General Travel News

New UNWTO report highlights impact of demographic change on tourism

Demographic change will have major implications for the tourism sector over the coming decades but also presents important opportunities. This is among the central findings of the recently published UNWTO/European Travel Commission (ETC) report on “Demographic Change and Tourism." The report sets out the main demographic trends worldwide and in major current and emerging source markets and describes how destinations and the private sector can make the most of these in terms of product development and marketing.

Major demographic trends at the global level – rising populations, increased life expectancy, urbanization, migration, changing family structures – present fresh challenges for the tourism sector. Demographic change will impact upon the types of tourists that will travel, where they originate from, where they travel to, the types of accommodation they require, and the activities they engage in while away.

Demographic Change and Tourism provides a comprehensive analysis of the major demographic trends through 2030 – by which time the world’s population is forecast to reach 8.3 billion. It outlines the impact these trends will have on tourism demand and travel behavior overall and analyzes how destinations and companies can best adapt in order to become increasingly competitive in the marketplace.

According to the report, visitor’s profiles and preferences will become increasingly fragmented, and destination’s competitiveness will depend on their ability to develop and market tourism products to an aging, multi-ethnic population, structured into a multi-generational families population growth, and increased life expectancy, for example, will radically challenge current assumptions of ageing for tourism. Younger tourists who are still working full-time may look to relax on holiday, while older tourists with more time on their hands and a “younger" outlook may go on holiday to try new activities.

The report was officially presented by UNWTO and ETC at the recent Seminar on Demographic Change and Tourism (September 17 in Vienna, Austria). The content of the study was used as a basis for the seminar, which sought to achieve a better understanding of current and future demographic changes and debate how to maximize potential opportunities for the tourism sector. 

More General Travel News
Korean Air sends special World Expo 2030 Busan livery charter flight to Paris
Art Jameel - Poetry to Politics on display in Dubai through Jan 7 2024
Visit Vaud in Switzerland this summer
Latest Travel News
Art Jameel - Poetry to Politics on displ...
Visit Vaud in Switzerland this summer...
Abu Dhabi Festival Co-production of The ...
Featured Sights To See
Wild Wadi

Wild Wadi

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Wild Wadi is a water-theme park spread over 12 acres and featuring 23  exciting rides. Visitors  sitting on rubber rings are pushed to the top by high powered water jets. They then come sliding down the flumes for a gentle entry into the temperature- controlled water. Numerous lifeguards patrolling all the rides make even the timidest person take them head on. Prices include the use of ...

Istanbul Military Museum

Istanbul Military Museum

Istanbul, Turkey

The power of the Ottoman Empire was largely based on war and conquest.  The military was its most important institution.  The Istanbul Military Museum puts that on display.  The museum originally opened in 1950 and housed in an old church.  In 1993, it moved to its current location in the old Ottoman imperial military academy. As one would expect from a military museum, it...

Wat Ounalom

Wat Ounalom

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Built in 1443, it is the center of Cambodian Buddhism. It has around 44 structures some of which were destructed during Khmer Rouge’s regime. This Wat was built to keep an eyebrow hair of a Buddha relic.                       ...

Plaza Altamira

Plaza Altamira

Caracas, Venezuela

Also called the Plaza Francia, this is a large public square that is immensely popular with locals of all ages during summer evenings and winter afternoons. The plaza features a majestic obelisk and a refreshing water fountain, two prominent features that make it stand out as more of a photo op than any other public square in Caracas. It also contains a number of stalls offering foodstuff, ...