Report on Contemporary Issues and Trends in Travel and Tourism

This report provides a detailed analysis of contemporary issues and trends within the travel and tourism industry. It examines the influence of various factors, such as infrastructure, service levels, and fuel costs, on businesses like Titan Travel. The report also explores current trends, including inbound tourism, sports tourism, and adventure tourism, and analyzes how these trends impact the sector. Furthermore, it assesses how companies like Whitbread, including Premier Inn & Restaurant, can respond to market changes by analyzing internal and external factors using SWOT analysis and developing appropriate strategies. The report also discusses the consequences of businesses failing to adapt to market dynamics, focusing on the impacts of issues and trends on companies like Trailfinders Ltd. This analysis incorporates primary and secondary sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the industry's challenges and opportunities.

Contemporary Issues
in Travel and Tourism

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Current issues that drive change in the travel and tourism sector.........................................1
1.2 Analyse current issues through appropriate resources and methods.....................................2
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Current trends that influence change in travel and tourism sector........................................3
2.2 Analyse current trends by using appropriate techniques and resources................................4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Analyse how Whitbread businesses could respond to change..............................................5
3.2 Develop strategies to respond towards changes....................................................................6
3.3 Justification of strategies.......................................................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
4.1 Analyse the impacts of issues and trends that drives change in travel and tourism sector...7
4.2 Discuss the consequences of business failing to respond to market change.........................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Travel and Tourism industry is growing rapidly in the present scenario as there are
several advancements with positive development which can be seen in recent time. The travel
and tourism industry is progressing as numbers of customers increasing towards this sector on
daily basis. This industry is generating high profits, revenues by providing various tour packages
and offers at the marketplace (Baker, 2014). This assignment is based on Titan Travel in which it
will help to analyse the current issues and trends by using various methods that can influence the
changes in the travel and tourism sector. In another side, it is based on Premier Inn & Restaurant
that will analyse how Whitbread businesses can respond to change and develop appropriate
strategies for these changes so that organisation can survive in competitive environment. It
justifies the strategies for responding to change in this restaurant. At the last, this will analyse the
impacts of issues that drive change on Trailfinders Ltd and discuss consequences of business
failure due to market change.
TASK 1
1.1 Current issues that drive change in the travel and tourism sector
United Kingdom is one of the most popular tourist destination where numbers of people come
for visiting purpose. Travel and tourism industry is contributing more towards UK's economy.
Various tourists increase in the UK every year and contribute more in economies and country
development. There are numbers of environmental issues which is related with changes in travel
and tourism sector as it affects on the business operations in various ways. so Titan Travel has
to consider these factors while operating business. Here are some issues that related with
tourism industry such as;
Lack of proper infrastructure: It can be the biggest issues of this sector because there is
proper infrastructure required for attracting number of customer towards country. In this, it
includes transportations mode like proper roads, electricity, sewerage, water supply and telecom
(Becker, 2016). Travel and tourism sector requires proper facilities so that customers can be
satisfied in an appropriate manner. In this consider accommodation facilities, surface, airlines,
and facilitation systems and many more.
Service level: This issue is also growing fast as customers expect more desired services
from tour operators in exchange of their money. Apart from these, customers interact with
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different kinds of people belongs background and experience as well as occupations,. In this,
individuals take immigrations staff, taxi operators, travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and tour
guides and many more. Therefore, it must be required to provide proper facilities and better
services to the tourists so that they can enjoy their journey in an effective manner (Cohen,
2015). Titan Travel should focus on the best services for providing good experience to
customers because it can affect the organisation’s reputation.
Rising cost of fuel: This is an important and popular issue as every country is facing this
problem because travel and tourism industry is affected by fuel costs. The recently increasing
fuel price such as gasoline has high effects on entire sector. Due to increasing costs, customers
might be able to spend more money in travelling so company has to take this challenge and find
alternative way for avoiding such issues.
