Martine Bakker researches the role of tourism in an inclusive growth strategy. Her research interests and practices focus primarily on issues associated with tourism and development and tourism as a tool for poverty reduction in emerging countries. She is also a senior tourism consultant working with international development organizations and NGOs.
Abstract This paper offers recent information on the world travel market in general and the luxur... more Abstract This paper offers recent information on the world travel market in general and the luxury travel market in particular. It also characterizes the luxury traveller and presents an overview of the luxury travel product. Information is also presented on luxury hotel ...
Introduction In January 2016, the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were off... more Introduction In January 2016, the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were officially adopted by world leaders. Unlike their predecessor, the Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs include a specific goal to reduce inequalities (SDG 10). Economic growth alone has proven to be insufficient in reducing poverty since not all people are included in the growth process nor do they benefit equally from it (Bourguignon, 2004). When growth bypasses the poor or other marginalized groups, it may even increase inequality. Growth that is not inclusive can be both a danger to social and political stability and a threat to the sustainability of the growth (Ali & Son, 2007). The realization that growth itself is not sufficient to reduce poverty has led policy makers to look for alternative strategies. The inclusive growth concept is the latest approach used by international institutions to improve living standards in the developing world. Inclusive growth can be defined as growth...
does not contain any contributions with an explicit focus on tourism and/or tourists’ impacts on ... more does not contain any contributions with an explicit focus on tourism and/or tourists’ impacts on heritage conservation. Given the focus of Heritage, Conservation and Communities, it is understandable that the topics are somewhat limited to the practical issues of capacity building and participation, but given the direct link between tourism and cultural heritage conservation in many parts of the globe, this void is rather surprising. This might also tie to the persistent disciplinary gaps discussed above. Finally, it has to be pointed out that this volume is an outcome of the Engaging Conservation conference, which took place in 2014 at the University of York, UK. The content, therefore, has a very strong focus on York and UK in terms of the featured case studies and theoretical foundations, and nearly all of the contributors have some affiliation with the University of York. There is, nevertheless, a certain geographic variation in the case studies, featuring examples from Japan, India and Spain. In conclusion, Heritage, Conservation and Communities provides a valuable and interesting insight into the world of heritage conservation practitioners, giving a rich overview of the methods, tools and approaches applied in this field. The ethical platform shared by all authors, i.e. prioritization of authentic and meaningful local community involvement, is of high relevance to any society striving for the inclusion of principles of democracy and social justice into all of its processes. A highly valuable message here is that heritage conservation benefits, above everything else, the community itself. As stated by Gill Chitty ‘[c]onservation in practice here is about developing skills in groups and people management, generating honesty and trust in working together to create equity in new partnerships’ (p.9). This book will be, first and foremost, interesting to heritage practitioners and students of heritage studies, who will benefit from multiple conservation approaches and lessons learned, with open discussions about challenges and failures on the way. The book will also be of value to tourism scholars interested in heritage conservation, as well as practitioners of nature conservation, who can benefit from expanding disciplinary horizons and unexpected synergistic interdisciplinary insights.
Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism c... more Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism community. This paper discusses the main concepts of inclusive growth and their implication for tourism development across the developing world. Is inclusive growth simply another term for pro-poor in tourism? Discussion of current approaches utilized by the development community and its institutions highlights differences and notes a shift from pro-poor thinking to inclusive growth efforts. Within that context, the authors suggest the need for an improved understanding of the inclusive growth approach in tourism development, particularly for emerging countries.
Continued discussions concerning the adverse effects of high levels of inequality require a bette... more Continued discussions concerning the adverse effects of high levels of inequality require a better understanding of tourism’s contribution to inclusive growth. If tourism is to be supportive of inclusive growth, it must create productive employment opportunities, while also ensuring equal access to these opportunities. This paper aims to analyse the constraints that prohibit the tourism sector from being a catalyst for inclusive growth, by developing a Tourism-Driven Inclusive Growth Diagnostic (T-DIGD) framework. This conceptual framework is adapted from the Hausmann, Rodrik, and Velasco growth diagnostic to the specific needs of the tourism sector and can support practitioners through a structured knowledge building process, in the design of policies and interventions that can promote inclusive growth. The T-DIGD departs from conventional and mainly quantitative approaches of the drivers of tourism growth and focuses on the “deep determinants” of tourism-driven inclusive growth.
