A Thematic Analysis of the Dynamic Tourism Environment

The Dynamic Tourism Environment.
Driven by a relatively strong global economy, a growing middle class in
emerging economies, technological advances, new business models, affordable
travel costs and visa facilitation, international tourist arrivals grew 5% in 2018 to
reach the 1.4 billion mark, UNWTO (2019).
Furthermore, export earnings generated by tourism grew to USD 1.7 trillion in
2018, making the tourism sector a true global force for economic growth and
development, driving the creation of more and better jobs and serving as
catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship.
In short, tourism is building better lives for millions of individuals and
transforming communities.
Then, Covid-19 happened.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered an unprecedented crisis in
the tourism economy, given the immediate and immense shock to the sector.
Revised Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2020)
statistics estimates on the COVID-19 impact point to 60% decline in international
tourism in 2020. This could rise to 80% if recovery is delayed until December,
with unparalleled economic and societal impacts.
However, although Covid-19 is the primary talking point in Tourism currently, it is
not the only force of change within an industry that is susceptible to shocks and
crises.
The World Economic Forum (2020) writes “today’s risk landscape is shaped by an
unsettled geopolitical environment in which new centres of power are forming—
as old alliances and global institutions are being tested”. For the economy,
“ammunition to fight a potential recession is lacking, and there is a possibility of
an extended low-growth period. Climate change and related environmental
issues are ranked highest in terms of likelihood”.
ABTA (2020) predicted that 2019 would be the year that sustainability issues
would go mainstream and that has proved to be the case, with a spotlight thrown
on climate change in particular. Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion have
become household names and there is an increasing appetite to understand the
environmental impacts of travel and tourism. Tourism can be a tremendous force
for good, although impacts on destinations, their natural environment,
economies and communities need to be managed.
This module, and the assessment you are undertaking, will evaluate current
trends within tourism. You will identify key forces of change in the industry and
the impacts these changes have. A discussion on how a tourism
stakeholder responds to changes or events that impact upon the tourism
industry will also take place.
Key Reading:

ABTA Travel Trends Report / CAPA / WTTC Publications / Skift / UNWTO Library /
UNWTO Tourism Highlights / Stakeholder Response Strategies / WEF Global Risk
Report / Dynamic Tourism Environment “Book Club”
1: Definition Triangulation. Triangulation is the use of more than one method of
research to add depth to data and analysis, contributing to greater confidence in
findings (Bryman, Bell, & Teevan, 2009). Using the triangle below, source three
definitions of “Tourism”. When this has been completed, create your own
working definition of this term. (50 words).
Journal: The
Framework of Tourism
Year: 2018
Author: Nell Leiper
Definition: Tourism can be
basically the travelling for
the purpose of pleasure or
business and also involves
the practice of touring.
Working Definition:
A Tourism is basically a economic, social and cultural
phenomenon which basically entails the movement of the
individuals to different countries and places outside the usual
environment for the professional and personal purposes.
(Kumail, Ali and Sadiq, 2019).

Textbook: Cultural
Tourism in the Wake of
Web Innovation
Year: 2019
Author: J. Scott
McDonald and et.al.
Definition: Tourism
basically comprises of
activities related to
travelling and staying
outside the usual
environment.
Other source:
Britannica.com
Year: 2021
Author: John K. Walton
Definition: A Tourism is
basically a process or
act of spending time
away from house in
pursuit of recreation,

2: Historical development of Tourism. As a constantly evolving industry, Tourism is in its current position due to a series of
major, and minor, global events. Choose two of these events and discuss the impact they have had on the tourism industry.
(450 words).
Event one:
In context to Historical Tourism, it plays a very important role in the global world for various reasons and it has a social,
positive and economic impact, it basically helps in preserving the historical and cultural heritage, reinforcing identity,
developing understanding among the individuals and facilitating harmony.
The Coronavirus Pandemic: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism and the travel had become one of the most
important sectors when it comes to the world economy. In context to the tourism dependent countries, they feel the
negative impact of the crisis for much longer as compared to other economies. In context to the contact intensive services
key to the travel and the tourism sectors are drastically affected by the pandemic and this will have a long term impact to
struggle until individuals start feeling safe again. In context to the pandemic, it severely influenced the tourism and the
travel countries globally and resulted in causing the travel industry to suffer from a loss of almost US$4.5 Trillion. In
reference to the tourism industry, the internal and the leisure basically indicated a steep decline and resulted in 50 %
losses. Due to the appearance of the lethal disease the covid-19 pandemic has resulted in causing economic and global
health crisis and financial losses worldwide. Due to the pandemic situation, it adversely impacted the mental wellbeing and
the behaviour of tourists. In addition to that, the pandemic has impacted the tourism industry due to the various travel
restrictions and has been massively affected by the coronavirus spread as many countries started to introduced travel
restrictions in order to stop the spread (Danish and Wang, 2018).