Analysis of Current Issues in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

This essay delves into the contemporary landscape of the tourism and hospitality industry, examining the profound impact of virtual tourism, particularly its surge during the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper explores how virtual reality and augmented reality technologies have reshaped travel experiences, offering immersive alternatives to traditional tourism. It analyzes the challenges faced by the industry, including travel restrictions, economic downturns, and evolving consumer behaviors. The essay highlights the adoption of virtual tours by museums, national parks, and other attractions, as well as the emergence of virtual travel experiences facilitated by platforms like Airbnb. Furthermore, it discusses the potential for virtual tourism to serve as a long-term marketing tool, offering consumers a preview of destinations and mitigating concerns about safety and pricing. The paper concludes by emphasizing the ongoing evolution of virtual tourism within the travel and tourism industry.

Current Issues in Tourism and
Hospitality industry

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
Virtual Tourism which increase in the time of Covid.................................................................1
Current Issues in tourism and hospitality industry......................................................................6
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Tourism and hospitality industry is a key tool for economical development and are
associated with one another. Tourism is considered as the practices of travelling for recreational
or leisure intent. It has become a famous international leisure activity. Moreover, this
incorporates a kind of overnight stay away from normal residential places. Also, this involves
accommodation, transportation and entertainment (Akron and et. al., 2020). Tourism is
associated to pleasure, travel, holidays and going or arriving somewhere. This includes
movement of individuals to and its stay at several destinations. While hospitality is regarded as
relations among host and guest. This is activity or act of being hospitable. Moreover, this is the
business of facilitating lodging, catering, welcoming, hosting, entertainment services and others.
Hospitality sector is closely related with travel & tourism industries. Also, Virtual tourism
incorporates wider spectrum of digitally mediated reality that involves virtual reality and mixed
and augmented reality. It may integration of tourism destination video. The traveller views
videos, using its hearing as well as insight senses. Instead of this, The virtual tourism forms
involve being immersed within environment by utilisation of simulator. Also, this can includes
usages of several props, clients can be need to wear gloves as well as there can be extra
sensations like movement, feeling and smell. This essay is based upon the virtual tourism
increased into the time of COVID as well as the current issues in tourism and hospitality
industry.
MAIN BODY
Virtual Tourism which increase in the time of Covid.
Virtual tourism is basically a hybrid concept as this integrates both notions of virtual
reality as well as tourism. Moreover, Virtual tourism considers various types and comes into vary
technological ability degrees. In simple term, this may integration of tourism destination video.
The traveller views videos, using its hearing as well as insight senses. The virtual tourism forms
involve being immersed within environment by utilisation of simulator. Also, this can includes
usages of several props, clients can be need to wear gloves as well as there can be extra
sensations like movement, feeling and smell.
In addition to this, Virtual tourism incorporates wider spectrum of digitally mediated
reality that involves virtual reality and mixed and augmented reality. In fact, virtual activities
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growth explores far beyond the tourism sector reach. Individuals are visiting museums’ via
virtual tour as well as persons are utilising virtual realities for enhancing their tour experiences.
This is the term which encapsulates wider virtual experience spectrum available within tourism
industry from viewing a promotional video by an interactive experience of museum for
experiences an overall holiday by ways of virtual. Therefore, this is considered as the utilisation
of technology to artificially maximisation or develops a tourism experiences.
(Source: Growth of Virtual tourism, 2020)
The tourism sector has observed a slow but steady development within utilisation of
virtual reality throughout current years. A report through Research and Markets published in year
2019 recommended that tourism sector would be monitored a stronger development into virtual
tourism with future. No one has anticipated that respective sector would come almost to
accomplish halt world above as a outcomes of Corona virus. It has radically fuelled both growth
as well as demand for virtual tourism types. Either during lockdown period or because of fear of
travelling post epidemic, there is surely a demand for tourism goods (Virtual tourism explained:
What, why and where, 2020).
Global tourism has comes towards a standstill just due to corona virus pandemic. As
travel restriction as well as social distancing goes on for enforcing across world for conceivable
future. Also, tourism associated business like airlines and cruise lines are reportedly upon
bankruptcy while restaurants, hotels and museums has locked its doors for the time being. Along
with tourism tourists currently confined to its respective houses, demand for indoor practices and
expansion is upon raise. Various cultural organisations have therefore come up with online tours
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of its experiences and properties so that quest for discovery stays unhindered, moving only from
physical to virtual.