1.2 Analyse current issues through appropriate resources and methods
From above, it has discussed different types of issues or problems which can be occurred in
travel and tourism sector and create barriers while operating business at the international level.
Current issues are various that change as per the environment. In this, included various methods
and resources which can be used to find out the problems or issues regarding travel and tourism
sector. These are some important sources such as:
Primary sources: This an effective tool and technique that helps in analysing current
market trends, conditions, situations, competitors and customers. In this method, Titan Travel
firm requires to conduct an appropriate survey or research for gathering data (Cohen, 2015).
They can use various tools or techniques for data collections such as interviews, observations,
survey, questionnaires and many more. These data support in finding current issues or trends
regarding travel and tourism sector.
Secondary source: This is also another tool that support in analysing data to find out the
current issues or problems in an appropriate manner. These sources are very useful in collecting
data or information regarding the market trends and current issues by using best suitable tools
or techniques in better ways. Travel industry can utilise this source for gathering information by
adopting several methods such as books, online texts, journals and many more.
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TASK 2
2.1 Current trends that influence change in travel and tourism sector
Travel and Tourism industry can be defined as the total of services which are offered by the
company to the customers. Tourists are offered various facilities and services while travelling
from one place to another for the purpose of business, holidays and educations. In the UK, there
are several changes occur and new trends are taking place which effects on the travel and
tourism industry (Cohen, 2014). Here are some current trends as well as activities that can
influence the several changes in the tourism industry of UK.
Inbound tourism: It is generally concerned with tourism that people use to travel within
the boundary of the country or nations such known as inbound tourism. In the UK, there has
increased number of tourists through inbound tourism as it can be understood by showing graph
and figures. This graph shows that how the trends are increasing every year in the UK such as:
Sports tourism: This is form of tourism that use for the purpose of visiting place
regarding sports activities. There are various sports games that organise in various countries so,
it is also another important trends that influences on the travel and tourism sector (Connell,
2013). For example; numbers of people are visiting lots of places due to various sports games
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Illustration 1: Domestic tourism data 2017

such as Olympics, Cricket, and Football.
Adventure tourism: In this form of tourism, tourists always find the different places as
well as destinations which feel more adventurous and unexplored. Many of people are
interested in such kinds of rides and visiting. This form of tourism is also supportive in
attracting youth for adventurous trip so it can affect the travel and tourism sector. In this,
included various adventurous activities such as Zorbing, waterfall rappelling, Fly boarding, diff
jump, skydive, bungee jumping, trekking trip, hot air balloons, river drafting and many more.
2.2 Analyse current trends by using appropriate techniques and resources
For the travel and tourism industry, niche market is very effective as this concept focus
on diversity as it is popular in this sector. Some of niche tourism market included agro-rural
tourism, adventure tourism, sports, gastro, dark tourism, medical and health tourism, green and
faith or religious tourism etc. one the most selective tourism is dark for the purpose of this
program. In this form the tourists prefers to those places that are related with ghosts, death,
tragedy and mystery. In this, these all historical values and stories regarding particular
destinations attracts numbers of customers and keep holding to them towards travel and tourisms.
Dark tourism included various kinds of destinations such as disaster, doomsday, suicide, poverty
and grief tourism. These all data are to be collected by gathering information through using
several methods as primary and secondary. London is also known as most popular tourist
destination point which belongs to dark tourism that attracts more people as The Tower of
London which was use for prison and menagerie to keep like lions, tiger, jack the ripper tours,
cross bones graveyard, Southwark, Highgate cemetery, London hospital Museum, Jeremy
Bentham's Auto-Icon and the monument to the great fire of London.
