A Report on Contemporary Issues in the Travel and Tourism Industry

This report examines contemporary issues in the UK travel and tourism sector, focusing on challenges faced by companies like Titan Travel, Whitbread Plc, and Trailfinders. It analyzes issues such as infrastructure, human resources, technological advancements, and the emergence of new markets. The report explores current trends including adventure, faith, dark, grey, gastronomy, and health tourism, and assesses how businesses respond to these changes. It uses primary and secondary research methods to evaluate the impact of these issues and trends, and explores the consequences of failing to adapt to market changes. The report offers insights into strategies for businesses to address these challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities within the evolving tourism landscape.

CONTAMPORARY ISSUES
IN
TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Analysing issues currently driving change in the travel and tourism sector....................1
1.2 Analysis of various issues by using appropriate methods and techniques.......................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Current trends influence changes in tourism and travel sector.........................................4
2.2 Current trends using resources and methods....................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Analyse response towards change in travel and tourism sector.......................................5
3.2 Strategies development in relation to response to changes by selected business entity...6
3.3 Justify strategies for how selected travel & tourism could respond to change................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Impact of issues and trends that drive change in travel and tourism industry.................8
4.2 Likely consequences of businesses failing to respond to market changes.......................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Changes are important part of any business entities that help firm in their growth and
success. Issues that arise in a given time frame is called as contemporary issues. It is recognised
in case which is applicable in current time. Application of various tools and techniques enables
management to deal with these issues in an appropriate and efficient manner (Wachowiak,
2016). In this assignment Titan Travel is a company which provides solutions of travel plan
issues in UK inbound. Outbound and domestic tourism. It is necessary for corporation to find all
kind of issues that are arising in industry. Whitbread Plc is a largest hotels and coffee shop
operator in UK with over 50000 staff members. They have to develop various strategies which
will able in dealing with change and issues. Trail-finders are a tour operators that runs its
business operations in United Kingdom and have approximately 32 centres. Firm has to find out
impact of trends and issues that are driver for modification. Along with this firm has to identify
consequences of business failing to respond alterations of marketplace.
TASK 1
1.1 Analysing issues currently driving change in the travel and tourism sector
Titan Travel is the fastest growing company in travel and tourism sector. An organization
faces many challenges in their growth and success. So, there are many problems and elaboration
of these issues is as follows: Lack of Proper Infrastructure: It is a need of travel and tourism industry that there
infrastructure should be because a maintained destination with its glory and heritage
invites so many visitors. On the other hand, if there is a problem in infrastructure, people
refuse to come to that place. Infrastructure includes many factors like entry ports to
transport models to urban framework for e.g. electricity, access of roads, sewerage, water
supply and telecom. If a travel company does not focus on these kinds of issues then in
that case, it is not able to attract more people for their travel plans (Benckendorff and
Zehrer, 2013). Human Resource: A challenge that a tourism industry is facing commonly is recognition
of competent human resource so that they will help in the increment of growth. Travel
and tourism sector is one of the largest sectors that generate huge number of employment
but there is a lack of manpower that is required proper talent and virtue (Stone, 2012).
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 Technological advancement: Techniques are having a virtue that are very variable and
within a short period of time it gets updated. So change in needs is a driver of change in
technologies. This up-gradation is very helpful for many businesses to get in touch with
their current and potential buyers of holiday plan. But sometimes, variations and
innovations are come in market in gap of short period of time and because of this many
firms are not be able to adopt these changes on regular basis and this action reduces their
market share and goodwill among customer's eye. Need for increased security: A tourist need that he must be provided proper safety so that
he/she could enjoy their trip with full happiness. Number of tourists are getting increased
in year on year basis and it is a fundamental duty of Titan Travel that they should provide
all safety measures to their clients but this a challenge for company and local government
bodies to handle all tourists and visitors whether local or international.