Such as the London based British Tourism have developed a virtual tour named as
“Museum of World:” that undertakes customers upon journey across period. Whole the tourist
have to do is just click upon colourful dots for identifying effectiveness of every artefact which
belongs towards eras dating back to early as 5, 000 BC. Moreover, the Metropolitan of Art as
this is famous. Google Arts as well as Culture partnered with 2, 500 galleries and museums all
over the world for brining virtual tours of these museums from living room.
National parks and other monuments at fingertips, The National Park Service is providing virtual
tours of few of its much lovable sites as well as parks, Yellow stone National Park, Statue of
Liberty in New York, Oregon Caves National Monument and others. The Great Wall of China is
known to be the most sought after tourist attraction within world. Also, it can currently being
experienced from living room comfort, whole this consider is personal mobile device as well as
internet connection.
Additionally, Airbnb’s travel experiences now on Zoom, international home sharing
platform, Airbnb have rolled out their effective experiences upon digital format enhances online
experiences for enabling individuals for exploring virtually as well as provide hosts an
opportunity for gaining amid the pandemic. Also, the Airbnb virtual version experiences
provide activities like bike tours, Korean makeup tutorials, baking, fortune reading and
meditation with Buddhist monks and many more through paring audiences with hosts from
above 30 several countries. They are facilitates the services of online experiences booking
which will be hosted by remote conferencing app Zoom ( Virtual tourism in the times of COVID-
19: Here’s how you can stay home, yet see the world, 2020).
In addition to this, the plans for various global trips In year 2020 were bought to an abrupt
halt through COVID-19 pandemic. Across the world, once the crowded insights lay dormant
with empty hotel as well as not a tourist in sight. Also, the statistic states that on 13 October,
International Air Transport Association states that global traffic have whole but disappear with
airline performing around 10% of common levels. Along with this, it has been determined that
Covid caused disruptions placed much more than 41 million employment at risk all over trael
and tourism industry. Moreover, In the absence of tourists, tourism hotels, boards and destination
has turned towards virtual reality. It is considered as a technology that still into their relative
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infancy for keeping would be tourists interested as well as develop for longer road to recover.
Along with this, the measures of gap can at present become a longer term tool and also
anticipates that travel will not resume to levels of pre-pandemic until 2024. So, the travel and
tourism industry as faced with new diminished tourism reality, most of firms believe that
COVID-19 might be diminished the moment for VR which modifying the conceptions from a
clever as well as occasional marketing trick to permanent tourism marketing fixture.
Moreover, the virtual tourism is becoming the alternatives for tourism experiences. The impact
of COVID-19 can has enabled Virtual reality to somewhat enhances their reputation of being
gimmick into tourism. The analyst of tourism at international data determined that as further this
pandemic continue so far, the high the possibilities which Virtual reality can become a valid kind
of alternative tourism as customers het much utilised to respective technology. For example,
Steve Perillo who is the owner of Travel world Virtual reality, a US based VR as well as 3600
degree video marketing and producing firm which performs with tour operators, cruise line, hotel
and destinations (Is virtual reality the future of travel?, 2020).
Apart from this, with this environment, various countries has stepped up virtual reality
marketing potential for preparing for gradual recovery of tourism sector. Among the much
prominent is Germany that have unveiled a numerous immerse project for highlighting efforts of
country as destination of travel. Into 360 degree videos are developed to be monitored upon
Oculus Rift headsets such as German National Tourist Board (GNTB) have consider travel
lovers upon trips all over country and to portion of their Baltic and North Sea coasts. The digital
application cannot as well as not aimed for replacing real world travel experience. But the VR as
well as AR applications are crucial components to keep interest into Destination Germany alive
during restriction of travel, obtaining potential clients excited regarding their product as well as
facilitating encouragement for real world travel. As the time goes on, virtual tourism is increased
during COVID-19.This become possible due to acceleration of virtual reality. As per the reports
of UK based global data, it has been identified that into their newer customer survey that about
45% of international tourist are awfully worried regarding pandemic. As clients uncertainty
becomes one often huge challenge for operators, this may also undertake as an opportunities for
brining virtual reality into front. Also, this may be utilised as supplementary means for clarifying
doubt related with booking, providing travel firms an edge into procedures. It is also detrmined
that virtual reality allows consumers to experience a trail before they books its holidays, ac
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activities which becomes essential due to situation shaped through COVID-19. ONE OF THE
German town around 30 km south of Stuttgart, has performed few thing similar. The town have
replicated themselves into virtual reality so that travellers may obtain an effective insight. Few
tourist operators were already utilising VR pre-COVID-19 for providing tourist an insight within
its holiday destination. Also, the concept can become gradually more crucial into process of
booking because of affects developed through corona virus (Is virtual reality the future of
travel?, 2020).
