Ian Yeoman
Demography is the most important external factor that will shape the future of tourism. In many developed nations this discussion has centred on the rapidly ageing populations and the impact of this phenomena.
Are you a fan of James Bond and x ray vision? Think this is science fiction? Think again, augmented reality (AR) places a virtual world in front of a physical object. AR is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical real-world environment whose elements are merged with (or augmented by) virtual computer-generated imagery - creating a mixed reality.
travelled to Europe, Vietnam and Patagonia -- tasted a variety of foods, whether it is an authentic curry in India or steak from Argentina. These travels and experiences ensure they acquire cultural capital about food which means once they return to the USA they will shop in local Chinese supermarkets for ethnic ingredients or search out the finest cheeses in specialist food shops.
As Frank Furedi writing in his book 'The Culture of Fear' notes, "hazards are not merely such obvious threats as poison, bacteria, toxic waste or hurricanes. At various times, peanuts, tampons, automobiles and contraceptive pills have been represented as hazards.
Figure 1: Forecasts for UK religionThe social theorist Anthony Giddens has encouraged us to believe that we can be "the authors of our own life story" and this is a notion that is increasingly gaining currency in contemporary society.
this will be a key market in the future. Another consequence of longevity is 'lifestyle fragmentation', the idea that life is increasingly being experienced as a series of non-linear events with no set pattern.
and this applies across all age, gender and socio-demographic groupings. This authentic experience is about avoiding areas and activities where there are many other tourists, indicating a desire to explore the untouched and unexposed.
The strong growth in world tourism over the last decade correlates to economic well being. When economies grow, personal income rises which results in the discretionary income being spent on tourism. According to the UN World Tourism Organisation, the growth in international arrivals significantly outpaces economic output.