LONDON, Nov 13 (Xinhua): World Travel Market (WTM) unveiled here yesterday a report predicting global trends in the travel industry over the next five years.
According to the report, tourism in North Africa is poised for success, with Morocco being a rising star while Tunisia and Egypt are looking to build upon their current success.
In western Europe, slow travel, which offers consumers the opportunity to disconnect from their hectic lifestyles, experience direct contact with nature and enjoy life's simpler pleasures, is build up momentum. It is expected to become a significant alternative to beach and cultural tourism, moving from a niche into the mainstream.
Meanwhile, niche operators will benefit from Diaspora tourism in eastern Europe. The expansion of the European Union to include Eastern Europe has led to a rise in immigration for both humanitarian and economic reasons to Western Europe. Low cost airlines have enabled these Diasporas to travel frequently to their homelands.
In the Middle East, Halal tourism, which is a form of religious tourism defined as activities permissible under Islamic law, offers great potential. There is currently little differentiation between Middle Eastern travel and tourism products and services for Muslims and non-Muslim. This represents a huge opportunity for Halal tourism.
In North America, young adults seeking to prolong their uninhibited youth are following in the footsteps of tabloid celebrities and travelling to experience out of control parties in a trend called "debaucherism tourism".
South America will be the exotic lure of End of the World Tourism. Considered the "End of the World", Ushuaia, Argentina is benefiting from a boom in tourism thanks to media attention to climate change and the popularity of films such as the "The March of the Penguins."
WTM predicts global trends in travel industry
FE Team | Published: November 14, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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