Areas of Research Priority
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Sustainability including global warming plus oil supply prices and the future of long haul travel
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Tourism education and human resource development including community education
Safety and security in tourism-terrorism and war
This concern is noted by almost all the tourism commentators and has a particular and immediate currency in the Middle East and Indonesia. The importance of this issue is frequently rated as having the highest priority and the impacts on tourism from the bombings in New York, London, and Bali have shown the global scale of this issue.
Global health issues and natural disasters
Again the health dimension is an extremely high priority issue and AIDS, SARS and bird flu are the current manifestations which concern the world and Asia Pacific. The topic of natural disasters is sometimes identified as a separate issue but the UNWTO joins the two concerns. Most organisations and commentators identify the need for a central managerial response of having viable plans to cope with disasters of all types.
Pro poor tourism-capacity building and development
The UNWTO, PATA, some academic commentators as well as the broader Millennium declaration by the world’s governments have all linked the power of tourism to the plight of poor underprivileged communities. The defining issue here is how is tourism benefiting the poor and very poor.
Sustainability including global warming plus oil supply prices and the future of long haul travel
Triple bottom line approaches to business are accelerating and global corporations have to account for their financial, environmental and socio-cultural impacts in new forms of auditing and reporting. Two issues capturing world attention at the present time are global warming and the rising price of oil. Both of these issues, like war and terrorism, have the power to halt the growth of tourism as well as see new forms of travel and changing locations for holiday taking. Academic commentators first led the way in stressing the sustainability issues but the concerns are now reported by all parties. There are many micro and regional implications here.
E-commerce, the internet and new technologies
The internet offers a new form of independence for travellers and while travel agents and tour operators continue to exist and, in some markets flourish, the ability of internet connected consumers to have more pre-departure information and different kinds of information about their destination is of considerable consequence for those who manage on site experiences. Additionally new technologies of digital communication are likely to provide travellers with on site information in ways which will change travellers’ use of guidebooks and local information sources. Tourism businesses followed academic commentators in noting the arrival and the continued power of this technology push.
China inbound and outbound
Both the UNWTO and PATA predict substantial rises in inbound and outbound tourism for China. The outbound predictions have considerable consequences for regional Asia Pacific destinations while the growth of domestic Chinese tourism has powerful implications for issues such as congestion and resource management. It also raises opportunities for the “export” of tourism management tourism education and tourism research skills.
Quality in tourism products and experiences
With more destinations being available to potential travellers, partly through some of the other trends such as low cost carriers and the need for economic development of poorer regions, there is more choice for holiday taking. There is a broad similarity amongst many destinations, particularly coastal destinations and the demand for quality services and products may become the key differentiating factor. An emphasis on quality agendas has been widely reported and shared amongst all commentators. Certification systems, awards and benchmarking are to the fore in justifying quality.
Partnerships and cooperation in tourism
The ability of countries, regions and businesses to combine their tourism offerings in new synergistic ways is identified as a trend providing a competitive advantage. The cooperation based around the Mekong River and along the Silk Road are two Asian examples noted by UNWTO and more of this interdependence and cooperative effort is anticipated.
Destination management-strategic planning
The realisation that tourism marketing is not a stand alone activity of promotion but rather is a part of a region’s total work to manage tourism is spreading from the origins of this idea in North America to the global tourism community. The ideas of accreditation, certification and monitoring are all part of the push to not just present and praise what a location has to offer but to ensure that the offering is able to satisfy the visitor while being sustainable for all stakeholders.
Tourism education and human resource development including community education
Tourism is a social business and skilled, responsive workforces and communities are needed as a part of the operation of any quality destination. UNWTO has stressed the ongoing need for quality control in education while recent presentations at PATA conferences about tourism have stressed the need to develop and grow Asian tourism leaders.
The impacts of low cost airlines
In Europe the sudden and massive expansion of low cost and no frills airlines has seen the expansion of tourism into new regions and provinces. Similar trends are beginning throughout Asia and although partly contradicted by the fuel prices issue we may see new kinds of visitors in previously less accessible destinations.
Senior and repeat travellers, new niche markets
Travellers with more experience of other destinations and older travellers appear to be seeking new products and services. A rise in health and spa tourism stems from this kind of conjunction of experience. There are also new younger indulgent markets. There are multiple research and local possibilities in this trend with flashpackers, young Asian travellers/backpackers, gay and lesbian tourism all being mentioned by commentators.