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