Future Trends in Tourism and Transport

Lecture : 12

Sustainable Transport A series of stages when developing a sustainable

tourism transport network: • First stage: analysis of existing policy frameworks,

infrastructure & available data on market. • Second stage: re-appraise existing land use & assess

future proposals for tourism development (i.e. core sustainability indicators)

• Third stage: installation of work undertaken in stage two, in form of policy guidance or documentation.

• Final stage: implementation and continuous monitoring in terms of both, software & hardware requirements of tourism transport network.

Sustainable Transport (continued 1)

Concern with sustainable transport can be sketched in two ways:

1) Control & regulation of emissions. 2) Availability of alternative means of power in

light of peak oil problem.

Space Tourism: New Frontier(s)?

• Space travel is the best way of minimizing environmental impacts of air transport, but space travel has its own environmental issues.

• It is necessary to position space tourism development in wider context of transport.

• At the end of 2005, three individuals have been in earth orbit as passengers (i.e. not as members of a scientific crew) “Dennis Tito” & “Mark Shuttleworth”.

Space Tourism: New Frontier(s)? (Continued 1)

• Future of tourism & transport, involves space.• In fact, it may involve other planetary bodies. • In sep 2005, United States, announced that it

will go to the moon & a few months later, reports emerged that china will head to moon by 2017.

• Space tourism is quickly becoming the latest niche product involving transport.

Space Tourism: New Frontier(s)? (Continued 2)

There are several forms of space tourism:1. Near-earth orbit: reach tourist masses2. Low-earth orbit, high-speed aircraft: boeing

announced its “Sonic Cruiser”, designed to fly at supersonic speeds.

3. Terrestrial-based space tourism activities: including attractions and events such as; space shuttle launches & tours to locations around the world where solar eclipses would be visible.

Future Trends and Issues in Tourism and Transport

• Airline industry seems to change on almost daily basis.

• New routes being introduced & security screening systems introduced.

• Rail transport tends to move slightly slower.

Rail Travel: Limited to Niche Markets?

• Rail travel will likely to continue to appeal to niche markets, but may face difficulties with any attempt to re-establish itself as a prime mode of transport for tourists between origin & destination.

Shifting Demographics • As tourist flows take place between advanced or

western countries, suggest that many older people wish to enjoy activities & entertainment that they enjoyed in their youth and they have more disposable income to spend on those activities.

• Coupled with ageing are overall population levels. • In less developed countries, “Africa & Asia”, population

levels are predicted to rise at much faster rate than more developed countries “Europe & Australia”.

• Tourist & migration traffic between less developed countries & more developed countries will likely increase.

Cruise Tourism: Riding the Wave of Shifting Demographics

• Cruise tourism will continue to enjoy growth. • The major growth areas in cruise tourism will

not be traditional regions such as Mediterranean or Caribbean, rather growth in Asia and Gulf region (e.g. India, Bahrain)

Non-Western Domestic Tourism and Transport Growth

• In recent years, several countries around the world have capitalized on global economic growth by enhancing internal transport modes.

• Inbound tourism is expected to grow at a healthy rate.

• India suggest that domestic air travel is expected to grow 25% over next five years, by allowing private companies to provide air services as “air taxis”

Open Skies & Liberalization of Global Air Transport Industry

• With increasingly globalised economic climate, open skies agreements will continue to increase in number, with liberalisation efforts extending beyond simple scheduling and capacity elements to include owenership and effective control.

• A move towards multilateral systems will continue to grow.

Capacity Concerns

• Capacity is likely to be a key issue in economic sustainability of international transport.

• Growing capacity without reductions in costs, may result in future capital losses for air transport industry as investors see fewer returns.

• For time being, global airline passenger traffic is increasing.

Information Technology

• IT trends in transport industry will continue to evolve to benefit of passenger.

• IT infrastructure has altered distribution channels within all modes of transport (particularly through GDS), and this extend towards providing wireless internet access during a journey.

• The more common IT initiatives in transport generally revolve around service provisions for passengers (e.g. on-board entertainment).

Text book

• Duval D. (2007). Tourism and Transport: Modes, Networks and Flows. Multilingual Matters & Channel View Publications. (Chapter 9)