Future International Tourism (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Social Media
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
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
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 growth
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
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