Technology and digital platforms are disrupting the way the tourism sector operates from end to e... more Technology and digital platforms are disrupting the way the tourism sector operates from end to end affects low-income markets striving to leverage tourism for development impacts. Digital platforms, in particular, provide both opportunities and challenges for World Bank Group client countries looking to harness tourism to help achieve the World Bank Group's twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. This report focuses on one disruptive force in the tourism industry: the emergence of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation. P2P accommodation occurs when individuals offer, in exchange for money, a room or an entire house for short-term accommodation. The rapid growth of this new product is shaking up the hotel industry and creating a new way to travel and interact with a destination and its community. The objectives of this report are to investigate the opportunities and challenges that P2P provides in developed and emerging destinations and to offer a set of recommendations to better use this new business model for sustainable and inclusive tourism. The report also sketches a research agenda for the near future. This report is written for destination managers, policymakers, and World Bank Group staff involved in the design and management of tourism operations.
Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism c... more Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism community. This paper discusses the main concepts of inclusive growth and their implication for tourism development across the developing world. Is inclusive growth simply another term for pro-poor in tourism? Discussion of current approaches utilized by the development community and its institutions highlights differences and notes a shift from pro-poor thinking to inclusive growth efforts. Within that context, the authors suggest the need for an improved understanding of the inclusive growth approach in tourism development, particularly for emerging countries.
Driven by the desire to deeply understand and experience the place they are visiting, tourists ar... more Driven by the desire to deeply understand and experience the place they are visiting, tourists are seeking more hands-on travel opportunities. Volunteer tourism, an emerging new trend, seeks to fulfill this desire to visit, experience and give back. Tourists seeking to provide a volunteer service as part of their holiday experience are part of a growing trend. In fact, industry statistics and media reports suggest that it is one of the most promising trends in travel. Many find that tourism and volunteering are two important ways to spend leisure time. It is not hard to imagine, in today’s fast-paced world, demand that combines these two activities. As the global community shrinks in size, the notion of ‘helping your neighbor’ is expanding. People are seeking ways to give back – within their local community as well as throughout the world. However, time is a significant factor, with tourists seeking ways to travel, experience the local culture as much as possible and still do something to help others. Additionally, some tourists are more comfortable with enjoying their experience in a destination if they feel that they are helping in some way. At its most basic, volunteer tourism has evolved from what some would call volunteer travel.Travelling for the purpose of volunteering is not a new concept. What differentiates this trend from its predecessors, such as taking a gap year or long-term overseas volunteering, is the time frame and combination of activities. Volunteer tourism is diversifying, with options for those seeking anything from a 12-day safari with the occasional volunteer day at a local orphanage, to a 20-day sea turtle recovery project with a two-day mountain bike ride. While the industry is in its infancy, those that have grown from the traditional volunteer travel programmes as well as new hybrid options are poised to meet promising demand. For the first time, we are beginning to see an emergence of shorter-length activities that include social or environmental volunteer activities, as well as pure leisure. Alternatively, new directions that share many of the same principles of volunteer tourism have begun to emerge, such as travelers’ philanthropy and facilitated community interaction tourism experiences.Despite all this, the industry is struggling to brand itself. There are those who feel that short-term volunteer tourism trips do not really help the local destination. Others believe that even one day of volunteering paired with six days of surfing or sightseeing is better than not volunteering at all. Some industry veterans are concerned that with the surge of media coverage, the market may be flooded with new entrants that have failed to vet their projects sufficiently or want to make money through poorly planned, ill-conceived volunteer projects. Emerging communication technology such as Web 2.0, social media and other information sources are especially prevalent among some volunteer tourism segments. Awareness of volunteer tourism opportunities continues to expand through viral marketing, social networks, grass roots communication and consumer to consumer information sharing. This is causing a shift in the way in which the traditional tourism consumer and provider interact.
