Contemporary Issues in Travel and Tourism: Thompson Analysis Report

This report delves into the contemporary issues affecting the travel and tourism industry, using Thompson as a case study, with specific focuses on Sri Lanka and Vietnam. It examines challenges such as safety concerns, technological advancements, environmental issues, and the impact of globalization. The report analyzes these issues using various methods, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, and explores emerging trends like adventure trips, female solo travel, food tourism, and mobile photography, discussing their influence on tourism products and services. Furthermore, it assesses Thompson's response to these changes, proposing strategies such as adopting marketing mix techniques, enhancing security, and providing quality services to cope with evolving consumer demands. The report concludes with a justification of these strategies, emphasizing their role in improving brand value and market share, and discusses methods for forecasting tourism demand.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN
TRAVEL AND TOURISM

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
P 1.1 Analysis current issues ......................................................................................................1
P 1.2 Analysis issues using method and resources ....................................................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
P 2.1 Influencing changes in emerging trends............................................................................2
P 2.2 Trends affects relating to products and services of tourism..............................................3
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................3
P 3.1 Analyzing response of Thompson towards emerging changes..........................................3
P 3.2 Strategies that can help travel and tourism sector to cope up with changes......................5
P 3.3 Justification of the strategies..............................................................................................6
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................6
P 4.1 Analyzing the impact of issues that drive change in travel and tourism sector.................6
P 4.2 Consequences of business failing to respond to market changes......................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Travel and tourism refers temporary short term movement of persons to destination
outside place where they are lived and activities. It is sources of income for many regions and
whole countries. It is important business activity which effects social and culture sector of
nations and their international relations. The 6th biggest tourism destinations in UK. (Tomasowa,
2017).
Assignment is based on Thompson. It is the world's largest airline offering flights from
UK. Furthermore, there are two destinations that is Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Moreover, study is also based on driving changes in current issues by using relevant
method and resources. It will also discuss emerging trends that are influencing changes which
create impact on results.
TASK 1
P 1.1 Analysis current issues
Travel and tourism is key sector for economic growth and job creation activity
throughout the world. Travel operators faces many current issues or challenges such as taxation,
technological, environmental and safety concern. These issues affects on sustainable
development of travel and tourism business.
Safety Concern: Safety is important for travel and tourism sector. It includes crime,
terrorism and political problems. Therefore, tour operators make efforts on safety concern for
their tourists. The situation of safety management is big conflict faced by tour operators. Travel
operators are facing challenges regarding competitors, because they are giving more safety
concern in the services. (Major Current Issues Confronting Tourism, 2006).
Technology: Tour operators make sure that utilization of advanced technology in their
services. Facilities includes internet services like online booking, direct sales, often flyer
information corporate provider and agents. Changes in technology is big impact on the travel
business, so that tour operator is adopted innovation in technology.
Environmental issues: Travel and tourism sector faces various environmental issues.
These issues include pollution in the countries. Environmental factors are affecting visitors'
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attraction and barriers in survival of tourism industry. These elements are also affected hotel
chains, airlines and tour operators, so that they are protected their business environment.
Taxation: It is big issue facing by tour operators. Tourism is highly taxed industry. A
simple look taxes paid on airline tickets and hotel rooms which is directly effects tourism. In
order to balance out of equation, so that travel industry offer competitively priced.
Impact of globalisation: Impact of this issue in terms of consumer protection regulations,
currency fluctuations and other travel information. These issues effect growth and development
of travel and tourism business (Boniface, Cooper and Cooper, 2016).
P 1.2 Analysis issues using method and resources
There are different issues that are faced by travel and tourism sectors of Sri Lanka and
Vietnam. They are as follows:
Health and safety: Sri Lanka's people using different resources and methods such as
regularly inspection, audit, modified plant and material for solving the health and safety issues.
They are testing material and quality of foods, taking strict action relating health and security
issues and provides other facilities to peoples who are travelling in their country. Tourist faced
credit card risk in Sri Lanka. Therefore, they should take strict action against fraud for visitors
security. (Guttentag, 2015). Another destination is Vietnam; they are also giving all facilities for
persons who are travelling in their country. People should make sure that audit and inspection on
daily basis for visitor's safety. In the destination, many visitors are feeling that some places are
not safe and secure, so that peoples are increased safety facilities in that places. These issues
include provides harmless products and services.