 Emergence of new markets: Expansion of market on regular basis is an opportunity for
travel organisations but this emergence of marketplace is also a reason behind issue
arising. It is a task of Titan Travel that they should meet and identify needs and desires of
their clients but expansion of market is making this activity difficult.
Titan Travel has to recognize those actions that they could take as a corrective measure to
deal with these issues. Above are factors that have a huge impact on the business operations of
travel and tourism industry in UK (Wearing and McGehee, 2013).
1.2 Analysis of various issues by using appropriate methods and techniques
Purports are major aspect in industry that have a great impact and they must be
determined in an adequate manner. Several issues have to be studied properly so that appropriate
methods and tools can be used for getting their solutions. Use of a proper format that is the most
compatible to problems is a proficient method of resolving issues. Clients choose those countries
for their travel plan where they pay less but gain more and such things create satisfaction among
visitors. Like this use of adequate methods and techniques in association to recognition of
purports is a required format. Once problem is identified then assistant manager can take
corrective action to resolve them in a systematic manner. It is profitable for travel and tourism
companies for getting back their market share and goodwill along with the alteration of policies
and strategies.
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Main purpose that are recognised by Titan Travel that can be said as a barrier in their
working operations and activities. These issues are technological advancement, emergence of
new market, efficient human resource, lack of proper infrastructure, etc. that is associated with
demand and inflation. Management already formulated their strategies and policies on previous
basis but these issues are newly found and require action has to be taken by the assistant manager
to resolve them and they have to reformulate their tactics while considering these purports
(Standing, Tang-Taye and Boyer, 2014).
Titan Travel found that in the United Kingdom, tourists have face many problems like
lack or transport for them, strict security checks at airports, etc. which generate dissatisfaction
among clients of travel company. Like this, management has to make their customers aware
about that these checking are for beneficial for them as it reduces uncertain outcome. On the
other hand, they also tell consumers that are improving their other issues and many of them are
already been improvised.
So, for collection of required information that is related with these purports, assistant
manager of Titan Travel has to recognise various research methods and tools which could
support researcher in data collection regarding this aspect. There are two methods that are to be
used in data collection and these are:
1. Primary
2. Secondary
Primary method is used to collect fresh data which is specific to reason for which
research is being conducted. For assisting this report, assistant manager of Titan Travel can make
a questionnaire and collect feedbacks of their clients to take actions for getting solutions of
problems.
Secondary methods are those where researcher uses a platform that is provided by
another researcher like newspapers, journals, books, internet, etc. It is not a reliable method
because this is not specific to the issues that are related to Titan Travel (Lew, 2014).
There are some issues which is analysed in this segment and these problems are described below:
Health Issues: If a person is having any kind of disease then he is restricted to go some
specific places. So, these particular locations could not be an option for holiday and this action
reduces popularity of that specific location.
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Current National and International Legislations: If national laws are very strict and
without following them a person could not cross boundaries of nation then it is a complex
situation for travel industry because this will increases task and duties of tour operators and
diminishes favourableness of travel and tourism sector. On the other hand, if legislations of other
country, where a person wants to go is difficult and where going is not easy then it will reduces
likeliness of that destination and it directly affects popularity of that destination.
State of Economy or Rise and Fall of Inflation: If economy is not then it will directly
impact exchange value of currency. For instance, if inflation is high then it will enhances
exchange price and it will improvise total cost of tour package but other than this, inflation is low
then exchange rate would be less and it will diminishes overall cost of holiday plan.