In addition to some of the most acclaimed beaches in the world, the Indian ocean islands offer on... more In addition to some of the most acclaimed beaches in the world, the Indian ocean islands offer one of the planet's greatest concentrations of biodiversity and stunning landscapes that include active volcanoes, sculpted canyons, and verdant seaside cliffs. Yet, despite its many attributes and accolades, the region is not very well known within the global tourism marketplace. This note is an analysis aimed at assessing opportunities for tourism integration among the four Indian ocean island nations of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles. To inform this regional analysis and recommendations, the four reviews were conducted to provide a basis for understanding each country's tourism sector in terms of its development and current performance, contribution to the economy, and principal challenges. As a basis for analysis of the prospect of regional integration, the current state of tourism in each of the countries is considered within a regional context and recommendations for specific regional tourism integration initiatives are provided as guidance for the way forward. The tourism sector reviews were completed through a combination of desk research and country visits that involved consultations with a range of stakeholders from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and donor community. Each country review also contains a set of recommendations for addressing the identified challenges. Included in the key issues identified for each country's tourism sector are those issues that have regional implications. This report is organized as follows: section one gives introduction to the regional integration study; section two gives regional integration: the promises and the reality; section three presents overview of four countries' tourism sectors; section four presents regional tourism integration overview; section five gives key issues for regional integration; section six gives recommendations; section seven gives way forward; and section eight gives conclusion.
The Union of Comoros has struggled through political unrest for over thirty years. As a result, i... more The Union of Comoros has struggled through political unrest for over thirty years. As a result, its tourism sector is still in the exploration phase of its life cycle. There have been initiatives by both the public and private sectors in the tourism industry, but to date, a lack of commitment from both sectors and external circumstances have prevented further growth. Comoros needs a tourism development plan that will provide a framework for all tourism stakeholders to the next phase of development. Strong institutional leadership from both the public and private sectors is one of the most important requirements to be addressed in order to support tourism in Comoros. The objective of this review is to conduct an analysis of the tourism sector performance and policies in the Union of Comoros. It presents policy options and recommendations at a country and sub-regional level. This review has been constructed as part of a larger Indian ocean regional tourism integration study including similar reports on the tourism sectors of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Combined recommendations provide a basis for practical approaches towards improved tourism competitiveness through leveraging regional integration opportunities across these economies. This report is structured as follows: section one gives introduction to the Comoros study; section two gives overview of the Union of Comoros tourism sector; section three presents key issues; section four gives recommendations; and section five gives conclusion.
In spring 2002, PhoCusWright Inc. and New York University’s Tisch
Center of Hospitality and Touri... more In spring 2002, PhoCusWright Inc. and New York University’s Tisch Center of Hospitality and Tourism began a joint research process into the biggest trend in online travel: vacation packaging. The overall purpose of the research was to investigate the technological, marketing and financial challenges for building the online vacation package marketplace.
Until the middle of the last century, leisure travel was primarily a privilege of the rich, and l... more Until the middle of the last century, leisure travel was primarily a privilege of the rich, and luxury was often the standard. The Grand Tour, where the rich travelled to see major sights in Europe, was often done with an entourage of private servants and cooks. Luxury cruise liners, such as the Queen Elizabeth, boasted a high staff/guest ratio and excellent dining and entertainment facilities. The first commercial airliners were also much more luxurious than today; travellers enjoyed their fine meals on porcelain plates whilst sitting in spacious chairs. Since the 1950s, the number of global leisure travellers has increased each year. The introduction of jumbo jets has made travelling by air more affordable, offering global travel to the masses. As a result, the luxury aspects of travel have slowly faded away. However, the last decade has seen a renewed interest in luxury travel and demand for a differentiation in levels of service. According to The New York Times, luxury travel is now the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. The number of people who can afford to pay extra for luxury or customised travel is on the rise and the market has subsequently reacted, offering a wide variety of luxury travel options. Today, luxury travel means not only exclusive resorts where guests are pampered day and night but can also consist of tailor-made getaways, such as travel to Alaska, where the angling enthusiastic can be flown from one great fishing spot to another on a private jet. People are increasingly willing to pay more for a travel experience that is catered specifically to their needs, whether it be a specific spa experience or deep sea diving. The most important aspect for many people is that they are able to relax, whilst daily hassles are taken care of by others. This business is booming because there is generally more widespread affluence and travel is a way for people to relax and express themselves. Baby Boomers are about to inherit $3 trillion each year over the next ten years. This will be the biggest transfer of money in human history. Who exactly are the affluent? As an example, the wealthiest 10% in the US are made up of 11 million households representing approximately half of the consumer income and spending about a third of the total US economy.
