BLOG#2 : Tourism Trends in 2025 & beyond

TOURISM TRENDS IN 2025 & BEYOND

Can tourism be a force for growth, change and global good? Can a travel company change the world for the better?

Did you know 10% of the entire Global workforce is employed in tourism? Many countries are experiencing a shortage of trained, knowledgeable travel professionals due to this high growth industry.

Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries and is a major source of income for many countries. Being a people-oriented industry, tourism also provides many jobs which have helped revitalize local economies.

International Tourism Trends

The highlights for international tourism flows in the two decades 2010-2030. Results are obtained with the quantitative forecast model developed by UNWTO, using as basis the series of international tourist arrivals reported by destination countries around the world.

•   Global growth in international tourist arrivals will continue, but at a more moderate pace
•    International tourist arrivals will increase by 43 million a year on average between 2010 and 2030
•    International tourist arrivals will reach 1.8 billion by 2030
•    Emerging economy destinations expected to surpass advanced economy destinations in international arrivals in 2015
•    The number of international arrivals received in emerging economies is still modest compared to the size of their population
•    Asia and the Pacific will gain most of the new arrivals
•    South Asia will be the sub-region with the fastest growth in international arrivals
•    North-East Asia will be the most visited sub-region in 2030 

•    Future arrivals will be more evenly spread over Destinations
•    Europe will continue to lead in international arrivals received per 100 of population
•    Asia and the Pacific will also be the outbound region that grows most
•    Outbound tourism participation is highest in Europe and still low in Asia and the Pacific

• Travel between regions will continue to grow slightly faster than travel within the same region
•    Air transport will continue to increase its market share, but at a much slower pace
•    Arrivals for VFR, health, religion and other purposes grow slightly faster than arrivals for leisure or business

UNWTO definition of sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all types of destinations, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments. Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

Thus, sustainable tourism should:

1) Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural resources and biodiversity.

2) Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to intercultural understanding and tolerance.

3) Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.

Sustainable tourism should also maintain a high level of tourist satisfaction and ensure a meaningful experience to the tourists, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.

The importance of government work promoting the attractiveness of destinations must not be overlooked in mature and emerging economies alike. I see this as likely to remain a key trend in the future, particularly in relation to visa and aviation policy.

The future of the tourism sector is positive. Despite a subdued consumer backdrop, travel is something that consumers appear they are not willing to forego so easily. A more buoyant market, together with continued commitment by governments to promote destinations and implement measures to reduce international boundaries, should further assist in the development of the sector in the future.

                     *****LET'S GO TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD******

************************

Thank you very much!

XOXO