Despite occasional shocks like the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia in 2004, international tourism figures have shown “virtually uninterrupted growth” the past 60 years, according to the United Nations World Tourism organization. International tourism arrivals have jumped from 25 million in 1950 to 1087 million in 2013. It is forecasted to reach 1.8 billion by 2030. For both developed and developing countries business and leisure travel is a major source of foreign exchange earnings and employment. It links with a multitude of other industries like transport, accommodation, restaurants, visitor attractions and investments.
The single biggest revolution in the tourism sector in recent years must be the impact of technology. Not only did it bring new modes of direct communication between consumer and supplier but have improved processing capabilities, operational efficiency, reduced cost and helped companies to understand more precisely how to match supply and demand. On the other hand, technological advances have also raised concerns. For instance, making payments online continues to be a security risk. Companies peddling people’s personal information for marketing purposes remains a problem although several countries have introduced legislation to curb this practice.
In conclusion, trends in the tourism industry come and go, but one constant has remained through the centuries: Mankind’s desire to explore new horizons.