Module V: Current Issues in Tourism and Hospitality

Hey everyone! Welcome to one of the most exciting and important chapters in THS. The world of tourism and hospitality is always changing, and in this module, we're going to explore the biggest trends and challenges happening right now. Understanding these issues is super important, not just for your exams, but for anyone who wants to have a successful career in this amazing industry. Let's get started!


1. Current Issues: Sustainability and Globalization

This section is all about the "big picture" ideas that are shaping the entire industry. We'll look at how we can enjoy tourism without harming our planet and cultures, and how the world becoming more connected brings both good and bad things.

A. The Big Question: What is Sustainable Tourism?

Have you ever heard the phrase "leave a place better than you found it"? That's the basic idea behind sustainability! It’s about meeting our needs today without messing things up for future generations.

Think of it like a three-legged stool. To be stable, you need all three legs. In sustainable tourism, the three legs are:

  • The Environment (Planet): Protecting nature, wildlife, and natural resources.
  • Society & Culture (People): Respecting local communities, traditions, and heritage.
  • The Economy (Profit): Making sure that tourism businesses are profitable and that the local community benefits financially.

If one leg is weak (e.g., a business makes lots of money but pollutes a river), the whole stool will fall over!

Key Concepts You MUST Know

1. Sustainable Development: The official definition is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It’s the parent idea for sustainable tourism.

2. UNWTO's Definition of Sustainable Tourism: The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) defines it as "tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities."

The Twelve Aims of Sustainable Tourism

Don't worry, you don't need to memorize a long list! Just understand how they fit under the three "stool legs".

Environmental Aims (Protecting the Planet)

  • Physical Integrity: Keeping landscapes, coastlines, and natural areas beautiful and undamaged.
  • Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of plants and animals (flora and fauna) in an area.
  • Resource Efficiency: Using resources like water and energy wisely and reducing waste.
  • Environmental Purity: Preventing pollution of the air, water, and land.

Social Aims (Caring for People & Culture)

  • Social Equity: Making sure the benefits of tourism are shared fairly among everyone in the local community.
  • Visitor Fulfillment: Providing a safe, satisfying, and meaningful experience for tourists.
  • Local Control: Giving the local community a say in how tourism is developed and managed in their area.
  • Community Wellbeing: Improving the quality of life for local people, not making it worse (e.g., avoiding overcrowding).
  • Cultural Richness: Respecting and celebrating the local culture, traditions, and historical heritage.

Economic Aims (Smart Business)

  • Economic Viability: Ensuring that tourism businesses can survive and be profitable in the long term.
  • Local Prosperity: Making sure that the money from tourism stays in the local area and benefits the local economy (reducing economic leakage).
  • Employment Quality: Creating stable, well-paying jobs for local people with good working conditions.

B. Sustainable Tourism in Action: Case Studies of Hong Kong and Macau

Let's apply these ideas to places we know well!

Hong Kong:

  • Positive Steps: Hong Kong promotes environmental aims through its beautiful country parks and the UNESCO Global Geopark in Sai Kung (protecting physical integrity and biological diversity).
  • Challenges: There are struggles with community wellbeing. Think about the overcrowding in places like Mong Kok or Cheung Chau during holidays, which can irritate local residents. This links back to the concept of carrying capacity from Module I.

Macau:

  • Positive Steps: Macau works on cultural richness by preserving its UNESCO World Heritage sites, like the Ruins of St. Paul's. This provides a rich experience for visitors (visitor fulfillment). The casino industry brings huge economic viability.
  • Challenges: There is a risk of over-dependency on the gambling industry. Is there enough local control over development? Does the money truly improve community wellbeing for all residents, or does it just lead to high living costs?

C. The Impact of Globalization

Globalization is the idea that the world is becoming more and more connected through trade, technology, and culture. For tourism, it means it's easier than ever to travel almost anywhere.

Key Issues from Globalization:

1. Homogenization and Standardization

  • What it means: This is a fancy way of saying "everything starts to look and feel the same."
  • Example: You can find a Starbucks, McDonald's, or a Hilton hotel in hundreds of different countries. While this is convenient and predictable (standardized), it can make unique destinations feel less special (homogenized). It can threaten the cultural richness of a place.

2. Fair Trade in Tourism

  • What it means: Fair trade is a movement that aims to make sure that local people, farmers, and workers get a fair price and fair treatment for their products and services.
  • How it applies to tourism: In tourism, this means booking with local tour guides, staying in locally-owned guesthouses, or buying souvenirs directly from the artisans who made them. This helps ensure local prosperity and social equity.
  • Benefits: It provides a more authentic experience for the tourist and ensures that the economic benefits of tourism go directly to the host community, not just large international corporations.
Key Takeaway for Section 1

The most important trends in tourism today are about finding a balance. Sustainable tourism is about balancing the needs of the Planet, People, and Profit. Globalization offers amazing opportunities, but we must be careful to protect local cultures and ensure fairness.


2. Keeping Up with the Times: Trends in the Tourism Sector

Let's zoom in on the tourism sector itself. What are the big changes happening in how and why people travel? We can break these trends down into four areas.

