The Growth of Travel,

Tourism and Hospitality

Introductory Certificate in Travel, Tourism

and Hospitality – Session 1

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of this session students will be able
to:
• Understand how tourism and travel have grown and the
main trends relevant to today’s industry
• Explain how social, political, economic and technological
factors influence the growth of tourism

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 Structure of the Travel, Tourism
and Hospitality industry
• Wholesalers/suppliers of the tourism product
• Agencies and retailers
• Restaurants/ wine bars/public houses/hoteliers
and other accommodation providers
• Leisure organisations
• Government agencies (promoting and planning
for tourism)
• Tourist organisations/boards
• customers
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 Development of Tourism
• C16th – 19th The Grand Tour
• C19th development of Spa Resorts
• Early C19th industrial revolution made tourism
accessible to working classes
• Construction of railways led to further
development of seaside resorts
• 1841 Thomas Cook offered first domestic group
excursion
• 1863 first international excursion
• 1880-1950 international travel still relatively rare
• Since end of WW2 era of mass tourism
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 Political Factors Influencing
Growth of Tourism
• Lack of border control
• Freedom to travel
• Relaxation of currency control/monies leaving
the country
• Planning permission/control/development
(infrastructure)
• Stable government
• Ease of obtaining work permits
• Employment laws
• Taxes/duties on imports
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 Economic Factors Influencing
Growth of T,T & H

• Paid holidays/longer holidays

• Holiday entitlements
• Employment
• Greater affluence
• Cost of travelling getting cheaper
• Integration/mergers of hotel chains etc
• The multiplier effect

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 Social Factors
• Education
• Leisure time
• Environmental issues (concern for the
environment)
• Ethical considerations
• Commercialisation of hobbies/leisure activities
• Increased demand for new/exotic destinations
• “Work in order to play” philosophy

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 Demographic Factors
• Reduced family size leads to more
discretionary income
• Entry of women into workforce
• Population increase
• Population more educated and urbanised
• Increased life expectancy
• Retirement of “baby boom” generation

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 Technological Factors

• Faster aircrafts/speed
• Easier connections
• Growth of the Internet
• Introduction of new aircraft
• Growth of the transport sector

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 Future Growth Prospects
• Technology will continue to revolutionise tourism
• Greater number of countries making transition to
full economic development
• Less developed countries such as India can
speed up development process with new
technologies
• Very rapid pace of growth in China will open up
new market for outbound and inbound tourism
• Risk of economic depression, terrorism, war

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 Sources of Relevant Statistics

• http://www.statistics.gov.uk/ - Office of
National Statistics, demographic and
economic trends
• http://www.world-tourism.org/ - world
statistics
• http://www.tourismtrade.org.uk/uktrade/Ma
rketIntelligence/
- UK statistics
• http://www.mintel.com/ - global market
research reports
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