Tourism -Trends and Future Directions
Tourism is increasing
The tourism industry continues to grow as a result of:
The increasing role of transnational corporations - mass markets
The role of transnational corporations in travel and tourism is growing - especially in the large volume, mass tourism market. For example, international hotel chains, airlines, tour operators, etc. Transnational corporations target the mass tourism market. Within the mass tourism market some specialisation is apparent. Contiki for example, targets the youth market (18-35 year olds) while Cosmos targets the older traveller.
Symphony of the seas: Royal Caribbean takes delivery of world's largest cruise ship
Growing market diversity - specialisation
Increasingly travellers are seeking individualised experiences rather than the well-worn paths of large-scale mass tourist movements. Niche operators target the specialised tourism market and offer offer specialised products and services. For example, boutique hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast accommodation, farm stays, local tour operators, stall holders, local artists, restaurants. The local operator is best placed to cater for the 10-15% of discretionary travellers who want an alternative tourism experience. According to the WTO these tourists tend to be highly educated, mature, affluent, well travelled, environmentally aware and sensitive to the social and cultural traditions of the destinations they visit.
Families and individuals
Tourism operators are now specifically targeting single-parent families. These tours do not charge more for parents travelling without a spouse. Family tours are now also taking into consideration that some grandparents may travelling with their grandchildren. There is also growth in solo travellers.
Adventure and unchartered destinations
Adventure tourism is moving away from risky adventure activities, to a more culturally rich, adventure experience based around food, wine and cultural experiences in more remote locations. Travellers will avoid some overcrowded sites for smaller cities with similar cultural experiences. Tourists are looking for authentic culinary experiences in food markets or homestays. This will contribute to the trend for community-based hotels in an attempt by chain hotels to capture this market.
Health and wellness tourism
Health and wellness trips are becoming increasingly popular and people struggle to find balance in their everyday lives.
Winter tourism
Winter destinations are becoming increasingly popular for travellers, with operators near the Arctic experiencing interest in ice and winter festivals.
Technology
Some hotels will be introducing apps to allow visitors to check in, book room service, spa treatments and transportation. While some hotels are trialling using robots to respond to visitor requests. Virtual reality head sets and programs will increasingly allow tourists to experience aspects of their holidays before committing to tours, hotels, etc.
Hotel Buddy is a new hotel which is staffless. Visitors check in by signing on using a tablet on site, they receive a keycard through a vending machine. Read Will Germany's first staffless hotel become a model for the rest of the world?
Hilton Worldwide is trialling innovative technologies such as guests choosing their own room through internet check in, the ability for guests to open their rooms using the smartphones, and checkout and bill paying online. Read Digitized Hotels or Staffless Hotels? That is the questions for Hilton Worldwide
The future of travel: staffless hotels, smart luggage and holidays inside your head
Space travel?
Companies are currently investigating the possibilities of sending tourists in space for their holidays.
The tourism industry continues to grow as a result of:
- people receiving more holidays - in both developed and developing countries, people can increasingly expect a standard minimum 4 weeks holiday per year. Obviously this is not the case for everyone, but is increasingly common.
- decreased travel times and costs - developments in transport technology (larger ships, faster flights and train trips, motorway networks) have resulted in reduced travel times.
- an increasing ageing population in developed countries - retirement, superannuation, pension and health care mean that an increasing number of people have the means and time to travel.
- higher incomes/growing middle class - greater participation of women in the workforce and greater disposable incomes mean that people consider a holiday a regular occurrence rather than an absolute luxury.
- the opening-up of formerly off-limits countries - countries which have experienced civil unrest, revolutions, wars, natural disasters, etc may have a period where tourism is discouraged. Recovery or political stability following these periods will increase tourism in these areas.
The increasing role of transnational corporations - mass markets
The role of transnational corporations in travel and tourism is growing - especially in the large volume, mass tourism market. For example, international hotel chains, airlines, tour operators, etc. Transnational corporations target the mass tourism market. Within the mass tourism market some specialisation is apparent. Contiki for example, targets the youth market (18-35 year olds) while Cosmos targets the older traveller.
Symphony of the seas: Royal Caribbean takes delivery of world's largest cruise ship
Growing market diversity - specialisation
Increasingly travellers are seeking individualised experiences rather than the well-worn paths of large-scale mass tourist movements. Niche operators target the specialised tourism market and offer offer specialised products and services. For example, boutique hotels, guesthouses, bed and breakfast accommodation, farm stays, local tour operators, stall holders, local artists, restaurants. The local operator is best placed to cater for the 10-15% of discretionary travellers who want an alternative tourism experience. According to the WTO these tourists tend to be highly educated, mature, affluent, well travelled, environmentally aware and sensitive to the social and cultural traditions of the destinations they visit.
Families and individuals
Tourism operators are now specifically targeting single-parent families. These tours do not charge more for parents travelling without a spouse. Family tours are now also taking into consideration that some grandparents may travelling with their grandchildren. There is also growth in solo travellers.
Adventure and unchartered destinations
Adventure tourism is moving away from risky adventure activities, to a more culturally rich, adventure experience based around food, wine and cultural experiences in more remote locations. Travellers will avoid some overcrowded sites for smaller cities with similar cultural experiences. Tourists are looking for authentic culinary experiences in food markets or homestays. This will contribute to the trend for community-based hotels in an attempt by chain hotels to capture this market.
Health and wellness tourism
Health and wellness trips are becoming increasingly popular and people struggle to find balance in their everyday lives.
Winter tourism
Winter destinations are becoming increasingly popular for travellers, with operators near the Arctic experiencing interest in ice and winter festivals.
Technology
Some hotels will be introducing apps to allow visitors to check in, book room service, spa treatments and transportation. While some hotels are trialling using robots to respond to visitor requests. Virtual reality head sets and programs will increasingly allow tourists to experience aspects of their holidays before committing to tours, hotels, etc.
Hotel Buddy is a new hotel which is staffless. Visitors check in by signing on using a tablet on site, they receive a keycard through a vending machine. Read Will Germany's first staffless hotel become a model for the rest of the world?
Hilton Worldwide is trialling innovative technologies such as guests choosing their own room through internet check in, the ability for guests to open their rooms using the smartphones, and checkout and bill paying online. Read Digitized Hotels or Staffless Hotels? That is the questions for Hilton Worldwide
The future of travel: staffless hotels, smart luggage and holidays inside your head
Space travel?
Companies are currently investigating the possibilities of sending tourists in space for their holidays.