A. Economical Aspect

  • Increase in demands on travel: As economies grow around the world, more people have the money and desire to travel. This means the tourism market is getting bigger and bigger!
  • Competitions among tourism receiving countries: With more tourists up for grabs, countries are competing fiercely to attract them. Think about how Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea all promote themselves as top destinations in Asia. They compete on price, attractions, food, and safety.

B. Social-cultural Aspect

  • Changes in demographics: The "typical" tourist is changing!
    • More senior travellers: People are living longer, healthier lives and want to travel after retirement. They often look for comfortable, safe, and culturally rich experiences.
    • More solo travellers: Especially more women are travelling alone, seeking empowerment and adventure. Safety is a key factor for them.
    • Experience-seekers: Younger travellers (Millennials and Gen Z) often want unique, "Instagrammable" experiences rather than just standard sightseeing. They want to live like a local.

C. Environmental Aspect

  • Climate Change: This is a huge threat. For example, warming temperatures can melt snow at ski resorts, and coral bleaching can destroy beautiful diving spots like the Great Barrier Reef. This threatens the physical integrity of destinations.
  • Environmental Conservation: The good news is that many tourists are now more environmentally aware. They actively look for "eco-friendly" hotels or tours. This trend is pushing the industry to be more sustainable.

D. Technological Aspect

Technology has completely changed the travel game!

  • Global Distribution System (GDS): This is the powerful, behind-the-scenes computer network that connects travel agents and online booking sites (like Expedia) to airlines, hotels, and car rental companies. It allows them to see real-time availability and prices all in one place.
  • New Information Technology:
    • Self-serviced technology: Think about check-in kiosks at the airport, or mobile apps that act as your room key. This gives tourists more control and can speed things up.
    • Online social media: Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and TripAdvisor have a massive influence. Tourists use them for inspiration (from influencers), for booking, and for leaving reviews that can make or break a business.
Key Takeaway for Section 2

The modern tourist is more diverse, tech-savvy, and environmentally conscious. Destinations and businesses must adapt to fierce competition, changing demographics, the threat of climate change, and the power of technology to succeed.


3. All About Change: Trends in the Hospitality Sector

Now let's look at hotels and restaurants. How are they changing to meet the needs of the modern tourist?

A. Trends in the Accommodation Sector

Economical Aspect

Economic changes mean people have different budgets. The industry has responded by developing different types of accommodation. We now see a huge range, from cheap and cheerful hostels and capsule hotels to ultra-luxury resorts and serviced apartments (like those on Airbnb), catering to every price point.

Social-cultural Aspect

Travellers' tastes are changing. People don't just want a bed; they want an experience. This has led to a rise in:

  • Boutique hotels: Small, stylish hotels with a unique personality.
  • Lifestyle brands: Hotel chains that create a specific vibe or "lifestyle" that appeals to certain groups, like young, creative professionals.
  • Themed hotels: e.g., Disney hotels or hotels designed for wellness and relaxation.
Environmental Aspect

Many hotels are now focused on "greening" standards due to growing environmental concerns from guests. This includes:

  • Encouraging guests to reuse towels and linens.
  • Using energy-saving light bulbs and water-saving showerheads.
  • Reducing single-use plastics in guest rooms.
  • Sourcing food from local farms.
Technological Aspect

Technology is making hotels smarter and more efficient.

  • Property Management System (PMS): The main computer system for the entire hotel. It handles reservations, check-in/out, room status, billing, and more. It's the hotel's brain!
  • Computerized Reservation System (CRS): This system specifically manages reservations, often connecting the hotel to the GDS and online travel agents.
  • Self-serviced technology & Social Media: Just like in the wider tourism sector, self-check-in kiosks, mobile keys, and using social media for marketing and customer feedback are huge trends.

B. Trends in the Food and Beverage Sector

Economical Aspect

Consumer preferences and economic conditions heavily impact restaurants. For example, during an economic downturn, people may eat out less or choose cheaper options. The rise of food delivery apps (like Foodpanda) has also created new business models and competition.

Social-cultural Aspect

Demographic and lifestyle changes have a massive effect on what people want to eat.

  • Health consciousness: More demand for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and organic options.
  • "Foodie" culture: People see food as an experience. They take photos for social media ("phone eats first!"), are interested in the story behind their food (e.g., "farm-to-table"), and enjoy unique dining concepts.
Environmental Aspect

Restaurants are under pressure to be more sustainable.

  • Consumption of resources: Reducing energy and water use in the kitchen.
  • Producing of wastage: Finding ways to minimize food waste is a major goal. This can include better portion control, composting, or donating leftover food. Many are also eliminating plastic straws and containers.
Technological Aspect

Technology is streamlining the dining experience.

  • Point-of-Sale System (POS): This is much more than a cash register. A modern POS system takes orders, sends them to the kitchen, manages billing, tracks inventory, and provides valuable sales data.
  • New Information Technology: Think about QR code menus on your table, online reservation systems, and using social media to show off beautiful dishes and attract customers.
Did you know?

A common mistake is mixing up PMS and POS. Remember: PMS (Property) is for the whole hotel. POS (Point of Sale) is for a specific sales point, like a restaurant or gift shop within the hotel.

Key Takeaway for Section 3

The hospitality sector is rapidly evolving. Successful hotels and restaurants must offer diverse options for different budgets and lifestyles, embrace sustainability, and use technology like PMS and POS to improve efficiency and the guest experience.