UNWTO report highlights impact of demographic change on tourism

23rd Sep 2010

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Demographic change will have major implications for the tourism sector over the coming decades, but also presents important opportunities. This is among the central findings of the recently published United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/European Travel Commission (ETC) report on ‘Demographic Change and Tourism’. 

The report was officially presented by UNWTO and ETC at the recent seminar on Demographic Change and Tourism held on September 17, 2010 in Vienna, Austria. The content of the study was used as a basis for the seminar which sought to achieve a better understanding of current and future demographic changes and debate how to maximise potential opportunities for the tourism sector.  

The report sets out the main demographic trends worldwide and in major current and emerging source markets and describes how destinations and the private sector can make the most of these in terms of product development and marketing. 

Major demographic trends at the global level – rising populations, increased life expectancy, urbanisation, migration, changing family structures – present new challenges for the tourism sector. Demographic change will impact upon the types of tourists that will travel, where they originate from, where they travel to, the types of accommodation they require and activities they engage in while away. 

Demographic Change and Tourism provides a comprehensive analysis of the major demographic trends through 2030 – by which time the world’s population is forecast to reach 8.3 billion. It outlines the impact these trends will have on tourism demand and travel behaviour overall and analyses how destinations and companies can best adapt in order to become increasingly competitive in the market place. 

According to the report, visitor’s profiles and preferences will become increasingly fragmented and destination’s competitiveness will depend on their ability to develop and market tourism products to an aging, multi-ethnic population, structured into multi-generational families Population growth and increased life expectancy, for example, will radically challenge current assumptions of ageing for tourism. Younger tourists who are still working fulltime may look to relax on holiday, while older tourists with more time on their hands and a ‘younger’ outlook may go on holiday to try new activities.