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Illustration 2: Graph showing Dark tourism in London

TASK 3
3.1 Analyse how Whitbread businesses could respond to change
Whitbread plc is the UK's largest hotel and it has 750 hotels. There are around 50,000
employees working. This business is operating in two divisions Premier Inn & Restaurant, and
Costa. This firm has generated revenues around £3.106 billion. There are some areas where they
provide their services such as China, Europe, Russia, United Kingdom etc. on the other side,
several changes can be occur in the travel and tourism sector and this organisation is going to
develop new strategies for the purpose of group business (Dickinson, 2014). Changes is must be
required in every business fields as it affects on the operations. In travel and tourism sector, these
changes generally affects on the visitor's attitudes and behaviours. Therefore, they have to
analyse Environmental factors. These are as follows;
SWOT Analyses:
Strengths:
Whitbread plc is operating various hotels and restaurants with having 750 hotels and it
serve best services to the customers in effective manner. They know about their services and
facilities which are provided to people so, they are adopting suitable strategies for developing the
group business in an appropriate manner.
Weaknesses:
In this, the weak point of Whitbread is that they have little bit knowledge about serving
employees and people for better satisfactions. Their agents are not aware regarding hotels and
coffee shop so that proper guidelines are not providing by them. They are unable to satisfy their
visitors in an appropriate manner.
Opportunities:
there are numbers of opportunities for Whitbread plc as they can develop their business
by adopting suitable strategies and achieve competitive advantages (Hall, 2014). Every people
are educated and they have knowledge about proper services and facilities in travel and tourism
sector. Company can grab opportunities by satisfying individuals needs or desires.
Threats:
In this included various threats like competitors and market impacts. In the travel and
tourism sector, The basic threats including terrorism, natural disasters, destroy and many more.
External factors:
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Political factors: This is an important factor which affects son the travel and tourism
sector. It has collaboration with British government that play vital role in this sector. For the
Whitbread plc, it must be required to analyse every political effects while operating business at
another country. Because every nations have their own certain laws and regulation that must be
followed.
Economic factor: It also affects on the travel and tourism sector because it is related with
interest, exchange, tax rates, inflations and many more so, it can minimise the economic growth.
It can influence on the service cost, price demand, service price and profitability (Page, 2014).
Whitbread also consider this while developing strategies within an organisation.
Social factor: This force has major impact impact on the travel and tourism sector
because various changes are occur due to changing in market trends and fashions. This also
affects on the life styles, taste, preferences and living standards of people.
Technological factors: In the growing world, in this required proper satisfactions of
customers so that organisation can develop and create good market image among competitors in
effective manner. There are number of technologies introducing in the market so, Whitbread plc
also consider this factors and adopt strategies regarding online hotel booking, websites, social
media and many more.
3.2 Develop strategies to respond towards changes
In the travel and tourism businesses, there are various strategies which can be acquired by
the organisation so, that they can achieve high returns and competitive advantages in an
appropriate manner. Whitbread plc also need to find best strategies for developing the business
so they can adopt marketing mix strategies such as;
Product: The product must be effective that can satisfy people needs and wants so,
Whitbread also offers better quality of products and services to its targets audiences (Hannam,
2014). They provide qualitative and quantitative that helps in retaining more customers towards
organisation.
Price: This is an another important strategies which must be consider by Whitbread plc
as they have to make an appropriate pricing strategies for attracting and retaining visitors
towards hotel and restaurants. This firm ha required to reduce prices on their products and
services and focus on satisfying people with cheap costs.
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Place: Whitbread plc is going to operate the business at various countries so they have to
select favourable and most suitable place for developing the restaurants and attain set goals or
targets. They are operating 750 hotels with having 70000 rooms at the global level so they made
best strategies or decisions for choosing a particular place (Butler, 2014). It is situated at best
areas such as near airports, shopping malls, bus stands, railway stations and tourist destination
places so that customers can be attracted in better ways.
Promotions: They use various methods of promotions regarding their hotels and
restaurants. Whitbread plc use various tools such as internet, marketing, televisions, hoardings,
radio and social media and other modern techniques for promoting products and services.
