Megatrends Defining the Future of Tourism : A Journey Within the Journey in 12 Universal Truths

This book identifies and describes five megatrends that will define the landscape of the Travel, Tourism & Hospitality industry, with a particular focus on the European context. Humans began travelling on the same day that Homo Sapiens first realized he could walk upright. No boundaries, mountains or cliffs have managed to stop or diminish our insatiable desire to find out what lies beyond the visible horizon. Tourism has enjoyed virtually uninterrupted growth for the past several decades, and the sector has now become the third-largest source of export revenue, after chemicals and fuel, and ahead of the automotive and food sectors. And yet, in its current globalised format, it is exposed to sudden shocks that can swiftly shake up the status quo accelerating the deployment of some megatrends here described. We have all witnessed the Covid-19 pandemic and its devastating consequences for the industry. While the number of international tourism arrivals to Europe has soared to over 700 million a year, at the same time we are experiencing a period of deep transformation. Bauman couldn't have been more accurate or insightful when he coined the word 'liquid' in this regard. As an exquisite expression of a civilized, rich and discerning first-world society, travel and tourism are now changing shape and meaning, requiring our business models to adapt. What are the megatrends that will dictate the future shape of our industry's landscape? Who is the new tourist, if there is one, and what is she looking for? Is the new post-technological era transforming the depth and the very essence of travelling? This book offers a number of visionary insights, as well as operational takeaways. Acknowledgments 8 Contents 9 About the Author 12 1 Introduction: Travel and Tourism: An Industry Is Born in Four Milestones 13 Abstract 13 References 20 Online Publications: Organisation Site 20 Online Document 20 2 Travel and Tourism Universal Truth: Why Do We Travel? 21 Abstract 21 References 27 Online Publications: Organisation Site 27 Books and Chapters 27 3 Megatrends, Macro-Trends, Trends and Fads: Jargon Explained 28 Abstract 28 Reference 36 Books and Chapters 36 4 The Technological Revolution Impacting on Travel Tourism and Hospitality Industry 37 Abstract 37 4.1 Introduction: The Changing Nature of Tourism 37 4.2 Holiday Anticipation Trends: From Holiday Anticipation to Holiday Pre-experiencing 40 4.3 Holiday Booking Patterns and Logistics: The “Anytime-Anywhere-Holiday” 48 4.4 Holiday Fruition: Mediated, Augmented, Seamless: Never Lost, Never Bored 53 4.5 Socialization of Holiday Experience: From F.O.M.O. to J.O.M.O. and Back 61 References 67 Online Publications: Organisation Site (Chap. 4.2) 67 (Chap. 4.3) 67 (Chap. 4.5) 67 On line Blog (Chap. 4.5) 68 Journals and Articles: Journal (Chap. 4.2) 68 (Chap. 4.4) 68 Article in Electronic Journal (Chap. 4.4) 68 5 Upside-Down Pyramids: A Demographic Revolution Unfolded 69 Abstract 69 5.1 The Soaring Numbers of Silver Tourism 69 5.2 The New Seniors: Older & Bolder 75 5.3 New Travelling Formats: Solo Travelling, Multigenerational and Loose 79 5.4 A Loneliness Pandemic? It’s a Dogs’ World 88 5.5 Old Is the New Cool: The Surprising Curve of Happiness 91 Online Publications: Organisation Site (Chap. 5.1) 94 (Chap. 5.2) 94 (Chap. 5.3) 94 (Chap. 5.4) 95 (Chap. 5.5) 95 Books and Chapters: Book, Authored (Chap. 5.3) 95 Journals and Articles Journal: Scholarly Article (Chap. 5.2) 95 (Chap. 5.3) 95 (Chap. 5.4) 95 6 Climate Change and Its Impact on TT&H Industry 96 Abstract 96 6.1 Climate Change and the Emperor’s New Clothes Paradigm 96 6.2 How Will Climate Change Affect the Travel Tourism and Hospitality Industry? 101 6.2.1 Amenity Migration 102 6.2.2 Extreme Weather Events and Solidarity Tourism 104 6.2.3 Water Contention 106 6.2.4 Sustainable Holidays, Trains and New Transport Modes 109 6.3 A Case Study: The Alpine Chain’s Adaptation to Climate Change 112 6.3.1 Alpine Tourism Economy 112 6.3.2 The Impact of Climate Change on the Alps: Double the Rate in Average Temperature Increase 115 6.3.3 Mitigation, Adaptation, Transformative Changes Taking Place in the Tourism Economy 116 6.4 Viewpoint on Climate Change 119 References 124 Online Publications: Organisation Site (Chap. 6.1) 124 (Chap. 6.2) 124 (Chap. 6.3) 124 (Chap. 6.4) 125 Dissertation (Chap. 6.1): Occasional Paper 125 (Chap. 6.4) 125 Books and Chapters: Book, Authored (Chap. 6.1) 125 (Chap. 6.4) 126 Journals and Articles: Journal (Chap. 6.2) 126 On line Journals (Chap. 6.4) 126 University article (Chap. 6.4) 126 Interview (Chap. 6.3) 126 7 Globalisation: A Megatrend on Its Last Legs? 127 Abstract 127 7.1 Introduction 127 7.2 Mass Movement, Over-Tourism and Multiplication of Destinations. Have we Entered The Golden Age of Tourism or Have we Reached the Tipping Point? 134 7.3 Polarisation of Wealth and the Irresistible Ascent of Luxury Tourism. Rent Me a City 134 7.4 Distribution Channels and More: A Capitalism of Platforms’ Monopolies 148 References 157 Online Publications: Organisation Site (Chap. 7.1) 157 (Chap. 7.2) 157 (Chap. 7.3) 157 (Chap. 7.4) 157 Dissertation: Occasional Paper (Chap. 7.2) 158 Books and Chapters (Chap. 7.4) 158 Journals and Articles (Chap. 7.1) 158 (Chap. 7.3) 158 (Chap. 7.2) 158 (Chap. 7.4) 158 8 De-Globalisation: A Newly Born Megatrend 159 Abstract 159 8.1 Introduction: The Day Santa Claus was Kidnapped 159 8.2 De-Globalisation in Travel and Tourism: The Great Spill Over and the Quiet Charme of the Less Famous 166 8.3 Digital Detox and the Forgotten Body 171 8.4 The Age of Opinions: Responsible Tourism, Activism and Boycott Tourism 180 References 185 Online Publications: Organisation Site (Chap. 8.1) 185 (Chap. 8.2) 186 (Chap. 8.4) 186 Books and Chapters Book, Authored (Chap. 8.3) 186 Journals and Articles: Journal (Chap. 8.4) 186 Online Journals (Chap.) Conference and Talks (Chap. 8.2) 186 9 Conclusions and Envisioning Exercise 187 Abstract 187 Appendix The Predictable Unpredictability of Futures: Covid-19 Pandemic 2020 197 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction: Travel and Tourism: An Industry Is Born in Four Milestones (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 1-8 Travel and Tourism Universal Truth: Why Do We Travel? (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 9-15 Megatrends, Macro-Trends, Trends and Fads: Jargon Explained (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 17-25 The Technological Revolution Impacting on Travel Tourism and Hospitality Industry (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 27-58 Upside-Down Pyramids: A Demographic Revolution Unfolded (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 59-85 Climate Change and Its Impact on TT&H Industry (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 87-117 Globalisation: A Megatrend on Its Last Legs? (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 119-150 De-Globalisation: A Newly Born Megatrend (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 151-178 Conclusions and Envisioning Exercise (Valentina Boschetto Doorly)....Pages 179-188 Back Matter ....Pages 189-191