The Future of Tourism: 5 trends that will reshape the Industry.
Globally, the surge in COVID-19 cases has had dire impacts on various sectors; Education, Hospitality, and Transport have all been heavily pinched. The Travel and Tourism sector is arguably the most affected and among the last to recover, as businesses are leaning towards recovery mode. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tourism could result in a more than $4 trillion loss to the global economy, according to the UN Trade and Development body (UNCTAD) and UN World Tourism Organization.
In Ghana, various restrictions: travel bans, closure of borders, and lockdowns, were put in place to mitigate the effects of the pandemic in line with global trends. These measures hurt businesses and individuals. Due to the long period of inactivity, several businesses could not survive, resulting in layoffs and downsizing. Plans to build on the success of the Year of Return (2019) with the launching of “Beyond the Return” by the Ghana Tourism Authority, unfortunately, had to halt, at least till when the conditions are more favourable.
Amid these crises, do we hunker down and wait for the problems to pass or collaboratively work towards its survival and growth?
In attempts to restart Tourism, sustainability and innovation will be key drivers. We would have to grapple with many changes that will come. Things are bound to change; Travellers’ behaviours, experiences, demographics, infrastructure, and technology. We need to adapt and move above the horizon. Here are five trends that will reshape the industry:
- Sustainable Travel (Travel with Purpose)
People are becoming more mindful of their impact on the environment and local communities due to the Coronavirus and other global issues like Global Warming. This consciousness is not only crucial for the health of our planet, but it is also crucial for the well-being of the people and the communities we visit. Reducing waste and/or recycling their plastic when traveling and embarking on tours with direct community impacts will concern some Tourists. Tour operators will have to factor in all the aforementioned considerations to reshape the industry.
2. Virtual Tours
Technology will enhance tour experiences. A virtual tour is a computer-generated recreation of a real-world area, usually consisting of a series of videos or still photos. Other multimedia elements such as sound effects, music, narration, and text may also be used. With the aid of virtual reality headsets, viewers can see and experience destinations without being there physically. Issues of availability of flights, travel logistics, and time zones will be irrelevant with this feature. From the business viewpoint, this feature brings 24 hours access to tour sites.
3. Workation
Teleworking irreversibly has come to stay. In affirmation of this feature, big companies like LinkedIn and Google all have permanent provisions for working from home. With this flexibility, workers could work from any spot, even when on vacation, hence the term “Workation” (Work + Vacation). Travel destinations will have to provide work-friendly offers to attract this new wave of mobile workers.
4. Domestic Travel
One of the significant changes will be a pivot to domestic tourism. The safety and health of tourists will be an influencing factor in the choice of destination. Various countries still have travel restrictions in place to keep the spread of COVID-19 in check. Currently, in Ghana, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Ghana due to COVID-19, indicating a moderate level of COVID-19 in the country. Before the planning of tours, concerns of vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers will be a factor.
5. Travel Safety
Until we are all vaccinated, tourists will have to adjust to the demands of a COVID-19 impacted world. Wearing of face masks, less crowd, short stays, and the use of open spaces will be a genuine concern for those who seek to visit various destinations of choice. The safety of travelers will be a shared responsibility between the tourists and the service provider.
Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. In restarting tourism, global cooperation is expedient. The future of Tourism is here, and various governments, corporations, and individuals should drive the new Tourism order.
“This crisis is an opportunity to rethink the tourism sector and its contribution to the people and planet; an opportunity to build back better towards a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient tourism sector that ensures the benefits of tourism are enjoyed widely and fairly.”- Zurab Pololikashvili (UNWTO Secretary-General).
