Map Terminology and Symbols (Grade 10 NSC Matric Tourism): Revision Notes

Map Terminology and Symbols

Introduction

When working in the tourism industry, you need to be able to read and interpret maps effectively. Maps use special terminology and symbols to communicate information clearly and efficiently. Understanding these terms and symbols is essential for planning tours, calculating travel distances, and helping tourists navigate to their destinations. Let's explore the key concepts that will help you become confident in using maps for tourism purposes.

Map symbols

Map symbols are visual icons or small pictures that represent specific features, facilities, or services available at tourist destinations. These symbols make maps easier to read because they convey information quickly without needing lengthy text descriptions. You'll find all the symbols used on a particular map explained in a legend (also called a key), which is usually placed at the side or bottom of the map.

In the tourism industry, map symbols are especially important because they help tourists identify accommodation facilities and the amenities available at hotels, guesthouses, and resorts. Being able to recognise these symbols allows you to quickly assess whether a property meets your clients' needs.

Common accommodation and facility symbols

Here are some important symbols you'll encounter on tourism maps:

Location and parking:

• Seafront location (shown with a wave symbol)
• Green surroundings (tree/plant symbol)
• Car park availability (P symbol)

Room facilities:

• Air-conditioned rooms (AC symbol)
• Centrally heated rooms (radiator symbol)
• Telephone in the rooms (phone symbol)
• Radio in the rooms (radio symbol)
• Television in the rooms (TV symbol)
• Satellite TV in the rooms (satellite dish symbol)
• Mini-bar service in the rooms (bar symbol)

Hotel services:

• Room service (service tray symbol)
• Restaurant (cutlery symbol)
• Bar service (cocktail glass symbol)
• Lift/elevator (lift symbol)
• Dry cleaning and/or laundry service (washing symbol)

Recreation and leisure:

• Outdoor swimming pool (swimmer symbol)
• Outdoor swimming pool (heated) (heated swimmer symbol)
• Indoor swimming pool (heated) (covered pool symbol)
• Tennis (racquet symbol)
• Squash (squash racquet symbol)
• Mini golf (golf flag symbol)
• Fitness room (exercise figure symbol)
• Sauna (heat symbol)
• Jacuzzi (spa symbol)
• Water sports at or near hotel establishment (water sports symbol)

Entertainment and special services:

• Live band music entertainment (music note symbol)
• Conference room (meeting table symbol)
• Baby sitting service available (parent-child symbol)
• Doctor service available (medical cross symbol)
• Hair dressing salon (scissors symbol)
• Facilities for the disabled (wheelchair symbol)

Scale

Scale is one of the most important concepts in map work because it tells you the mathematical relationship between distances shown on the map and actual distances on the ground. Understanding scale allows you to calculate real-world distances, which is crucial when planning tour itineraries and estimating travel times.

A ratio scale expresses this relationship as a ratio. For example, a scale of $1:50,000$ means that $1$ centimetre measured on the map represents $50,000$ centimetres in reality on the ground. To make this more practical, we convert the ground distance to kilometres: $50,000$ cm $= 500$ metres $= 0.5$ kilometres.

So with a $1:50,000$ scale:

• $1$ cm on the map $= 0.5$ km in reality
• $2$ cm on the map $= 1$ km in reality
• $10$ cm on the map $= 5$ km in reality

Using scale in tour planning

Scale is essential when you need to calculate the distance between two points on a map. Here's how you would use it:

1. Measure the straight-line distance between two places on the map using a ruler (in centimetres)
2. Multiply this measurement by the scale factor
3. Convert the answer to a practical unit (usually kilometres)

This skill is particularly important when planning tour itineraries because you need to work out realistic travel times and ensure you've allowed enough time for tourists to travel between destinations.

Distance indicators

Distance indicators are numbers displayed along roads and routes on maps that show the actual distance (usually in kilometres) between towns or major points along that route. Unlike scale, which you need to measure and calculate yourself, distance indicators give you the information directly.

These indicators are particularly useful for tourism professionals because they provide ready-to-use distance information that accounts for the actual route tourists will travel.

Direction

Understanding direction on maps helps you describe where one place is located in relation to another. Maps use compass directions to show position and orientation.

Compass points

There are sixteen compass points in total on a full compass, but the four most important ones are called the cardinal points:

• N = North (top of most maps)
• S = South (bottom of most maps)
• E = East (right side of most maps)
• W = West (left side of most maps)

Between these cardinal points are intermediate directions like North-East (NE), South-East (SE), South-West (SW), and North-West (NW).