Abstract This paper offers recent information on the world travel market in general and the luxur... more Abstract This paper offers recent information on the world travel market in general and the luxury travel market in particular. It also characterizes the luxury traveller and presents an overview of the luxury travel product. Information is also presented on luxury hotel ...
Introduction In January 2016, the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were off... more Introduction In January 2016, the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were officially adopted by world leaders. Unlike their predecessor, the Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs include a specific goal to reduce inequalities (SDG 10). Economic growth alone has proven to be insufficient in reducing poverty since not all people are included in the growth process nor do they benefit equally from it (Bourguignon, 2004). When growth bypasses the poor or other marginalized groups, it may even increase inequality. Growth that is not inclusive can be both a danger to social and political stability and a threat to the sustainability of the growth (Ali & Son, 2007). The realization that growth itself is not sufficient to reduce poverty has led policy makers to look for alternative strategies. The inclusive growth concept is the latest approach used by international institutions to improve living standards in the developing world. Inclusive growth can be defined as growth...
does not contain any contributions with an explicit focus on tourism and/or tourists’ impacts on ... more does not contain any contributions with an explicit focus on tourism and/or tourists’ impacts on heritage conservation. Given the focus of Heritage, Conservation and Communities, it is understandable that the topics are somewhat limited to the practical issues of capacity building and participation, but given the direct link between tourism and cultural heritage conservation in many parts of the globe, this void is rather surprising. This might also tie to the persistent disciplinary gaps discussed above. Finally, it has to be pointed out that this volume is an outcome of the Engaging Conservation conference, which took place in 2014 at the University of York, UK. The content, therefore, has a very strong focus on York and UK in terms of the featured case studies and theoretical foundations, and nearly all of the contributors have some affiliation with the University of York. There is, nevertheless, a certain geographic variation in the case studies, featuring examples from Japan, India and Spain. In conclusion, Heritage, Conservation and Communities provides a valuable and interesting insight into the world of heritage conservation practitioners, giving a rich overview of the methods, tools and approaches applied in this field. The ethical platform shared by all authors, i.e. prioritization of authentic and meaningful local community involvement, is of high relevance to any society striving for the inclusion of principles of democracy and social justice into all of its processes. A highly valuable message here is that heritage conservation benefits, above everything else, the community itself. As stated by Gill Chitty ‘[c]onservation in practice here is about developing skills in groups and people management, generating honesty and trust in working together to create equity in new partnerships’ (p.9). This book will be, first and foremost, interesting to heritage practitioners and students of heritage studies, who will benefit from multiple conservation approaches and lessons learned, with open discussions about challenges and failures on the way. The book will also be of value to tourism scholars interested in heritage conservation, as well as practitioners of nature conservation, who can benefit from expanding disciplinary horizons and unexpected synergistic interdisciplinary insights.
Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism c... more Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism community. This paper discusses the main concepts of inclusive growth and their implication for tourism development across the developing world. Is inclusive growth simply another term for pro-poor in tourism? Discussion of current approaches utilized by the development community and its institutions highlights differences and notes a shift from pro-poor thinking to inclusive growth efforts. Within that context, the authors suggest the need for an improved understanding of the inclusive growth approach in tourism development, particularly for emerging countries.
Continued discussions concerning the adverse effects of high levels of inequality require a bette... more Continued discussions concerning the adverse effects of high levels of inequality require a better understanding of tourism’s contribution to inclusive growth. If tourism is to be supportive of inclusive growth, it must create productive employment opportunities, while also ensuring equal access to these opportunities. This paper aims to analyse the constraints that prohibit the tourism sector from being a catalyst for inclusive growth, by developing a Tourism-Driven Inclusive Growth Diagnostic (T-DIGD) framework. This conceptual framework is adapted from the Hausmann, Rodrik, and Velasco growth diagnostic to the specific needs of the tourism sector and can support practitioners through a structured knowledge building process, in the design of policies and interventions that can promote inclusive growth. The T-DIGD departs from conventional and mainly quantitative approaches of the drivers of tourism growth and focuses on the “deep determinants” of tourism-driven inclusive growth.