Environmental Issues: In Vietnam, there are many environmental issues which includes
global warming, plastic problem. People are used different resources such as natural and
formation of green parties for increasing attraction of tourist. Therefore, people should make sure
that clear and safe environment of country. Air and water pollution has major impact on
environment of Sri Lanka which affects tourists. For solving these problems, industries should
make effort on waste management. Therefore, Sri Lanka introduce environmental standards.
These regulations maintain the elements of atmosphere (Mariani and et.al., 2014).
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TASK 2
P 2.1 Influencing changes in emerging trends
There are many modifications in emerging trends in travel and tourism industry. These
changes are attracting more customers and sustainable growth of business.
Adventure Trips: It is the best emerging trend, that is planning of adventure trip for
attracting more tourists. This trend is increasing curiosity among customers, more experiences
and increasing interest for adventure trips(Burkhard. 2016).
Female Solo Travel: It is another emerging trend that is solo travel for female. Many
women are becoming more independent and enhance their experience, so that they are going for
solo travel. Therefore, travel operators make sure that they provide all benefits along with proper
security (Dickinson and et.al., 2014).
Food Tourism: Tour operators adopt food tourism for visitors. Travels experts have
taken notice that food tourism is an emerging trend among travellers everywhere. These
experiences are closely bound to culture of location. Operators make sure that provides food
services, so that tourist are connected with tradition and cultures of destination. It is benefits for
tour operators. (Polzin, Chu and Godfrey, 2014).
Mobile Photography: This trend is beneficial for operator to increase attraction on their
destination, its traditions and cultures. It is also good for visitors to rise experiences to know
about destination.
P 2.2 Trends affects relating to products and services of tourism
From above emerging trends, it is increased tourist attraction for Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Trends are included adventure trip, food tourism, mobile photography etc. These trends are
increased customers’ experience regarding tradition, culture and environment of chosen
destinations. Operators are given accommodation of visitors for travelling(Li and et.al., 2015).
Through adventure trip, visitors are developed their experiences and satisfaction. It helps
to increase image of products and services of tourism. From mobile photography, tourists are
known all information and captured specific views of selected destinations. These trends are
increased sustainable growth and development of travel and tourism sector in hospitality
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industry. Through these trends, tour operators are analysed visitors demand. It is also increased
customers' loyalty.
With the help of these trends, tour operators are developed their image and performance
level in hospitality industry. Therefore, operators make sure that provide all security services
and benefits for their clients. Through these trends, it is developed business in the worldwide
(Xiang and et.al., 2015).
Method and techniques:
Qualitative and Quantitative: With the help of forecasting methods, operators are
analysed trends. It helps to determine tourism demand for selected destinations. There are two
approaches are included such as qualitative and quantitative. These methods are different from
each other. In the qualitative concept, it requires historical data and determine future tourism
demand. On the other side, quantitative approach, it believes expert opinion for analysing
tourism trends. This technique increases number of visitor in destination.
Casual and non Casual: It is also method of forecasting of tourism demand of
destination. In the casual method, effects relationship between demand and it is determining
forces. On the other side, for both forecasting of future trends. This approach also impact on
destination method also use for analysis trends in tourism sector.
TASK 3
P 3.1 Analysing response of Thompson towards emerging changes
The travel and tourism industries is one of the largest sector residing in the country. This
sector has undergone various changes. These alterations have a huge impact on the business
growth of Thompson. The firms are surrounded by various contemporary issues that may include
technology advancement, increased environmental awareness and rise in security. Advancing in
techniques is one of the main component that have changed the dimension of hospitality
industries (Hannam, Butle and Paris, 2014). For example, technology has made it easier for
consumers to book the tickets online with just one click. Social media channels like Facebook,
Instagram have supported the customers to explore the world’s best destinations and plan for
holidays over there. Increasing environmental awareness is the most important responsibility of
these sectors as it is known that pollution is rising
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Climate change is also one of the major issues that have impacted the travel and tourism
sector. The companies' growth can be hampered by natural calamities like disaster, flood,
drought, thunderstorm, hail etc. The terrorism also has a severe effect on the development of
these industries (Baker, 2014). For instance, incident of 9/11 has severely impacted the life of
people and after that, tourism sector has increased their security arrangements.