TASK 2
2.1 Current trends influence changes in tourism and travel sector
Their are different trends which affect sector of tourism and travel and increases the
growth of industry. Finding of recent trends in market help industry for changes in market. Some
of implementing of a creative ideas by company are as follows: Adventure tourism: In a current times company have to find out the younger customers
are attractive towards adventures tourism and get something new for spending their
holidays. Tourism of adventure includes such as hilly areas, jungle safari, river rafting
etc. It means that spending of holidays with nature which are planned by a company of
travel and tourism (Hannam, Butler and Paris, 2014). Faith tourism: It include trips of places like holy in which customers are taken to a holy
places in a destination which are selected. It is one of other present trends helps industry
for attracting their customers for a specific region. Dark tourism: It is a present trend which are emerged in a present market. In this trend
customers are focus on historical and haunted places. UK government is spending money
in such types of places for business expansion of tourism and travel of a company. Grey tourism: It is a type of tourism where aged peoples visit and show their interest
level in the activities of tourism. In this tourism organisation focus on people of old age
so that various types of market of niche can develop. For developing of a grey tourism
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because of they are having more disposable income and people have to pass their leisure
time in a proper manner. Gastronomy tourism: It is a type of tourism which is very much popular in today's time
and even much interesting. This tourism purpose is for visiting for understanding the
culture of local related to drink and food (Cohen and Cohen, 2012). Having a knowledge
of a ingredients and local taste giving a priority to tourism in gastronomy tourism.
Understanding in a advanced way myths related food, types of stages processing,
production of food process and pattern of cooking etc. all these come under a tourism of
gastronomy. People having interest in understanding a customs of local towards drink
and food of countries. It is very much different and interesting type of tourism.
 Health tourism: This tourism contributes in fitness and health in this they can include
psychological, emotional, mental etc. each type of component which effect well-being
and health of a particular person. Popular treatments in health tourism are yoga, Thai
massage etc. which are very much famous and importance for health promoting and
tourism of well-being (Kim and Ritchie, 2014).
2.2 Current trends using resources and methods
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TASK 3
3.1 Analyse response towards change in travel and tourism sector
Variations in businesses and its environment affect working and operations of Whitbread
Plc which is a largest hotel, restaurant and coffee shop operator in UK. There are a lot of firm
that refuse to respond these changes that are not beneficial for them for longer duration. In
starting traditional and classical approach that which has various limitations in it like low
interaction with clients and limited reach of customers. But this scenario is completely changed
in modern time. In recent time companies is using various technologies like internet and creating
a connection with their future and current clients. Thus they are promoting their business among
wide number of people.
Whitbread Plc is largest hotel group in United Kingdom and they determines
permutations by conducting PEST analysis. There are several factors that exist in every nation
and these are political, economical, sociological and technological. Every visitor want security
from those changes that are occurring in these points. Elaboration of factors are described below:
 Political: In travel and tourism industry area of every company is expending and it is not
limit to extent. This factor tells that every country has different situations that has to be
analysed by assistant manager of Whitbread Plc company (Evans, Stonehouse and
Campbell, 2012). Govt. of other nations is different and they are various laws and
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legislations that are imposed to firms that are conducting their business in respective
nation. If Government has changed then it affects rules and regulations which will impact
operations of corporation in UK.
 Economical: Fundamental task of every association that they must consider exchange
rate and tax rate in country where they are already conducting their business activities.
Along with this management also identify currency rate in new countries where they are
going to start their business. If value of currency is low then organisation has to take
some strict actions for grabbing more profits.
 Social: Whitbread Plc have to determine preferences and desires that are associating with
their travel plan of their clients for formulating strategies and to deliver services.
Identification of customer's preferences enables managers in getting more profits by
customer satisfaction. If users change their perspective then it affects widely operations
of corporation. Managerial grid has to taken it into consideration and need to take proper
actions against them (Spenceley, 2012).
 Technological: If a technology gets updated then this up-gradation has to be consider by
assistant manager of firm on a serious note. Alteration in technologies arise due to change
in need of their use. This kind of innovations are very common in technologies and if
they arise in gap of short duration then it will goes to be difficult to adopt by
corporations.
Management has to take corrective measures to respond changes in a proficient manner. Change
made a negative effect on business operations. For get rid out of this situation assistant manager
has to plan their actions already.