Technology and digital platforms are disrupting the way the tourism sector operates from end to e... more Technology and digital platforms are disrupting the way the tourism sector operates from end to end affects low-income markets striving to leverage tourism for development impacts. Digital platforms, in particular, provide both opportunities and challenges for World Bank Group client countries looking to harness tourism to help achieve the World Bank Group's twin goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. This report focuses on one disruptive force in the tourism industry: the emergence of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation. P2P accommodation occurs when individuals offer, in exchange for money, a room or an entire house for short-term accommodation. The rapid growth of this new product is shaking up the hotel industry and creating a new way to travel and interact with a destination and its community. The objectives of this report are to investigate the opportunities and challenges that P2P provides in developed and emerging destinations and to offer a set of recommendations to better use this new business model for sustainable and inclusive tourism. The report also sketches a research agenda for the near future. This report is written for destination managers, policymakers, and World Bank Group staff involved in the design and management of tourism operations.
Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism c... more Inclusive growth and pro-poor growth are terms embraced but not fully understood in the tourism community. This paper discusses the main concepts of inclusive growth and their implication for tourism development across the developing world. Is inclusive growth simply another term for pro-poor in tourism? Discussion of current approaches utilized by the development community and its institutions highlights differences and notes a shift from pro-poor thinking to inclusive growth efforts. Within that context, the authors suggest the need for an improved understanding of the inclusive growth approach in tourism development, particularly for emerging countries.
Driven by the desire to deeply understand and experience the place they are visiting, tourists ar... more Driven by the desire to deeply understand and experience the place they are visiting, tourists are seeking more hands-on travel opportunities. Volunteer tourism, an emerging new trend, seeks to fulfill this desire to visit, experience and give back. Tourists seeking to provide a volunteer service as part of their holiday experience are part of a growing trend. In fact, industry statistics and media reports suggest that it is one of the most promising trends in travel. Many find that tourism and volunteering are two important ways to spend leisure time. It is not hard to imagine, in today’s fast-paced world, demand that combines these two activities. As the global community shrinks in size, the notion of ‘helping your neighbor’ is expanding. People are seeking ways to give back – within their local community as well as throughout the world. However, time is a significant factor, with tourists seeking ways to travel, experience the local culture as much as possible and still do something to help others. Additionally, some tourists are more comfortable with enjoying their experience in a destination if they feel that they are helping in some way. At its most basic, volunteer tourism has evolved from what some would call volunteer travel.Travelling for the purpose of volunteering is not a new concept. What differentiates this trend from its predecessors, such as taking a gap year or long-term overseas volunteering, is the time frame and combination of activities. Volunteer tourism is diversifying, with options for those seeking anything from a 12-day safari with the occasional volunteer day at a local orphanage, to a 20-day sea turtle recovery project with a two-day mountain bike ride. While the industry is in its infancy, those that have grown from the traditional volunteer travel programmes as well as new hybrid options are poised to meet promising demand. For the first time, we are beginning to see an emergence of shorter-length activities that include social or environmental volunteer activities, as well as pure leisure. Alternatively, new directions that share many of the same principles of volunteer tourism have begun to emerge, such as travelers’ philanthropy and facilitated community interaction tourism experiences.Despite all this, the industry is struggling to brand itself. There are those who feel that short-term volunteer tourism trips do not really help the local destination. Others believe that even one day of volunteering paired with six days of surfing or sightseeing is better than not volunteering at all. Some industry veterans are concerned that with the surge of media coverage, the market may be flooded with new entrants that have failed to vet their projects sufficiently or want to make money through poorly planned, ill-conceived volunteer projects. Emerging communication technology such as Web 2.0, social media and other information sources are especially prevalent among some volunteer tourism segments. Awareness of volunteer tourism opportunities continues to expand through viral marketing, social networks, grass roots communication and consumer to consumer information sharing. This is causing a shift in the way in which the traditional tourism consumer and provider interact.