In addition to this, VR apps for unique travel experiences, when travelling is not any such
option, the virus outbreaks courtesy tourists may identify innumerable range of virtual reality
application at its disposal it may utilise for travel taste. Moreover, this apps upon block allows
travellers to immerse itself into environment of open ocean so that it may identify underwater
ecosystem. Along with this, this application permits their users for travelling to any destination
upon Earth. Their 360 degree images facilitate a holistic view allowing travellers to feel as they
are really travelling. Also, the travel world VR, an American firm stated that a free app for iOS
and Android devices for indulging user into 50 immersive experiences. Travellers may ether
scroll around video or shift cell phone around for feeling as if they are seeking by a windowpane.
Therefore, even after the whole world returns to normal, with flight taking off as well as tourist
zooming to whole world corner, virtual tourism may still be helpful for instilling as well as
enhancing wanderlust even before the physical trip have initiated.
Apart from this, as the spread of COVID-19 has been slow down, the airport procedures
goes on timely, enhancement into pricing as well as much concern related to safety would be
likely impact future decision of travel. Virtual experience beforehand can produced wanderlust,
therefore maximising appeal of global tourism. Moreover, the memorable, enticing and
immersive experiences which virtual reality may provide would aids to ease customer doubt
acting as other aspects which may enhance the demand of upcoming travel. Also, at present time,
the traditional travel has considered a backseat. But there are experiences which only physical
travel may impart like riding feeling into packed bus, pizza taste of international areas and other.
so, the virtual tourism growing as well as developing at current environment of travel and
tourism industry in effective and efficient way.
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Current Issues in tourism and hospitality industry
Tourism and hospitality has developed new waves upon world horizon. Moreover, these is
one of largest as well as fastest developing industry into international economy and have
essential environmental, economical, social and cultural impacts optimistically and
pessimistically. Tourism is defined as combination of attraction, amenities, restaurant, transport,
shopping, accommodation and entertainment. It is a key tool for economical development. In
addition to this, it has been determined that both tourism and hospitality industry are closely
linked with each other but also have some differences. As tourism sector is related with services
for individuals who have travelled away from its general residential areas for shorter duration.
On other side, hospitality industry is related with services to leisure as well as consumer
satisfaction. This mean providing services to travellers but it do not involves that service
provision to person who are not traveller like locals enjoying its free time or person coming to a
places for reason other than tourism (Capocchi and et. al., 2020). In addition to whole economy,
the international tourism and hospitality sector has enjoyed a spurt of huge growth over last
decades. As per the World Bank, global economy has developed at a pace of above 3% per year
at this period. It is undertaken as unprecedented growth has benefited tourism as well as
hospitality sector through stimulating world population’s travel practices by facilitating countless
room nights into both leisure and business travel.
As tourism and hospitality sector has been growing as well as because of changing needs
of society and economic uncertainty. It is so the sector as face a huge range of problems as well
as aspects that required to be wholly adhered to for consumer satisfaction. At current time, the
huge issues that tourism and hospitality industry is COVID-19, corona virus heath crisis, tackled
statistically as real time is hitting global economy harder as well as tourism sector most of all.
Corona virus disease is known as an infection which is discovered currently. Most people
contaminated with COVID-19 virus that will experience mild for moderating respiratory illness
as well as get well without needs of special treatment. Older individuals as well as that with
underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, chronic reparatory disease, cancer and
others are much likely to develop a serious kind of illness (Dogru and et. al., 2020). Additionally,
the effective way for preventing as well as slowing down transmission is to be well-informed
regarding corona virus, which cause and how get spreads. Prevent person from respective
infection by washing hands and utilising alcohol based hand rub. Also, spreads mainly by saliva
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droplets from nose when infected person sneezes or cough, therefore this is vital which
individuals also practice respiratory etiquette.
