Top 10 

Current Global Trends and Issues in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry 
by: Keiziah Baria, Francine Bugarin, Wen Minoza, Denisse Sales, Kaycel Say
Executive Summary 

The pandemic brings the once-booming tourism industry to a halt. When most countries
enacted travel restrictions and lockdowns in the first quarter of 2020, international visitor
arrivals fell by 22%, resulting in an expected loss of US$80 billion in global tourist
earnings. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the industry could take up
to ten months to recover. (n.d., PwC Philippines). So, as the pandemic continues to
challenge the said industry, various forms of trends and issues built up to the global
community. This paper aims to showcase issues prevalent in the industry and exemplify
innovative trends to solidify a great recovery despite all the setbacks faced by the
Tourism and hospitality industry. It also specified some prevailing innovations in the
likes of using technology and various platforms, such as social media and other
accessible applications.

There are issues concerning the wide coverage of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
The following issues happen not only nationally, but it does also occur in different
nations. Pre-pandemic gave us a glimpse of the booming future with tourism, however,
it also marred with discrepancies, especially with Overtourism. Many individuals meet
halfway on a certain path and bring impact to the tourist destination and its surrounding.
But, as the COVID-19 era started, there are various issues and dilemmas. One of which
is growing guest preferences. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the
industry, affected travelers must recalibrate their senses to meet the needs of the time.
According to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) survey, 81% of
respondents said they will regain their confidence in flying once vaccinations are out
already (Mercurio, 2021). This exemplifies the growing numbers of uncertain travelers
also boggle the industry since the killer virus scares and discourages them. Thus,
confidence to travel in these trying times decreased. Another conflicting issue around
this era is the retrenchments of Tourism and Hospitality workers, which damage the
employment rate of the countries across the globe. Last, the forefront of recent
headlines and news about the non-commitment of some Tourism and Hospitality
industries to sustainability paved the way for climate response and unity among United
Nations members.

The hospitality sector is dynamic, and businesses must stay up to date on the current
tourism trends to prevent falling behind. That's why keeping up with the continuous
innovations and developments is an essential method in the tourism and hospitality
industry to guarantee how such companies provide the same customer satisfaction that
consumers need and demand every day. The following are the hot picks for the trends
occurring in the Tourism and Hospitality industry: tourism recovery book collaborated by
UNWTO and Instagram, crowd control devices, UV-C cleaning tool, virtual reality tours,
and enhance F&B delivery at home. These were possible because it aims to bridge the
following gaps: (1) Responsiveness, serving people based on their needs. (2)
Adaptability, being able to be flexible in the sudden drift of time. (3) Earn and create
employment for the economy to circulate.

Now, the trends highlighted above have corresponding benefits for every consumer.
The first step is to gain promotion and reputation management. As UNWTO has worked
with Instagram, the project aims to market unknown regions to unfold the beauty of their
hometowns in the world. Concerning contactless promotion is the trending virtual reality
tours offered in museums, hotels, galleries, and many more. Interventions to lessen the
harmful spread of the virus are what it takes to address the issues. Certainly, the crowd
control device, UV-C cleaning tool, and seamless delivery with the use of mobile
applications and technology are the alternative ways and immediate solutions to
continue services from the sector. These creations are for the common good of all and
all. So, these address not only the needs of a specific nation but also undertake global
coverage, which is relevant and timely. It ensures the safety and security of every
tourist/consumer. Landman (n. d), a CEO and Founder of Xotels came up with a striking
motto during these trying times. Safety is a new luxury. Landman firmly believes that
meeting the expectations of each traveler and tourist is very challenging, knowing that
the pandemic changes the way people think. But, one thing that he emphasizes is that
nothing can go wrong with ensuring the safety and security of the traveler and tourists.
Their safety is the top priority in the said industry.

References

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McCarthy, A. (2020). The Rise of Food Delivery Services: Why Consumers Order In.
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Mercurio, R. (2021). IATA: More people gaining confidence to travel.

Philstar.Com.https://www.philstar.com/business/2021/03/12/2083620/iata-more-people-
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Pashiou, K. (2021, July). Labour dynamics: Retrenchment as a result of COVID-19.
LexisNexis. https://www.lexisnexis.co.za/lexis-digest/resources/covid-19-resource-
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Revfine. (2021, February 9). Hospitality trends: The latest trends in hospitality for 2021.
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Schaap, J. (2017). These Major Trends Are Changing the Hospitality Industry, as You
Know It. hospitalitynet. https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4082246.html

Snow, J. (2021, November 4). These digital innovations will make your next trip safer
and more efficient. But will they invade your privacy? National Geographic.
https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/science-and-technology/2021/11/5-pandemic-
tech-innovations-that-will-change-travel-forever

UNWTO. (2005). Sustainable development. https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-

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UNWTO. (2021, November 9). UNWTO and Instagram Partner to Help Destinations
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