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What is Tourism Industry Analysis?
Jessica Ellis
Jessica Ellis
Tourism industry analysis is an important tool used to measure current trends and future outlook in the travel and tourism market. This type of analysis may be done by a particular tourist-centered business, by independent agencies, or by the government. Tourism industry analysis helps build a detailed picture of tourism, on local, national, and global levels.
“Tourism” refers to travel performed with leisurely aims, as opposed to business travel or permanently relocating to a new area. In some destinations, the tourism industry can make up a large segment of the regional and even national economy. Just as with any other economic market segment, careful and detailed analysis can assist both the private and public sectors in understanding future behavior of the market based on current trends and indicators. For this reason, governments and tourism collectives often hire independent analysts to create targeted reports about the industry.
Tourism industry analysis may consider many different factors associated with the market. The amount of money spent on major tourist considerations such as accommodations, car rentals, and tourist airfare can have a tremendous impact on future expansion or contraction of the industry in the area. Money generated by tourism activities, such as skiing, boat trips, and other amusements, is also important to understanding things like the saturation of a market with a particular type of business.
In addition to analyzing how much money is spent by tourists or made by tourist-related businesses, tourism industry analysis also examines how and why money is spent. For instance, whether most tourists prefer to rent vacation condominiums, stay in large hotels, or patronize boutique inns can tell a lot about the particular atmosphere and demands of the tourist market. In addition, analyzing tourist habits in combination can help target advertising and offered services; for instance, knowing whether travelers staying at a resort are more likely to spend money on spa services than travelers who prefer bed and breakfasts.
Although tourism industry analysis is often used to examine economic factors, it may be important in determining other impacts of tourism on a region or destination. For instance, analysis might show whether crime rates go up because of rowdy spring break tourists, which might prompt more police presence during this time of year. Additionally, analysis can provide local governments with information about the damage done to the environment through tourism. In Maui, for example, government officials made headlines in 2008 for closing a popular snorkeling destination considered ecologically damaged by tourist overuse.
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.
Learn more...
Jessica Ellis
With a B.A. in theater from UCLA and a graduate degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute, Jessica is passionate about drama and film. She has many other interests, and enjoys learning and writing about a wide range of topics in her role as a WiseGEEK writer.
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![Tourists visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. China is one of the most visited countries in the world.]()
By: alexxichTourists visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. China is one of the most visited countries in the world. -
![Tourism industry analysis may look at the kinds of hotels travelers prefer to stay in.]()
By: robert lerichTourism industry analysis may look at the kinds of hotels travelers prefer to stay in. -
![Tourism analysts might look at the popularity of famous attractions like the Egyptian pyramids.]()
By: mrahmoTourism analysts might look at the popularity of famous attractions like the Egyptian pyramids. -
![Transportation, particularly airline travel, is a major component of any large-scale tourism industry analysis.]()
By: HappyAlexTransportation, particularly airline travel, is a major component of any large-scale tourism industry analysis. -
![Analysts may look at which small businesses benefit from area tourism.]()
By: gemphotographyAnalysts may look at which small businesses benefit from area tourism. -
![A tourism analysis may include popular spring break locations and activities.]()
By: karelnoppeA tourism analysis may include popular spring break locations and activities.
Discussion Comments
Tourism management is a really slippery industry to go into. If you are wise and lucky, you can get a spot with regular visitors, and you will be fine. But, if your country becomes affected by a natural disaster, or even just stops being the latest thing, you could lose money.
People in Japan who rely on tourism, for example, must have been hit very hard by the quake, even in areas the quake didn't destroy physically.
That's one of the reasons if you have the choice to go to a tourist site that was recently hit by a disaster and it's safe to do so, you should by all means.
The money you spend will be going to a very good cause, after all.
Tourism is going to end up being so massively important to the future of the world. It is the one thing that people in impoverished nations can repeatedly use as a means of income, without completely wrecking the environment.
It's true that tourism can put pressure on the environment as well, but that's why you need the industry market analysis.
The mountain gorillas, for example, would probably already be extinct if the local people hadn't realized how much money there was to be made by showing them to tourists.
More money in that than in hunting them down to sell a few body parts.
The same could go for orangutans, I hope. If they stand to make more money in tourism, the people in their environment will stop cutting down the rain forest to produce palm oil instead.
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