In addition to some of the most acclaimed beaches in the world, the Indian ocean islands offer on... more In addition to some of the most acclaimed beaches in the world, the Indian ocean islands offer one of the planet's greatest concentrations of biodiversity and stunning landscapes that include active volcanoes, sculpted canyons, and verdant seaside cliffs. Yet, despite its many attributes and accolades, the region is not very well known within the global tourism marketplace. This note is an analysis aimed at assessing opportunities for tourism integration among the four Indian ocean island nations of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles. To inform this regional analysis and recommendations, the four reviews were conducted to provide a basis for understanding each country's tourism sector in terms of its development and current performance, contribution to the economy, and principal challenges. As a basis for analysis of the prospect of regional integration, the current state of tourism in each of the countries is considered within a regional context and recommendations for specific regional tourism integration initiatives are provided as guidance for the way forward. The tourism sector reviews were completed through a combination of desk research and country visits that involved consultations with a range of stakeholders from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and donor community. Each country review also contains a set of recommendations for addressing the identified challenges. Included in the key issues identified for each country's tourism sector are those issues that have regional implications. This report is organized as follows: section one gives introduction to the regional integration study; section two gives regional integration: the promises and the reality; section three presents overview of four countries' tourism sectors; section four presents regional tourism integration overview; section five gives key issues for regional integration; section six gives recommendations; section seven gives way forward; and section eight gives conclusion.
The Union of Comoros has struggled through political unrest for over thirty years. As a result, i... more The Union of Comoros has struggled through political unrest for over thirty years. As a result, its tourism sector is still in the exploration phase of its life cycle. There have been initiatives by both the public and private sectors in the tourism industry, but to date, a lack of commitment from both sectors and external circumstances have prevented further growth. Comoros needs a tourism development plan that will provide a framework for all tourism stakeholders to the next phase of development. Strong institutional leadership from both the public and private sectors is one of the most important requirements to be addressed in order to support tourism in Comoros. The objective of this review is to conduct an analysis of the tourism sector performance and policies in the Union of Comoros. It presents policy options and recommendations at a country and sub-regional level. This review has been constructed as part of a larger Indian ocean regional tourism integration study including similar reports on the tourism sectors of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Combined recommendations provide a basis for practical approaches towards improved tourism competitiveness through leveraging regional integration opportunities across these economies. This report is structured as follows: section one gives introduction to the Comoros study; section two gives overview of the Union of Comoros tourism sector; section three presents key issues; section four gives recommendations; and section five gives conclusion.
In spring 2002, PhoCusWright Inc. and New York University’s Tisch
Center of Hospitality and Touri... more In spring 2002, PhoCusWright Inc. and New York University’s Tisch Center of Hospitality and Tourism began a joint research process into the biggest trend in online travel: vacation packaging. The overall purpose of the research was to investigate the technological, marketing and financial challenges for building the online vacation package marketplace.
Until the middle of the last century, leisure travel was primarily a privilege of the rich, and l... more Until the middle of the last century, leisure travel was primarily a privilege of the rich, and luxury was often the standard. The Grand Tour, where the rich travelled to see major sights in Europe, was often done with an entourage of private servants and cooks. Luxury cruise liners, such as the Queen Elizabeth, boasted a high staff/guest ratio and excellent dining and entertainment facilities. The first commercial airliners were also much more luxurious than today; travellers enjoyed their fine meals on porcelain plates whilst sitting in spacious chairs. Since the 1950s, the number of global leisure travellers has increased each year. The introduction of jumbo jets has made travelling by air more affordable, offering global travel to the masses. As a result, the luxury aspects of travel have slowly faded away. However, the last decade has seen a renewed interest in luxury travel and demand for a differentiation in levels of service. According to The New York Times, luxury travel is now the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry. The number of people who can afford to pay extra for luxury or customised travel is on the rise and the market has subsequently reacted, offering a wide variety of luxury travel options. Today, luxury travel means not only exclusive resorts where guests are pampered day and night but can also consist of tailor-made getaways, such as travel to Alaska, where the angling enthusiastic can be flown from one great fishing spot to another on a private jet. People are increasingly willing to pay more for a travel experience that is catered specifically to their needs, whether it be a specific spa experience or deep sea diving. The most important aspect for many people is that they are able to relax, whilst daily hassles are taken care of by others. This business is booming because there is generally more widespread affluence and travel is a way for people to relax and express themselves. Baby Boomers are about to inherit $3 trillion each year over the next ten years. This will be the biggest transfer of money in human history. Who exactly are the affluent? As an example, the wealthiest 10% in the US are made up of 11 million households representing approximately half of the consumer income and spending about a third of the total US economy.
Uploads
Papers by Martine Bakker
Discussion of current approaches utilized by the development community and its institutions highlights differences and notes a shift from pro-poor thinking to inclusive growth efforts. Within that context, the authors suggest the need for an improved understanding of the inclusive growth approach in tourism development, particularly for emerging countries.
ways to give back – within their local community as well as throughout the world. However, time is a significant factor, with tourists seeking ways to travel, experience the local culture as much as possible and still do something to help others. Additionally, some tourists are more comfortable with enjoying their experience in a destination if they feel that they are helping in some way.
