10 Important World Tourism Issues

Our own Dr. David Edgell, professor in COB’s School of Hospitality Management, has issued his annual 10 Important World Tourism Issues.

About the list,  Edgell says there’s not much that has changed between 2018 and 2019. For 2019, he kept sustainable tourism at the top since there have been enormous discussions, etc. this year about “over-tourism”.

He adds, “safety and security are still very important with all the terrorist attacks we have had over the past several months. Global economic conditions, in third place, appears heating up with several global economists raising the possibility of a mini-recession in the near future.”

The entire list can be found below.

10 Important World Tourism Issues

1.   Maintaining a destination’s sustainable tourism development: economic, social/cultural, natural and built resources

2.   Concerns for safety and security remain an important issue to address within the global travel and tourism industry

3.   Impact on the travel and tourism industry resulting from global economic, social/cultural and political directions

4.   Responding to increased interest in the long-term impacts on tourism of climate change and global warming

5.  A necessity for increased local/regional/national/international leadership in tourism policy and strategic planning

6.   Resolving barriers to travel: visas, passports, immigration issues, airline services, fees, and delays

7.   Educating travelers and business persons in optimizing the application of new technologies in the tourism industry

8.   Understanding the transformative effect that tourism can have on the geopolitics of socio-economic progress

9.   Effect on travel and tourism from natural/human-induced disasters, health issues, and political disruptions

10. Seeking a quality experience and positive impact for both local residents and tourists at a destination

 

About Dr. David Edgell

Professor of Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development, College of Business, School of Hospitality Leadership, and Research Scholar in Sustainable Tourism, East Carolina University

Charter Member, International Academy for the Study of Tourism 

Fellow, Center of Economic Excellence in Tourism and Economic Development, University of South Carolina

Former U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism