Rich North Americans desire for healthier travel experience
Rich North Americans are turning their backs on excessive luxury in favor of boot camp-style holidays, reveals WTM Global Trends Report. The report shows the global economic downturn and age of austerity have pushed North America's affluent to seek self-improvement holidays and extreme sports.
North America's top earners already lead the field in extreme exercise with research from the National Institute of Health revealing that 12% of those who exercise do so five times a week and 44% earn more than £47,500 (US$75,000).
World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: "The desire for healthier lifestyles and deeper experiences represents a massive opportunity globally." Euromonitor International Head of Global Travel and Tourism Research Caroline Bremner said: "The US economy has been hard hit by the financial crisis and put the spotlight on rising healthcare costs and obesity. With the recovery expected to gain momentum in 2011, there will be a raft of new opportunities in this area for travel and tourism."
Asian tourism industry to Use Scents
The global trends report predicts scents will play an ever-increasing role in the Asian tourism industry with a number of travel providers using scents to create a unique experience, trigger emotions and deepen brand loyalty.
Hotels across the region are developing bespoke scents to evoke different locations, time of day, mood and purpose.
The region is already seeing an upward trend in fragrance and air care sales with their value set to increase to £1.9 billion and £944 million respectively by 2014.
Scent delivery technology is also developing with the latest systems able to provide up to five fragrance options per room at specific times during the day.
Citrus and peppermint have emerged as popular morning smells while jasmine and vanilla are increasingly viewed as more natural alternatives to sleeping medication.
Middle Eastern millionaires may enter UK market
The report also predicts some facts about UK's tourism. It says some of the United Kingdom's most high-profile travel and tourism brands including the Savoy, Grosvenor House, Claridge's, the Berkeley and the Connaught could be purchased by wealthy Middle Eastern businessman.
The 2009 Finance Act provides Middle Eastern organizations relief from Stamp Duty and Capital Gains Tax and has led to an increase in investment in the UK from the Middle East, most famously the Qatari Royal Family's purchase of Harrods.
This influence will spread to the travel industry with tourists from the Middle East representing a significant opportunity for the UK because they have proved to be more resilient in recession. Statistics from CapGemini reveal there are more than 400,000 millionaires in the Middle East with a combined wealth of £950 billion.
Last year Middle East visitors spent £810 million in the UK according to tax-free shopping services specialist Global Blue and the company anticipates a significant increase this year.
Google may lose its power in travel industry
Mobile phone manufacturers are poised to take over from Google as the most powerful technological players in the European travel and tourism industry, reveals the WTM Global Trends Report.
Increasing smartphone penetration across Europe will drive a shift in power from search giants such as Google to smartphone developers and manufacturers.
Devices such as the iPhone and the development of location-based applications are already revolutionizing the travel industry, with smartphone penetration expected to reach 92% in Europe by 2014, according to Ovum, and mobile web browsing set to overtake PC internet access in the same year.
The increasing importance of mobile is likely to displace giants such as Google as consumers increasingly view social media such as Facebook as a portal to access all their information as well as seek to access travel via purpose built applications.
Smartphone Travel Usage Research from 2010 reveals 34% used their mobile device to find travel information, 29% to check reservations and 25% to book accommodation according to compete.com.
Space tourism are gaining momentum in S. Africa
The WTM Global Trends Report 2010 predicts astronomy and space tourism are gaining momentum in Africa, particularly South Africa, as recent investment paves the way for the continent to position itself as a leader in space science.
Africa has proved resilient to the global economic crisis and is one of the few tourism economies to show growth, with arrivals growing by 9.4% in 2010. South Africa in particular has emerged as the strongest destination for tourism after it hosted the FIFA World Cup this summer. South Africa's arrivals are three times larger than any other African country.
A number of hotel and other accommodation providers are already capitalizing on the opportunity astronomy presents with telescopes in bedrooms and night safaris and tours on offer.
On a more sophisticated level, South Africa is gearing up to play a major role in space exploration with the National Space Agency Act entering law last year. The destination is already home to the Southern African Large Telescope while the MeerKAT telescope facility is under construction, paving the way for further space exploration and tourism.
Latin America Focusing on Rural Tourism
Report says Latin America is switching its marketing focus from famous beaches to authentic off the beaten track breaks.
Latin American countries are famous for their breathtaking beaches - including Brazil's Copacabana and Mexico's Acapulco - but they are looking to switch their focus away from white tropical sand and picture postcard beach locations to more authentic in-town holiday experiences.
Brazil is keen to push the Pantanal - which includes the world's largest wetlands - through fam trips for tour operators and agents. Furthermore, Mexico has introduced its Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Village Programme).
So far, 23 villages have been granted the status by the Mexican Tourist Office for being a place of "symbolism, legends, history and day-to-day life".
Other regions are also raising their awareness and putting themselves at the forefront for specific types of holiday such as Chile's San Pedro de Atacama for stargazing and sandboarding and Colombia's Ciudad Perdida for adventure tourism and trekking. The dramatic rescue of the 33 trapped miners will catapult the Atacama Desert to international destination status.
Internal tourism providers such as hotels and transport businesses stand to benefit from the regional push as increasing visitors will help improve the overall infrastructure. The Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency is already improving transport links across the country.
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