3.3 Justification of strategies
As per the strategies and acquiring new services or facilities, marketing mix will be
suitable for Whitbread plc. These will support in attracting more customers towards organisation
and they can also consider PEST model as well as SWOT analysis for analysing the factors or
elements. This is very helpful for making or adopting best strategies so that they can be
developed their business in an effective manner. Marketing mix strategies will support in finding
products and services and also discover best tools for promotions.
TASK 4
4.1 Analyse the impacts of issues and trends that drives change in travel and tourism sector
In this defined several trends and issues which affects on the business in the travel and
tourism sector and it is related with change. These drives some changes and modifications with
strategies approaches (Paris, 2014). Trailfinders Ltd have to consider this for travel services as it
is tour service provider and has around 32 tour agencies.
Employment opportunities: Travel and tourism sector is playing vital role in providing
job opportunities as well as reduce unemployment in the UK so it is beneficial for both as
country and organisation.
Increase revenues: It is another factor that travel and tourism sector helps in generating
revenues by attracting number of visitors towards country and Trailfinders Ltd can increase their
profits by providing better services to them.
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4.2 Discuss the consequences of business failing to respond to market change
The business can be failed due to various reason, so it must be required for Trailfinders
Ltd that to focus on such elements that can affect to the organisation such as;
Depleting performance: Trailfinders Ltd requires to comply the several changes and if it
is not capable for responding to those changes in an effective manner then performance level can
be decrease which will affects on the business and lose the share of marketing.
Reductions in the revenues: Marketing changes can affects on the revenue of
organisation as company can be reduced its profits and income due to changing conditions
(Hartmann, 2014). If revenues decrease then, Trailfinders Ltd can be reduce its market image
among customers.
CONCLUSION
Form the above report, it has been concluded that travel and tourism sector play vital role to
contribute in the country as it helps in generating revenues and profits so that GDP will be
growth. It also support in promoting the country's highly famous destinations places. Some
barriers and factors can affects on the tourism sector due to changing environment. This report
covered various topics and important areas regarding travel and tourism sector such as current
trends and issues, best strategies, drive changes and it impacts on the business.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Baker, D. M. A., 2014. The effects of terrorism on the travel and tourism industry. International
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Becker, E., 2016. Overbooked: the exploding business of travel and tourism. Simon and
Schuster.
Cohen, E. and Cohen, S. A., 2015. A mobilities approach to tourism from emerging world
regions. Current Issues in Tourism. 18(1). pp.11-43.
Cohen, S. A. and et. al., 2014. Understanding and governing sustainable tourism mobility:
Psychological and behavioural approaches (Vol. 43). Routledge.
Connell, J., 2013. Contemporary medical tourism: Conceptualisation, culture and
commodification. Tourism Management. 34. pp.1-13.
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.
Hall, C. M. and Page, S. J., 2014. The geography of tourism and recreation: Environment, place
and space. Routledge.
Hannam, K., Butler, G. and Paris, C. M., 2014. Developments and key issues in tourism
mobilities. Annals of Tourism Research. 44. pp.171-185.
Hartmann, R., 2014. Dark tourism, thanatourism, and dissonance in heritage tourism
management: new directions in contemporary tourism research. Journal of Heritage
Tourism. 9(2). pp.166-182.
Kim, J. H. and Ritchie, J. B., 2014. Cross-cultural validation of a memorable tourism experience
scale (MTES). Journal of Travel Research. 53(3). pp.323-335.
Luh Sin, H., Oakes, T. and Mostafanezhad, M., 2015. Traveling for a cause: Critical
examinations of volunteer tourism and social justice. Tourist studies. 15(2). pp.119-131.
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.
McKercher, B., 2016. Towards a taxonomy of tourism products. Tourism Management. 54.
pp.196-208.
Online
Domestic tourism data 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.statista.com/statistics/379636/domestic-tourist-spending-in-london-uk/>.
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