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

Stacked area chart showing projected population growth from 1950 to 2030 by region: Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Americas, Africa, and Middle East. Forecasts show 1.8 billion 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

  • 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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