Tourism changes
now and past
Tourism, at its very core, is about connecting the world. Nothing about the travel industry exists in a vacuum,
which means that it’s particularly susceptible to trends and cultural shifts. That’s right: tourism trends are
impacted not just by the cost of flights and hotels but by technology, media, politics, health, economics and
beyond. But while it’s almost impossible to know
what the future
holds
, by looking back at some of the
greatest influences on tourism in the past 10 years, industry pros may just find some inspiration to continue
to anticipate trends and adapt comfortably to the unexpected.
Social media
While taking photos on vacation is nothing new, the ability to widely share a gorgeous
snapshot has been a gamechanger for the tourism industry. Social-media influencers have a
lot of clout, and the right photo shared by the right person can have the power to shape
economies.
As of February 2023, the hashtag #travel has been used over 497 million times (and
counting) on Instagram, and 48% of travelers report that they choose their destinations
based on what they see on the photo-sharing platform.
TikTok has begun to catch up; the hashtag #travel has over 94 billion views, while
#tiktoktravel has over 32.7 billion views, and travel and tourism brands are using the
platform as a marketing tool.
The free flow of information, increased global mobility and open borders
have removed many of the travel obstacles of the past. As boundaries
between nations blur online and as countries build deeper political and
trade relationships, the world feels more open than ever before.
Of course, with the recent COVID-19 pandemic, that sense of freedom has
certainly been tamped down, but the overall impact of globalization on
the tourism industry this past decade can’t be denied.
Rapid globalization
Climate change
The climate emergency is impacting our lives at home, but it also is having an effect on
where we can (or will be able to) go in the coming years. Not only is climate change
increasing temperatures — in some places, to deadly high levels — but it’s responsible
for natural disasters that can put visitors and residents in danger in the short term, or
damage infrastructure in the long term.
Climate concerns, though, may also offer an opportunity for those in the tourism
business, as more and more travelers seek out eco-friendly travel experiences.
Speaking of technology and smartphones: these powerful digital travel tools wouldn’t
be half as useful without the incredible network of WiFi and cellular connections that
now stretch around the globe.
Being able to use our phones (to communicate, to wayfind, to store our hotel
reservations) practically anywhere has opened up a world of possibility and connection.
Widespread access to wifi and data
These factors have impacted travel trends immensely over the past decade, and will likely
continue to shape the travel industry for the next decade — and for years beyond. (And we
haven't even touched on the rise of the sharing economy or the emergence of mobile boarding
passes and digital concierge services.) But as the COVID-19 pandemic taught the world, in
this industry, there’s always a surprising new challenge or learning opportunity right around
the corner.
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