Analysis of Tourism Trends and Their Impact in the 20th Century

This essay delves into the evolution of the tourism industry, focusing on trends observed in the latter half of the 20th century. It begins with an introduction to the hospitality industry and tourism, highlighting key services and products. The main body explores significant developments, including the rise of mass tourism, advancements in transportation (railways, aviation, and the internet), and the emergence of ecotourism and niche tourism. The essay discusses the impact of these trends on the global tourism landscape, including technological integrations, the impact of government policies, and the changing preferences of tourists. The essay also examines how transportation improvements, mass marketing, and globalization have influenced the tourism sector. The essay concludes by summarizing the major shifts in the industry, emphasizing the growth of tourism beyond high-income groups, and the rise of various concepts like ecotourism and niche tourism. The essay references various books and journals to support the findings and arguments.

Tourism trends

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
'Tourism trends in the latter half of the 20th Century'................................................................3
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Hospitality Industry is one of the major area of service industry that includes large
number of organizations that are involved in providing a wide range of products and services to
the customer's. For Example – Lodging, travelling, cruise line event planning, service of food
and beverage etc (Ghosh, R.N. and Siddique, 2017). The industry is based on disposable income
of customers and leisure time. Tourism refers to the business of influencing, attracting and
entertaining the tourists and offering them tour packages. The Essay will describe trends in
tourism industry in latter half of 20th Century.
MAIN BODY
'Tourism trends in the latter half of the 20th Century'.
Tourism has now become a global level industry that supports the travelling of millions
of people at domestic as well as international level. According to World Tourism Organization
(WTO) approximately 12% of total population in the world are international travellers in a year
2006. According to Matthieson and Wall, tourism consist of the movement of people to different
destinations, all the activities that are undertaken by tourist during the period of stay and
different facilities that are offered to them to fulfil their needs.
Leisure refers to free time spent by people away from their job, domestic work as well as
activities like sleeping and eating. Generally, activities of most of the people are not free of
choice and it may be limited by social pressure. According to various economists, leisure time is
very important for the people (Schänzel, H.A. and Yeoman, 2015).
Firms that are operating in Hospitality Industry offers a wide range of products and
services to customer's. Such as facility of accommodation in Hotels, Resorts etc., transportation
facility, theme parks, Centres for tourism information, Theme parks etc. Tourism products are
divided into three categories that are natural, man made and symbolic products. The services
have various features like intangible, inseparable, perishable, involvement of customer etc.
20th Century: Beginning of Era of Modern Hospitality
World Tourism Organization has announced 27th September as day of World Tourism.
Before 20th Century, only water and land are considered as means for transportation. But,
Innovation in tourism industry has provided various other ways for safe transportation. Due to
this, large number of tourists has started visiting different places across the world. Hospitality

services which is generally the part of culture was emerged as an opportunity for conducting
business. In latter part of 20th Century, Large number of people have realized that, they should
start their own Hotels, Restaurants for offering products and services to the customers. Some
people have entered into Hospitality Industry, and they started establishing Hotels and offering a
wide range of facilities to tourists. Innovation in system of transportation has motivated large
number of tourists to travel at various destinations (Jovicic, 2016).
Travel and tourism industry has become more competitive than ever. In year 1954,
Conard has started a chain of Hotels that is Ellsworth Statler's. Other top hotels like Marriott,
Hyatt etc. also started functioning in latter part of 20th Century. Means of transportation such as
Cars has become popular in mid years of 20th Century. Due to better facilities of road
transportation, travelling between cities has become more convenient. Railway has promoted the
travelling of visitors at domestic as well as international level. Travelling through Railways has
supported the tourist to access grand tour destinations (Timothy, 2018).
Technological Integrations -
Hospitality Industry is undergoing various changes to become more and more advanced.
Firms have reach to new heights due to advancement in engineering. For Example – Airbnb has
started a new segment that has resulted in increase in travelling of large number of tourists for
different purpose such as for leisure activities etc. It has provided a convenient and less costly
option to solo travellers. This has resulted in emergence of concepts like home-hospitality, youth
hostels etc. Emergence of internet has provided the facility to visitors to share their experience,
photos, reviews on social media platforms. It has also offered the facility of booking from any
part of the world and payment can also be made in advance. Hospitality Industry has played a
major role in development of the economy in terms of revenue. In year 1960, the value of Hotel
Industry was around $3 billion and in year 1990, the value has increased up-to $25 billion
(Surugiu, M.R. and Surugiu, 2015).
In later half of 20th Century, Travel and tourism has become the area of wide business at
international level because Government has decoupled and deregulated travelling through
airways from flag carriers. Tour package to coastal destinations has become the basis for
migration of tourists from northern part of Europe to Mediterranean, travelling has also increased
from United States to Mexico. In year 1970's, sea and Mediterranean sun holiday have become
favourite among the families that belongs to working class group in northern Europe (Cooper, M.

