Emerging trends and Implications of Future Tourism and Hospitality Sector

Abstract

Tourism and hospitality is an important global sector that contributes to economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability. However, the sector operates within a continually changing environment characterised by changing tourist preferences, pressure on cultural and natural resources, technological advancement and climate change. These changes create both opportunities and challenges for tourism and hospitality development. This paper examines the categorisation of tourism, emerging trends and contemporary issues in the tourism and hospitality sector, and the implications of emerging trends for the future of the sector. A qualitative literature review approach was adopted, drawing on secondary literature identified through Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Emerald Insight, Taylor & Francis Online, Wiley Online Library, SAGE Journals and ResearchGate, together with relevant institutional sources. The identified literature was analysed thematically and synthesised according to the study objectives. The findings identify health-related tourism, experience-based tourism, technological advancement, food and wine tourism, adventure tourism, international travel and bleisure tourism as major emerging trends in the sector. The analysis further identifies changing tourist preferences; increasing concern for wellness, health and safety; accessibility for people living with disabilities; substitution of tourism and hospitality products; digital marketing; seasonality; travel advisories; economic crises; natural disasters; climate change; and political events as major contemporary issues. The identified trends have implications for wellness and medical tourism, information technology, food and wine experience tourism, adventure tourism and bleisure tourism. The review also identifies a research gap in forward-thinking approaches to understanding the implications of emerging trends for the future of tourism and hospitality. The paper recommends that tourism and hospitality stakeholders adopt forward-thinking approaches, innovation and collaboration to respond to changing sectoral conditions. The paper concludes that technological advancement continues to shape tourism and hospitality, while business and bleisure tourism constitute important components of local and regional tourism development.