseeing trips by ___ ⁷.

Journeys on water can include luxury ___ ⁸, which take tourists on all-inclusive holidays of three days or more, visiting a number of different locations. Passengers sleep in ___⁹, and have a full range of services on board. They are looked after by a team of ___ ¹⁰, with a ___ ¹¹ in overall charge of tourist services. Ferry ___ ¹² are usually much shorter journeys connecting two points of land or going between islands. The ferries will stop at a large ___ ¹³ or a small ___ ¹⁴.

Land travel is probably the most diverse category. It includes rail journeys by ___ ¹⁵, departing from a large ___ ¹⁶ and stopping at ___ ¹⁷ en route. Passengers sit in separate ___ ¹⁸ or coaches. The most common form of transport by road for tourists, if they don't have their own car, are also called ___ ¹⁹. These vehicles can either travel from city to city along fast ___²⁰ (or sometimes quieter roads), or they can be used for transfers from airports and other smaller journeys. Very often they are used for sightseeing trips when as well as a driver there will be a ___²¹ to tell the passengers about the sights.

V. Find pairs of opposites from the adjectives in the list:

boring

cheap

clean

comfortable

crowded

dangerous

difficult

dirty

easy

exciting

expensive

fast

punctual

quiet

safe

slow

uncomfortable

unpunctual

 

VI. How do tourists use the different types of transport? Put the journey and transport types (from columns 1 and 2 of the table) into the categories below.

1. to and from destination only (e.g. international flight)

2. at destination only (e.g. taxi ride from airport)

3. as a main feature of the holiday (e.g. sightseeing helicopter ride)

VII. Which types of transport have you used? Think about the best and worst journeys you have ever made. Exchange ideas with a partner.

READING

Read the text and find out some features of Belarusian transportation services. What unspecified modes of transport are widespread in Belarus?Which of the facilities do you think you would use most as a passenger?

TEXT 1 Belarusian Transportation Services

Today, the Belarusian Railway is one of the leaders of the national economy. 75% of all cargoes and 45% of all passengers of the country are transported by the Belarusian Railway.

The advantageous geographical position of the Republic of Belarus between the Russian Federation and the Western Europe allowed the country to participate in the international economic integration and become a reliable partner of the leading European countries in the provision and development of effective transport links on the European continent.

The Belarusian Railway regularly implements new technical solutions, renovates its facilities and reconstructs railway station buildings. It performs its activities in accordance with the State Program for the Development of the Railway Transport of the republic of Belarus in 2011-2015.

According to the new concept the railway market of passenger transportation will be divided into lines, i.e. international, commercial, regional, interregional and city lines. The lines will be further subdivided according to a comfort level (class). Each line will have specific technical and operational characteristics and will provide particular related services.

	The international lines will link Minsk and regional centers to the cities and regions of foreign states. A neat train schedule will ensure travel time saving. The choice of trains for the international lines will depend on distances and routes. Night trains will consist of compartments and sleepers, EMUs will be used as day trains.
	The commercial lines are designed to transport passengers on requests from legal entities and individuals. Relevant rolling stock will be provided and will be operated on certain schedules (tourist, special, leased, etc.).
	The interregional business class lines will connect regional centers and Minsk. Modern rolling stock will transport passengers with minimal stops. Trains will stop only in communities with a population over 100,000 people.
	The trains of the interregional economy class lineswill run on radial and circular routes between the communities located the distance of 400 km. Standard trains and EMUs will be used on these lines. The trains will stop at all busy stations.
	The regional business class lines will transport passengers from towns to regional centers, district centers, and industrial area, and within Minsk suburbs. The lines will have modern trains equipped with ergonomic seats, air conditioners, stroller areas, environmentally friendly WCs, passenger information systems.
	The regional economy class lines will ensure transportation of passengers to places of employment, education, to social facilities. The multiple-unit trains will stop at all stations of routes, including low-density areas.
	Modern trains of the city lines will run within the city and its suburbs at certain intervals. They will be equipped with ergonomic seats, air conditioners, environmentally friendly WCs and information displays. The trains are suitable for the disabled. They have low-floors, wide entrance areas and gangways.

Belavia – Belarusian Airlines takes the leading position in passenger air transportations on the Belarusian market. The airline’s concept of positive image shaping is based on the safe regular and punctual operations as well as on improvement of passenger service quality.

Belavia is a modern, rapidly growing company that meets requirements of the latest innovations in air transport and is constantly focused on further development and improvement of the airline and attraction of greater number of passengers. Among the priorities of Belavia is its fleet renewal, optimization of resources, implementation of modern information technologies and improvement of service level both in flight and on the ground.

The Airline is customer-oriented and makes its best efforts to provide air travelling possibilities both by its own direct flights and those of its partners to continue their journey immediately to any country in the world as per customer’s needs.

Business travellers and tourists can appreciate at its true value Belarusian hospitality and responsible attitude of the airline staff to fulfillment of their functions. Owing to the cooperative team of highly qualified professionals who are proud of their work, for the short period of time Belavia has showed itself as a reliable and competitive air carrier.

TEXT 2 Transport systems and cable cars in San Francisco