ed., 2015). This has provided wide choice to tourists because, the Resorts are different from each
other in culture, architecture, history and visitor mix etc. Tourism Industry has undergone
various changes that has not only influenced the destinations but also affect the economy of
countries and the way in which visitors travel in different parts of the world.
Mass Tourism -
Mass tourism means development of infrastructure and other facilities in local economy
as well as increase in cooperation between external markets and economy of the country. The
emergence of Mass Tourism was a result of improvement in technology and infrastructure that
has supported the tourist to travel from one place to another. Development of Mass Tourism after
1950's has promoted the development of economy of the country. It has resulted in increase in
profits of firms that are involved in offering tourism products and services to tourists. Therefore,
it has supported the development of Hotels and Resorts, entertainment industry, restaurant
industry etc. These organizations are directly involved in selling products and services to tourists
(Smith, 2015).
Mass Tourism can be seen as more profitable for the economy because, it focuses on
continuous and flexible flow of visitors in the country in large number. There are various factors
that leads to development of mass tourism such as technology like plastic cards, reservation
system etc., production like charter flights, mass production etc. and management such as mass
marketing, integration in different forms like horizontal and vertical etc. There are some
constitutional factors also such as increased prosperity, government promotions, industrial
revolution etc. All the above factors has lead to development of mass tourism in 20th Century.
Means of transportation -
Growth of tourism industry was influenced by various changes such as technological
change and change in social as well as cultural factors. Before 20th Century trains are common
means of transportation at that time network of railways was developed only in American and
Europe. In mid of 20th Century, aviation industry has started developing and air flights have
become popular among tourists. Another major change was happen in latter part of 20th Century
with the improvement in Information and Communication Technology (Holden, 2016).
This has removed physical boundary between people that help tourists to communicate
with their relatives, friends etc. During starting years of 20th Century, whole world was diverse in
terms of culture and every country was a different destination for the visitors. By the end of 20th

Century, the Cold war was ended that has resulted in dramatical change in the world, This has
eliminated the barriers in travelling and resulted in fast growth of globalization that leads to
development of tourism industry (Vanhove, 2017).
Ecotourism -
The main purpose of ecotourism is to provide information to tourist, to provide funds for
conserving the environment and also to promote the well-being of people that are living in local
communities. Since 1980's, environmentalists has considered the concept of ecotourism as very
important. This has resulted in environment sustainability, promoting socially responsible tour.
This has help to reduce the negative impact of tourism activities on environment and promotes
the integrity of people living in local communities (Sekulovic, 2015).
Ecotourism is a new trend and under this, more the destination such as resorts, hotels etc.
will be natural and original it will result in attracting large number of visitors. Niche tourism is
another concept that has emerged in later part of 20th Century. It has supported the development
of Tourism Industry in terms of sport activities that helps to attract large number of tourists
towards the destination.
CONCLUSION
The above Essay has described the term Hospitality Industry, Tourism and Leisure. There
are factors various that has supported the development of Tourism Industry. It includes the
development of transportation system such as railway, airways etc. Internet has help tourist to
visit various destinations at any part of the world. Tourism Industry has become growing
industry that not only focus on high income group people but on mass customers. Various
concepts has emerged in latter half of 20th Century such as Ecotourism, niche tourism, mass
tourism etc.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals -
Cooper, M. ed., 2015. Current issues and emerging trends in medical tourism. IGI Global.
Ghosh, R.N. and Siddique, M.A.B., 2017. Tourism and economic development: Case studies
from the Indian ocean region. Routledge.
Holden, A., 2016. Environment and tourism. Routledge.

Jovicic, D., 2016. Cultural tourism in the context of relations between mass and alternative
tourism. Current Issues in Tourism. 19(6). pp.605-612.
Schänzel, H.A. and Yeoman, I., 2015. Trends in family tourism. Journal of Tourism
Futures.1(2). pp.141-147.
Sekulovic, N., 2015. Trends and new initiatives in tourism at the time of the general economic
crisis and the current situation in Serbian tourism. Procedia economics and finance. 23.
pp.1628-1634.
Smith, M.K., 2015. Issues in cultural tourism studies. Routledge.
Surugiu, M.R. and Surugiu, C., 2015. Heritage tourism entrepreneurship and social media:
opportunities and challenges. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 188.pp.74-81.
Timothy, D.J., 2018. Making sense of heritage tourism: Research trends in a maturing field of
study. Tourism management perspectives. 25. pp.177-180.
Vanhove, N., 2017. The economics of tourism destinations: Theory and practice. Routledge.
Online -
Importance of Ecotourism. 2017. [Online] Available Through : <https://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/principles-importance-benefits-ecotourism.php>

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