The travel and tourism industries have reacted towards these alterations by implementing
various strategies to overcome the barriers like climate change, alteration in consumer trends.
Diverse activities such as dumping the wastage at proper places are performed by them in order
to save habitat. They are involved in keen analysis of the market to understand the security
aspects of consumers. Also, the tourism sectors are involved in developing methods for reducing
pollution caused because of them.
P 3.2 Discussion of the emerging trends that are influencing change in the travel and tourism
sector
The changes occurring in the environment have given a severe impact on the growth of
Thompson. For coping up with these changes, industries need to focus on developing various
strategies. Company can make use of many marketing mix techniques like product. For example,
The hotel rooms provided by firms to tourist should be neat, clean and hygienic with well-
developed interior. The emerging trends like advancing technology, enhanced in transportation
has been implemented by organisation with the change in consumer needs and demands. They
have also made use of online internet facilities to cope up with the emerging trends in the
industry. Customers also asks for quality of service, which is also one of the major concern for
them. Also, the company is also focusing on providing wide range of service through
encouraging people for travelling solo, active-adventurous trip, food tourism, business and
mobile photography. All these aspects are covered in emerging trends which are also making
organisation to change their way of working. Covering these aspects can support Thompson in
growing their business and attracting more people. This will also help them in establishing a
good will in the market. They can support in building relationship of trust and loyalty with
customers which can enhance the productivity of the organisation.
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P 3.3 Justification of the strategies
The above mentioned strategies like advancing in technology, increasing security
concern, providing quality services will help the travel and tourism sector in improving their
good will and brand value in the market. It may also support them in increasing the level of their
marketing.(Dickinson and et.al., 2014). These processes might help industries in building
relationship and also allow them in creating consumers’ loyalty. It builds a relation of trust
between organisation and customers.
Providing people with appropriate products and facilities can help industries in attracting
more new people and hence resulting in increasing their market share across the country. This
will also support them in putting positive response over consumers and help Thompson in
attracting new customers (Contemporary issues in travel and tourism, 2017). Analysing
opportunities and threats can make firms overcome various aspects that can allow them in having
competitive advantages. Like for example, providing travellers with cab to move from here and
there may act as an opportunity for the company. The strategies which are adopted like
advancing in technology adopted by Thompson can be justified by SWOT analysis as this can
become the strength for the company. Also, not coping up with alteration in techniques or
change in consumer preferences can act as a weakness for the organisation.
TASK 4
P 4.1 Analysing the impact of issues that drive change in travel and tourism sector
The issues have the both positive and negative impacts on various dimensions of the
industry. Description of different consequences are given below-
Impact on business: Contemporary issues like technology advancement, increasing
security, rise in environmental awareness about climate change has a huge impact on the
business of Thompson. Furthermore, creating environmental awareness has supported Thompson
in increasing their good will as they have laid strategies like waste should be dumped in
appropriate manner. Due to advance techniques, they are able to cope up with increment in the
demand of hospitality service. These factors have helped industries in increase their revenue as
facilities provided by them are easily available to consumers online. This can help them in
enjoying the perks provided by Thompson by just clicking once on their mobile or desktop.
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(Hall, Williams and Lew, 2014). They have also started organising seminars for securing and
preserving natural habitat. Thus, all these activities have a positive impact on the overall
business. The strategies like advancing technology has been very effective, as it supported
organisation in expanding their business.
Impact on product and service: All the strategies implemented by travel and tourism
sector have helped them in improving their quality of service. The product facilities have also
been improved by Thompson. Like for example with the help of advancing in technology
commodity service has also been enhanced. They have lay emphasis on providing quality room
service with creative interior. Company has also laid focus on giving safe and secure
environment to consumers which has helped them in gaining competitive advantage. It has also
supported industries in establishing fast and secure connections to consumers. These elements
have enhanced the relationship between provider and user which has resulted in increased market
share. This has also supported them in raising their sales and profit volume. Strategies like
providing quality service is been very effective as it has helped organisation in improving their
product attribute.
Impact on employment level: Advance technology has helped to lay positive impact on
this sector. As, the company requires numerous employees to handle day to day operations.
