Contemporary Hotel and Tourism Issues in Australian Tourism Sector

This report evaluates the vital tourism issues that the Australian tourism sector has been encountering in recent times, including climate change, safety and security, and sustainable tourism challenges.

Running head: CONTEMPORARY HOTEL AND TOURISM ISSUES
CONTEMPORARY HOTEL AND TOURISM ISSUES
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1CONTEMPORARY HOTEL AND TOURISM ISSUES
Introduction
Similar to other tourist destinations in the Asia Pacific region, Australian tourism sector
is exposed to the implications and effects of climate change tourism safety and security as well
as sustainable development challenges (Becken, Zammit and Hendrikx 2015). The following
report will evaluate the vital tourism issues that the Australian tourism sector has been
encountering in recent times.
Discussion
Climate Change Issues in Australian Tourism Sector
Australia’s dependence on its natural product that is significantly encountering severe
threat have been combined with the prospective for shifting customer demand pattern
specifically in the long haul industry which should be pertaining to the tourism business (Higham
et al. 2016). Williams (2014) has revealed Australia tourism sector plays a diseases role in the
Australian economy comprising over 5 million International visitors in 2010 with considerably
wider domestic market. However as Australia tourism product has greater degree of dependence
on its natural attractions and its favourable temperatures tend to be a major part of its appeal to
the fundamental source markets environment as well as climatic conditions of a destination at
typically recognised as key attractions and essential resources for tourism (Vila, Darcy and
González 2015). Additional research reveal that not only the Great Barrier Reef is at risk but the
reef is already is severely getting affected due to the highly extensive ocean temperature.
Furthermore Uluru is also becoming a highly non-viable tourist destination during summer.
However as per reports by Mawby et al. (2016), it has been indicated that by 2030 the Red
Centre might encounter over 100 days above 35 degrees each year. Meanwhile, reports by Vila,
Darcy and González (2015) have shed light on saltwater that is invading the freshwater wetlands

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of Kakadu National Park and Australian ski resorts that have been experiencing significantly
shorter snow seasons for the last 25 years. Studies conducted by Mason (2015) have found that
climate change is typically identified as an enduring issue. For example, several tourism policy
makers involved in Australian tourism along with small to medium size tourism businesses have
been prefer to work in short term timeframes and focus mainly on profitability whereas majority
of the climate change scenarios have been suggested for the next decade to century (Mason
2015).
Furthermore as George and Booyens (2014) have indicated the long term orientation of
climate change signified increased unit of rate of interest of the Australian tourism operators in
investing into something for the tourism sector which may not eventuate successfully. However
according to reports of Char-lee Becken and Watt (2016) around 82% of tourist experts in
Mediterranean perceive the effect of climate change and can gradually be experienced. In
addition to this there can be identified the relative importance of Climate Change in relation to
other challenges that the Australian tourism sector has been encountering. For instance climate
change conditions has been identified as one of the most crucial issue court in the recently
Australian tourism sector which has attained second position to economically surviving the
International financial crisis as well as economic downturn in Australia (Mawby et al.2016). In
addition to this Vila, Darcy and González (2015) have posited that the shifting climatic as well as
environmental circumstances such as floods and cyclones can be related to other dynamics and
not essentially be ascribed to climate change. However the enormity of climate change can serve
a contributory role for avoidance that is focusing a blind eye which is likely a widespread
practice in Australian tourism sector. Furthermore Williams (2014) has found that several tourist
visiting Australia every year anticipate there will be adequate scepticism within the community if

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related to climate change in order to prohibit rapid and caution adaptation.
Safety and Security Issues in Australian Tourism Industry
Safety and security considered as two vital determinants which have recently emerged in
the minds of visitors for destinations as well as in many instances the mode of travel along with
the choice of business visitors tend to choose in order to travel with (Mawby et al.2016). Highly
efficient travel agencies along with wholesale tour operators, cruise companies as well as
hoteliers have been showing inclination towards specialist business enterprises such as SOS
International, intelligent travel as well as other travel sectors expert risk management companies
to receive guidance on risk and security related matters. However as per the reports of George
and Booyens (2014)it has been noted that in Australia two factors related to safety and security
have certainly resulted to more accurate and area centric travel advisories along with an
improved cooperation between Government and industry in the management of crisis which tend
to impact the travellers visiting Australia. However while the travel sector in Australia can never
offer an ironclad guarantee of strict security for their clients but the tourism sector of the country
promises a duty of care in order to circumvent unwanted threats. Furthermore the Consular
Consultative Group (CCG) in Australia has attained substantial recognition and comprises of
Australian travel sector association (Mason 2015). These associations are engaged in daily
consultation with Australian department of foreign affairs and trade along with other significant
government departments based on travel advisory as well as common areas of challenges related
to travel safety concern. However such mutually beneficial engagement tourism safety and
security should have its significance across the world (George and Booyens 2014).
Sustainable Tourism Challenges in Australian Tourism Industry
Vila, Darcy and González (2015) have noted critical challenges which Australian tourism

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sector has been encountering in encouraging the development as well as management of tourism
products as well as services which aims to offer economic or social advantages to local
communities while safeguarding and enhancing the natural and cultural attributes of the country.
Australian tourism sector has been making great efforts to successfully set out gender disparities
in this sector as only 35% of female managers are engaged to the tourism industry (George and
Booyens 2014). Furthermore, issues concerning Aboriginal culture have also been identified as a
vital sustainable issue because of the growing area of tourism interest following to its exposure
to global tourism market. As the Aboriginal cultural patterns are consequential to the
development of economy as well as improved quality of life it further has been facilitating
Australia to be identified as a distinctive tourist destination from international competitors of the
tourism industry (Wolverton, Nolan and Fry 2016).
Conclusion
Thus to conclude it can be stated that Australian tourism business is significantly working
in business as standard mode. However, extensive issues with climate changes, sustainable
development and tourism safety and security are recognized to be consequential to the shortfall
of current exploitation and ambiguity that is barring the successful growth of proactive tourism
initiatives.

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