Changing Scenario of the Tourism Industry

Abstract

Tourism is characterized by constant change and development, and trends indicate what will happen in the future. The UNWTO had identified, in the year 1998, trends that will influence global tourism until 2020. It has forecast that international tourism will continue to grow at the average annual rate of 4.3 percent a year until 2020, while receipts from international tourism will increase by 6.7 percent a year. The growth of the tourism industry will be rapid in the twenty first century, with one billion international arrivals by 2010 and 1.6 billion international arrivals annually by 2020. Some important points of the forecast are as follows: •There will be an increase in multiple, relatively short duration trips by travelers from industrialized countries. •Foreign holidays will become popular amongst people from developing countries. •Long – haul travel will grow slightly faster than intra-regional travel and will increase from 18 percent in 1995 to 24 percent. •Tourists will be more discerning in their search for quality and value for money, which will influence their choice of destination. •Environmental consciousness will increase and destination selection will be based on environmental quality. The UNWTO Tourism 2020 Vision predicts that by 2020, one out of every three trips will be a long haul journey and long haul travel which was 24 per cent of all international tourism in 1995, will increase to 32 percent by 2020. Europe has been forecast to remain the lead tourism region, followed by East Asia Pacific in second position by 2010. China will be the world’s top destination by 2020 and will become the fourth most important tourist generating market.