What the experts are saying is next for travel and tourism

Posted on 13/07/2022 by Hayley Clark

We’ve spent months talking about why now is the time to study travel and tourism, and how the industry is on the cusp of a massive boom.

But why take it from us when there are experts around the world talking about what’s next for travel and tourism (hint: it’s booming!).

Here’s a little more about what to expect for the sector according to a recent World Economic Forum chat with leading experts Sandra Carvao, Chief of Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Liz Ortiguera, CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Thailand (PATA).

Many people are focused on reconnecting

 When asked about the biggest travel trends right now, CEO Liz Ortiguera said that it was reconnecting. After two years of being separated from loves ones around the world, many people are taking trips to see friends and family again.

This feels especially true for Kiwis, who have quite literally been unable to travel to see loved ones overseas.

Travellers are looking for more sustainable travel options

Ever since the first lockdowns, sustainability has been a big talking point for the industry. How can we ensure we’re looking after the planet while we’re exploring it?

Sandra Carvao of the UNWTO states that this movement has been very welcome, saying: “Consumers, particularly the younger generation, are much more aware of the impact they have, not only on the environment but also socially and on the communities they live in.”

Community-based tourism is on the rise

“One of the positive impacts of the pandemic is that people are looking for local experiences and are spending more time with communities,” explains Sandra Carvao.

Liz Ortiguera backs this sentiment up by explaining that one of the key themes at a destination-marketing forum for the Pacific Asia Travel Association this month is community-based tourism.

The goal of the forum, she says, is to “put the community and authenticity-in-culture activities at the heart of the travel experience.”

This way, travellers get to enjoy a more authentic experience, the destinations are less crowded, and the community itself benefits.

The problem of labour shortages in travel and tourism

Both here in New Zealand and around the world, travel and tourism businesses are struggling to keep up with demand. With everyone suddenly travelling and exploring again, travel companies are desperately searching for qualified staff to help make those experiences happen.

Sandra Carvao put it bluntly, saying “labour shortages are a priority for the sector in countries around the world.”

Liz Ortigeura explained how the shortages in North America and Europe right now are having a real effect on the industry everywhere.

“If, for example, their air carriers are limited by staff and they have to cancel flights, which we’re very much seeing out of Europe, seating capacity then becomes a limiting factor in the recovery of Asia Pacific,” she said.

Be part of the boom

With labour shortages across travel and tourism right now, the time is right to earn a qualification and dive into almost any role of your choice. There are so many companies seeking qualified staff, that we’re seeing our graduates not just get employed straight out of college, but also get a range of roles to choose from!

If you’d like to kick off your career and be part of the recovery – all while studying from the comfort of your own home – explore our Study From Home distance learning options, and get in touch if you have any questions at all.

Study From Home – college@itc.co.nz 0800 TOURISM (0800 868747) or https://www.studyfromhome.co.nz/contact-us/

Posted in News | Tagged Distance Learning, Travel news, Travel trends | Leave a reply