Future International Tourism (SL IB Geography)

• International tourist arrivals worldwide reached 1.4 billion in 2018
• The rapid growth of the worldwide tourism industry is due to a variety of factors:
  • Economic growth
  • More disposable income
  • Increased leisure time
  • Promotion of tourism by governments
  • Development strategies
• The effects of Covid 19 seriously limited growth in the tourism industry because of the international lockdowns
• Tourism figures are expected to continue to grow but more slowly than anticipated before Covid19
• An expected 1.8 billion tourists are expected to make some form of trip by 2030

Future tourism projections

The impact of social media

• Social media has changed how people now research trips and how they use apps such as Instagram to record their trips and share their experiences
• This user-generated content gives more people information about the destination
• According to recent statistics, 48% of people now choose a destination based on what they see on Instagram
• Over 35% of respondents discover new places on Instagram
• There are over 1 billion visitors to Instagram each month
• Tourist companies use Instagram to share their holiday packages
• Instagram is an effective tool for small businesses to share their businesses
• Trip Advisor was founded in 2000 and allows individuals to leave reviews about a restaurant, trip organiser or accommodation provider
• Poor reviews on Trip Advisor can damage a small business

• International security can be a deterrent for tourist destinations
• There has been a global increase in travel safety
  • Security checks on all forms of travel, particularly airlines, have increased
• Tourism is safer than it has ever been
• The impact of terrorism or military takeovers can increase economic decline
• These threats can then be passed over to airlines, hotels, restaurants and shops
• The 9/11 terrorist attacks in the USA showed why there is a need for safe travel
• After the attacks, it was estimated that the city lost $83 billion in New York alone
• In some countries, there is a huge disparity between wealthy tourists and people with low incomes and this can cause friction
• Conflict can also take place when tourist behaviours differ from that of the host country

• Diaspora tourism is a form of niche tourism
• This includes people in diaspora communities travelling to the areas the countries they or their families migrated from
• Diaspora tourism may include visiting friends and family
• Diaspora tourism can bring positive economic impacts to the local economy as tourists eat in local restaurants
• This form of tourism is not usually seasonal as people visit their friends and family throughout the year
• The Africa Heritage Diaspora Tourism Trail (AHDTT) was established in 2001
• Formed by UNESCO, AHDTT is part of an international effort to document and highlight the history of slavery
• Many countries are now offering AHDTT organised trips including Bermuda, The Gambia and Ghana
• Cemetery Tourism (Genealogy tourism) focuses on tourism around people researching their family tree
• Diaspora tourism is less affected by economic recession because people visit all year round