The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) expects a drop down into revenue of tourism of
about 300 to 500 billion dollars in year 2020 and up to 1/3 of 1500 billion obtained in year 2019.
Such as France could faces the much losses of around 40 billion Euros / quarter. Additionally,
millions of jobs into this industry are under threat in all over the world. Moreover, it has been
also analysed that the drastic crisis consequences for international tourism. There are some
aspects one of them is that, the crisis then hit top international tourism that is Europe. In year
2018 continent welcomed in about 672 million travellers, and half of world’s global arrivals.
Around 1/3 of these tourist travel into Italy, Spain and France, whole of that are among six
nations get much impacted by corona virus along with well known destinations like Paris,
Florence, Milan and others. Other aspects is that, it is slow to arrive but will almost certainly be
hitting harder, the procedures if deciding either to book holidays or not. As it is a kind of much
risk decision because of tourism service nature: trying before purchasing is not promising as well
as this is vital investment which needs seeking for information as well as comparison of
destinations and costs. The overall industry entered a pessimistic development phases in between
3% and 12% some travellers depends upon places as per World Tourism Organisation (Corona
virus: 2020, a dark year for global tourism, 2020).
Along with this, the pandemic cause various challenges within all industry including
tourism and hospitality as well. Because of this, respective sector is going through drastic
changes. As due to lockdown into several countries across the world there is large downfall into
reservations. Also, a huge number of cancellation at ends of both business and leisure (Dube,
Nhamo and Chikodzi, 2020). Even after lockdown, this is tough for individuals to reach any
other destination or hotels as virus fear is still bear into its minds. So, it may be considered that,
at present, it is a huge issue for respective industry to gain faith into its consumer so that they
will opt their place rather than others. Moreover, there are several challenges which they are
facing recently. Among all one of the issue is Innovative technologies, the tourism and
hospitality sector must initiate adapting advanced technologies for ensuring client and guest
safety. When updated technologies are installed within firm thereafter this minimises
possibilities of human contacts. For instance, huge investments are needed as well as various
entities are tackling challenges in relation to funds arrangements. But several has already opted
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this and obviated front desk through providing guest options to check online. As social
distancing is requirement of hour, most firm can opt mobile PMS for faster check-ins and check-
out. Guest mobile application should able to connect for switching into rooms for obviating
contacts with switches. Also, payments for all things like drinks, beverages and many more have
to be performed in digital mode. Financial crisis, because of COVID-19, overall world is going
through large damage that outcomes into economical crisis. Hotels and tourist firms shut down,
so rates of occupancy get reduces. At this time, guest and tourist are not seeking to book new
trips or any travels into future months, those outcomes in more cancellation in comparison to
booking. Therefore, there is much minimisation into cash flow because of pandemic situation.
Maintaining Hygiene, cleanliness is not an issue for any firm. The demand for cleanliness is not
a surprise, mainly during COVID-19 outbreak. Whole hygiene is vital for effective health and
safety of employees as well as clients within organisations. Such as keep hand sanitizers in
offices. Whole regular touch points needs thorough cleaning. Disinfect items of furniture and
other is crucial at continuous basis. Also provides appropriate training regarding cleaning
method (Griffin, 2020). It may also utilise technology for automating specific activities and also
maximises coordination among functional units. So, it develops effectiveness of services as well
as minimising paperwork. In addition to this, the upgraded software also aids manager to simply
delegate activities to staff, observe tasks for accomplishing it on time. Also, aids in obviating
duplication of work. Safeguarding employees, Staff requires developing awareness of guidelines
of World health Organisation or centres for controlling disease. This norm facilitates information
to obviate spread of infections. Additionally, this involves surface cleaning, respiratory hygiene,
hand washing and many more for assuring staff safety and also of clients. Also, the employees
who are working in tourism and hospitality entity must have access to it as well as motivates
them to wear personal safeguarding equipments. As this will ensure clients that organisation and
their workers are focused towards its health and safety (Challenges in the Hospitality Industry in
the year 2020, 2020). Regaining client’s confidence, it is considered as one of the vital aspects
challenges for tourism industry. The customer should feel a sense of safety while visiting to
travel & tourism firm and hotel. They may assists diminish fear of its consumers through
maintaining appropriate sanitization. Moreover, through continuous check up of employees’
temperature as well as it should wear mask within workplace (Kaushal and Srivastava, 2020).