Employment opportunities have been increased for people. For example, Thompson is engaged
in hiring workers who are well educated, trained and have keen knowledge about market trends
and challenges (Jenkins, Hall and Mkono, 2014). These issues have helped in increasing earning
opportunities of people and has also laid a positive impact on their lives. It has supported
individuals in improving their quality of living and enhanced affirmative spirit in them. Now,
they can seek the world as a better place to live.
P 4.2 Consequences of business failing to respond to market changes
Emerging market trends and issues should be properly adhered by travel and tourism
sectors otherwise the growth of business can be hampered. Thompson is expected to deal with all
these changes in order to gain competitive advantages. If an organisation do not lay emphasis on
technology advancement, then it can affect profitability of the industry and also can put severe
negative impact on their growth (Isaac and Çakmak 2014). Consumer also prefer those
enterprises who are technologically advanced and make use of new techniques or methods. If
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travel and tourism sector fails to adhere market changes then it can also deteriorate their quality
of service. Profit and revenue generated volume may also get affected by this. The organisations
are expected to make effective strategies like advancing in technology, providing quality of
service in order to deal with alterations or modifications. It can help them in attracting more
consumers and will also help in generating employment opportunities for numerous people. If all
these techniques are not followed by Thompson, it can also lead to decrease in goodwill and also
it may provide power with competitors to overcome them.
CONCLUSION
This is to summarise that the report includes contemporary issues emerging in travel and
tourism sector. It includes emerging trends like technology advancement, changes in weather,
rise in security, increase in environmental awareness which has changed the working of the
Thompson. Further, it includes strategies like product, price and promotion mix that can help
organisation to cope up with changes and build a strong enterprise. Study also shows the impact
of emerging trends on business, employment rate, product and service. These alterations has
been very effective in all these sectors and supported the company in growth. Further it consists
of consequences like enterprise deterioration in the environment if all these changes are not
being adhered.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Baker, D. M. A., 2014. The effects of terrorism on the travel and tourism industry. International
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Boniface, B., Cooper, R. and Cooper, C., 2016. Worldwide destinations: The geography of travel
and tourism. Routledge.
Dickinson, J. E. and et.al., 2014. Tourism and the smartphone app: Capabilities, emerging
practice and scope in the travel domain. Current Issues in Tourism, 17(1), pp.84-101.
Guttentag, D., 2015. Airbnb: disruptive innovation and the rise of an informal tourism
accommodation sector. Current issues in Tourism. 18(12). pp.1192-1217.
Hall, C. M., Williams, A. M. and Lew, A. A., 2014. Tourism conceptualizations, disciplinarity,
institutions, and issues. The Wiley Blackwell companion to tourism. pp.3-24.
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Hannam, K., Butler, G. and Paris, C. M., 2014. Developments and key issues in tourism
mobilities. Annals of Tourism Research.44.pp.171-185.
Isaac, R .K. and Çakmak, E., 2014. Understanding visitor's motivation at sites of death and
disaster: the case of former transit camp Westerbork, the Netherlands. Current Issues in
Tourism.17(2). pp.164-179.
Jenkins, J. M., Hall, C. M. and Mkono, M., 2014. Tourism and public policy: Contemporary
debates and future directions. Companion to tourism.pp.542-555.
Law. R. and et.al., 2015. Distribution channel in hospitality and tourism: Revisiting
disintermediation from the perspectives of hotels and travel agencies. International
Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 27(3). pp.431-452.
Li, G. and et.al., 2015. Identifying emerging hotel preferences using Emerging Pattern Mining
technique. Tourism management. 46. pp.311-321.
Mariani, M. M. and et.al., 2014. Managing change in tourism destinations: Key issues and
current trends. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management. 2(4). pp.269-272.
Polzin, S. E., Chu, X. and Godfrey, J., 2014. The impact of millennials' travel behavior on future
personal vehicle travel. Energy Strategy Reviews. 5. pp.59-65.
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BATTLE IN COMPETITIVENESS AND RESPONSIVENESS. Jurnal Muara Ilmu
Ekonomi dan Bisnis. 1(1).
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Online
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Available through. : <https://www.trekksoft.com/en/blog/7-travel-trends-for-2017-that-
will-drive-the-global-tourism-industry>.
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Major Current Issues Confronting Tourism. 2006. [Online]. Available through. :
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