At its most basic, volunteer tourism has evolved from what some would call volunteer travel.Travelling for the purpose of volunteering is not a new concept. What differentiates this trend from its predecessors, such as taking a gap year or long-term overseas volunteering, is the time frame and combination of activities. Volunteer tourism is diversifying, with options for those seeking anything from a 12-day safari with the occasional volunteer day at a local orphanage, to a 20-day sea turtle
recovery project with a two-day mountain bike ride. While the industry is in its infancy, those that have grown from the traditional volunteer travel programmes as well as new hybrid options are poised to meet promising demand. For the first time, we are beginning to see an emergence of shorter-length activities that include social or environmental volunteer activities, as well as pure leisure.
Alternatively, new directions that share many of the same principles of volunteer tourism have begun to emerge, such as travelers’ philanthropy and facilitated community interaction tourism experiences.Despite all this, the industry is struggling to brand itself. There are those who feel that short-term volunteer tourism trips do not really help the local destination. Others believe that even one day of volunteering paired with six days of surfing or sightseeing is better than not volunteering at all. Some
industry veterans are concerned that with the surge of media coverage, the market may be flooded with new entrants that have failed to vet their projects sufficiently or want to make money through poorly planned, ill-conceived volunteer projects.
Emerging communication technology such as Web 2.0, social media and other information sources are especially prevalent among some volunteer tourism segments. Awareness of volunteer tourism opportunities continues to expand through viral marketing, social networks, grass roots communication and consumer to consumer information sharing. This is causing a shift in the way in which the traditional tourism consumer and provider interact.
Center of Hospitality and Tourism began a joint research process into
the biggest trend in online travel: vacation packaging. The overall
purpose of the research was to investigate the technological, marketing
and financial challenges for building the online vacation package
marketplace.
Discussion of current approaches utilized by the development community and its institutions highlights differences and notes a shift from pro-poor thinking to inclusive growth efforts. Within that context, the authors suggest the need for an improved understanding of the inclusive growth approach in tourism development, particularly for emerging countries.
ways to give back – within their local community as well as throughout the world. However, time is a significant factor, with tourists seeking ways to travel, experience the local culture as much as possible and still do something to help others. Additionally, some tourists are more comfortable with enjoying their experience in a destination if they feel that they are helping in some way.
At its most basic, volunteer tourism has evolved from what some would call volunteer travel.Travelling for the purpose of volunteering is not a new concept. What differentiates this trend from its predecessors, such as taking a gap year or long-term overseas volunteering, is the time frame and combination of activities. Volunteer tourism is diversifying, with options for those seeking anything from a 12-day safari with the occasional volunteer day at a local orphanage, to a 20-day sea turtle
recovery project with a two-day mountain bike ride. While the industry is in its infancy, those that have grown from the traditional volunteer travel programmes as well as new hybrid options are poised to meet promising demand. For the first time, we are beginning to see an emergence of shorter-length activities that include social or environmental volunteer activities, as well as pure leisure.
Alternatively, new directions that share many of the same principles of volunteer tourism have begun to emerge, such as travelers’ philanthropy and facilitated community interaction tourism experiences.Despite all this, the industry is struggling to brand itself. There are those who feel that short-term volunteer tourism trips do not really help the local destination. Others believe that even one day of volunteering paired with six days of surfing or sightseeing is better than not volunteering at all. Some
industry veterans are concerned that with the surge of media coverage, the market may be flooded with new entrants that have failed to vet their projects sufficiently or want to make money through poorly planned, ill-conceived volunteer projects.
Emerging communication technology such as Web 2.0, social media and other information sources are especially prevalent among some volunteer tourism segments. Awareness of volunteer tourism opportunities continues to expand through viral marketing, social networks, grass roots communication and consumer to consumer information sharing. This is causing a shift in the way in which the traditional tourism consumer and provider interact.
Center of Hospitality and Tourism began a joint research process into
the biggest trend in online travel: vacation packaging. The overall
purpose of the research was to investigate the technological, marketing
and financial challenges for building the online vacation package
marketplace.