They should also assure that guest and audiences have knowledge via marketing or messaging
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the measure that are undertaken through them for guarantee their safety. Along with this,
communicating clients regarding measures manager are considering to assure its protection.
They also feel safe enough for travelling again and again as well as stay into hotels at its visits.
Moreover, the sector would not be bounce back to normal phase. Until, customers are having
assurance that their stay are not affects its health pessimistically.
Additionally, impact of COVID-19 upon tourism and hospitality industry- Global
hospitality data organisation recognizes as into March end week whereby it has identified that, in
about whole hospitality marketplace has influenced badly by continuous COVID-19 pandemic as
well as this will regularly influence for long durations. Moreover, the tourism industry of China
influenced because of this virus affect since tourism highlights 11% it’s GDP into current year,
developing into steady rate of 7%. The airlines, cruise and hotels operators are some of harder
hits travel and hospitality industry which faces much immediate repercussions, basically when
outbreak raise during Lunar new year, one of busiest seasons of travel into Asia. Along with this,
international Air Transport Association anticipates that international air transport profitability
will be reduced by 5% in this year which states 29.3 billion dollars less. In addition to this,
because of this crisis, individuals are not travelling as well as staying in hotels due to which hotel
and tourist firms such as Travelodge profitability gets minimised.
This has been determined that economic uncertainty, sustainable travel, climate change and
technological skills are undertaken as some biggest issues that tourism and hospitality industry
are facing. According to the current survey performed in January, 2020, through Travel
technology Europe has determined that at present economic uncertainty is considered as one of
the biggest issues that are facing by tourism and hospitality industry, along with 53% of that
polled putting this at top of the list. It was strongly followed through issues environment
“sustainable travel” as well as “climate change”, with 45% as well as 44% of people
consequently, representing theses as key issues entering in year 2020. In addition to this, the
outside of external influences, a huge percentage of respondents determined “gaps into
technology competencies” into respective sector as key challenge (Kloutsiniotis and Mihail,
2020). It ties into with perceived barriers towards digital transformation in which into similar
survey, proficiency gaps were highlighted as main limiting development by 75 % of participants.
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As per the survey, the travel technology Europe stated that, during polling time, United
Kingdom was approaching a general election along with uncertainty environment Brexit as well
as country future evidently having an effect upon respondents. “Uncertainty aside, the analysis
echo enhancing concerns related to travel’s affected upon modification of climate and
requirement for developing options of sustainable travel. Whilst, it is a larger challenge for sector
as whole. From introducing much energy effective technologies for using Big data for
determining patterns of attitudes which contributes most to climate changes.“There are various
ways where travel technology may assist surroundings. Undertaken over tourism such as there
are data analytics tools which represents destination are up as well as coming and that has spare
ability to develop. Assisting tourists acknowledges that there is an overall world beside usual
suspects of Amsterdam, Dubrovnik and Barcelona could be start”. And also being determined as
a key challenges through travel technology firms, tour operators, travel agents and many more as
well as the eco friendly, sustainable travel options was also represented by 47% of participants as
something its own consumers were asking for much. Moreover, the travel Technology Europe is
considered as Europe’s dedicated events for travel technology as well as will be playing as host
to above 50 expertise in whole field of travel technology as well as who will be sharing its
competencies (Biggest challenges facing today's travel industry revealed, 2016).
Beside this, in general terms, this must be undertaken that consumers within tourism and
hospitality sector are very much demanding innovative goods and services as well as it is yp to
overall stakeholders for considering challenge. In this respect, there are several emerging as well
as challenges into respective sector which has forced stakeholder to stay back (Laškarin Ažić,
Dlačić and Suštar, 2020). Also there is requirement for staying ahead of clients as well as it is
one issue which are usually faced through them. It is so its service desires are always modifying
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