When describing locations in tourism, you might say things like:

• "Durban lies on the east coast of South Africa"
• "Cape Town is south-west of Johannesburg"
• "Kruger National Park is in the north-eastern part of the country"

Terminology relevant to time zones

When working with international tourists or planning overseas tours, you must understand time differences between countries. Different parts of the world are in different time zones, which means they have different local times at any given moment. This knowledge is essential for booking flights, scheduling activities, and communicating with tourists across different regions.

Latitude and longitude

The Earth is divided by an invisible grid system made up of latitude and longitude lines. This grid helps us locate any place on Earth and also determines time zones.

Longitude lines

Longitude lines (also called meridians) are vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. These lines are crucial for understanding time zones. Here's what you need to know:

• Longitude lines are drawn at 15-degree intervals around the Earth
• The 0-degree line is called the Greenwich Meridian because it runs through Greenwich in London, United Kingdom
• The Greenwich Meridian divides the Earth into two hemispheres: Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere
• All meridians run from north to south, connecting the North and South Poles
• Because these lines are spaced $15$ degrees apart, they create 24 time zones around the world

Example for South Africa: South Africa is located at $30$ degrees east of the Greenwich Meridian ($30°$E). This determines South Africa's standard time.

Example for New York: New York is located at $75$ degrees west of the Greenwich Meridian ($75°$W). This places it in a different time zone from South Africa.

Latitude lines

Latitude lines (also called parallels) are horizontal lines that run parallel to the Equator. Here's what makes them important:

• The 0-degree line of latitude is called the Equator
• The Equator divides the Earth into two hemispheres: Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere
• Latitude lines run east to west (horizontally across maps)
• Unlike longitude, latitude doesn't directly determine time zones, but it's still essential for locating places on maps

Grid references

A grid reference is a method used to pinpoint the exact location of a place or feature on a map. Grids make it easier to describe where something is located rather than using lengthy written directions.

How grid systems work

A grid consists of vertical and horizontal lines that create a co-ordinate system on the map. When these lines intersect, they create squares or reference points. There are two main types of grid systems used in tourism:

1. Numbered square grids: This is the most commonly used system on tourist maps. The vertical lines are numbered or lettered along the bottom and top of the map, while horizontal lines are numbered or lettered along the sides. Each square created by these lines has a unique reference, like "B4" or "3C". This makes it easy to direct someone to a specific area of the map.

2. Co-ordinates using latitude and longitude: This more precise system uses the actual points where lines of longitude and latitude intersect. Instead of squares, you get exact points defined by degrees of longitude and latitude. This system is used when very precise location information is needed.

Universal Time Coordinate (UTC)

Universal Time Coordinate (UTC) is the standard time system used worldwide. It was previously known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), and it's based on the time at the Greenwich Meridian ($0°$ longitude).

How UTC works

The UTC system is based on a mathematical relationship between longitude and time:

• Each 15 degrees of longitude equals 1 hour of time
• This is because the Earth takes $24$ hours to complete one full rotation ($360$ degrees)
• So: $360° \div 24 \text{ hours} = 15°$ per hour

Understanding time zones

The time zone of any country is calculated based on the line of longitude that runs through (or near) its centre. Here's how it works in practice:

For countries EAST of the Greenwich Meridian ($0°$):

• These countries have times that are later (ahead of) UTC
• The further east you go, the later the time becomes

For countries WEST of the Greenwich Meridian ($0°$):

• These countries have times that are earlier (behind) UTC
• The further west you go, the earlier the time becomes

UTC reference times

Two important times to remember:

• Midnight at Greenwich is written as 00:00 UTC
• Midday at Greenwich is written as 12:00 UTC

Why this matters for tourism

Travel agents must calculate time differences when:

• Booking international flights and connections
• Scheduling activities for tourists in different countries
• Advising clients about jet lag
• Working out arrival and departure times
• Communicating with overseas hotels and tour operators

International Date Line (IDL)

The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line located at 180 degrees longitude – exactly opposite the Greenwich Meridian on the globe. This line is special because when you cross it, the date changes by one full day.

How the IDL works

The rules for crossing the International Date Line are:

Crossing towards the EAST (moving from west to east):

• You gain a day (move forward one day)
• Example: If it's Monday and you cross the IDL flying east, it suddenly becomes Tuesday

Crossing towards the WEST (moving from east to west):

• You lose a day (move back one day)
• Example: If it's Tuesday and you cross the IDL flying west, it becomes Monday again

Why this matters for tourism

The International Date Line is important when:

• Planning flight itineraries across the Pacific Ocean
• Booking accommodation for tourists travelling between Asia and the Americas
• Explaining to tourists why they might "lose" or "gain" a day during their journey
• Calculating accurate arrival dates for international trips