3.2 Strategies development in relation to response to changes by selected business entity
Change that happens in marketplace affect working of operations that are not appropriate
at all. Organization can deal with these variations by formulating and executing efficient
strategies. Whitbread Plc has to set up their missions and visions and evaluate their efficiency on
time to time basis. Company which is providing services is other big fact which support in
dealing with variations that are coming in time and about to come.
Whitbread Plc is a largest hotel, restaurant and coffee shop operator in UK which is
providing employment to over 50000 people. It is a most profit generating firm that also supports
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economy of country but they are in need of make changes in their strategy formulation and
execution to respond changes. Consider timing – Company which is operating their business in UK need to identify time
to introduce changes. When a higher level of change is required then it must be more
constructive so that it could be launched properly. These kind of changes removes
uncertainty of various crises. For e.g. increment in work operations might be more
appropriate in time of depression and at that time and people are not in stage of accepting
change. So study of time is necessary when change is happen (Desbordes and Richelieu,
2012). Forming a sound coalition – Before accept change by company, management has to
convince their staff that variation is needed for effective working. Managing change is
not enough for corporation although they have to lead it. Creating change vision – Firm has to put vision of change in their employees so that is
should be not a major problem. A change can not be adopted if working staff is not in
position to accept variation. So that it is a responsibility of assistant manager of
Whitbread Plc that he should make his team future ready and this will enable them to
introduce change in their organisation (Connell, 2013). Communicating vision – It is must for association that it must communicate its vision on
regular basis. So that they get to know about what are there business operations. Creating short run wins – Success is a charm for every business personnels and nothing
can motivates them more than success. It is required from these personnel that they must
bring advantageous that are associated with permutations which occurs in short time
basis. Building on change – Creation of variations are not success every time but they are to be
unsuccessful also. So that building on variation are not an easy task.
 Anchoring changes within corporate culture – To remain on company change should be
in heart of firm.
3.3 Justify strategies for how selected travel & tourism could respond to change
There are several tactics that is used by Whitbread Plc to deal with permutations that are
occurring in both marketplace and in environment of business. By accepting change and adopt
them in business it will be more profitable in retention of existing customers and in reach of
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various other clients. Tactics are helpful in hitting targets on set time duration and response
towards permutations became appropriate. Hence all kind of firms have to formulate great
strategies that should be efficient in dealing with variations. These issues are associated with
improvement in tax rates, variations in client preferences etc. all of these are revulsion which
takes place in environment on time to time basis.
It is must for assistant manager that they should convince their staff members about need
of change because this company wont be able in accepting change that is necessary to adopt. An
association can lead alteration only with help of their employees.
For convincing workforce for accepting alteration, management has to put their revulsion
vision in their mind so that when modification occur they will be able in adopting it. So it is a
required need of every sort of business that they should recruit efficient staff into their firm
(Lyons and et. al., 2012).
Association is in need of communicating their vision behind change and this will
generate efficiency in revulsion adaptation.
Synchronisation among manpower should be sound so that they could cooperate with
each other and this ultimately effect change management positively. By creating missions and
visions company can plan their operations and can find out if change acceptation is necessary or
not. Revulsion is not a single task, it is a set of activities and building on change is important in
get in touch with numerous people (Dickinson and et. al., 2014).
Modification should be culture in organisation so that it could not became a major issues
for employees. Flexible nature of corporation are those who lead changes in travel and tourism
industry. Whitbread Plc is an association where managing alteration is not enough but they lead
variation in their market.
TASK 4
4.1 Impact of issues and trends that drive change in travel and tourism industry
There are various problems that affect travel and tourism sector either directly or
indirectly. Trail-finders are privately owned company that operates 32 centres approximately in
UK and Ireland with more than 1000 employees. They grabbed a popularity and are known for
their best quality services. They continuously growing operation in industry but it is a difficult
task for other firms to expand their business so that they could compete with Trail-finders.
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