Changing Leisure
Patterns
How human development
processes give rise to
leisure activities
Patterns and Trends in Tourism
International tourist arrivals
contributes:
10% of global GDP,
7% of global trade and
10% of global employment
(UNWTO, 2017).
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM - GLOBALLY
SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNWTO
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation
• “In countries at all development levels, many millions of
jobs and businesses are dependent on a strong and thriving
tourism sector.
• Tourism jobs empower people and provide a chance to have
a stake in their own societies – often for the first time.
• Tourism has also been a driving force in protecting natural
and cultural heritage, preserving them for future
generations to enjoy”
Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili
https://www.unwto.org/
The growth in tourism - 2024
• 1.5 billion international tourists in 2019.
• Demand slowed in advanced economies , particularly in Europe
due to uncertainty surrounding Brexit, geopolitical and trade
tensions, and the global economic slowdown. Several travel
companies and low cost airlines in Europe also collapsed including
Thomas Cooke.
• In 2020 Covid impacted demand and widespread travel restriction
shut down travel and tourism, dropping 74% with 1 billion fewer
international arrivals in 2020 than in the previous year.
• This compares with the 4% decline recorded during the 2009
global economic crisis.
• It is now showing sustained growth again and returning to pre
pandemic levels.
• There were 1.4 billion international tourists (overnight visitors) in
2024, an increase of 11% over 2023, despite economic,
Welcome to UNToursim | UN Tourism accessed 21/4/25
January 2023 - Flybe collapses and cancels all flights, with hundreds of jobs lost
https://news.sky.com/story/british-airline-flybe-ceases-all-trading-and-cancels-scheduled-flights-12797178
The world’s oldest travel company, Thomas Cook, collapsed in 2019,
sparking the largest peacetime repatriation effort in British history, with about
600,000 people including 150,000 Britons abroad at the time of the collapse.
The company, which failed to secure a deal with creditors or a government
bailout, ran hotels, resorts and airlines for 19 million people a year.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-airlines-collapse-factbox-idUSKBN1ZD1I3 accessed 30/1/2023
World Tourism Barometer : January 2025 | UN Tourism
Source: UN Tourism | World Tourism
Organization © • % change over 2019
| *Preliminary figures
Data as collected by UN Tourism,
January 2025. Published: 20/01/2025
Regional growth in arrivals 2024 –the graph shows
• The Middle East (+29% compared to 2019) had record growth while
Europe (+1%) and Africa (+6%) also exceeded 2019 levels.
• The Americas recovered 97% of its pre-pandemic arrivals (-3% over
2019).
• Asia and the Pacific reached 85% of 2019 levels as compared to a 66%
recovery in 2023. Asia and the Pacific has experienced a gradual though
uneven rebound in arrivals since the region reopened to international
travel in 2023.
• The summer season in the Northern Hemisphere was generally strong,
with arrivals worldwide reaching 99% of pre-pandemic values in Q3
2024.
• A total of 60 out of 111 destinations surpassed 2019 arrival numbers in
the first eight to nine months of 2024. Some of the strongest performers
in arrivals during this period were Qatar (+141% versus 2019), Albania
(+77%), Saudi Arabia (+61%), Curaçao (+48%), Tanzania (+43%),
Colombia and Andorra (both +36%).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=DROwQVgdcLk
Patterns in tourism
• This growth has not been evenly spread over
time or space. The map on the next slide
shows the changes in global tourism by
region.
• Which region do you think has most
international travelers?
Easier to be an
international
tourist in Europe
– many
countries
Trends in Tourism
• All regions experience growth, but some will
grow faster than others [see next slide]
Fastest growth in Asia and the
Pacific.
However, there have been dips:
early 2000s - terrorism concerns made people not
want to travel
2009 - global economic crisis as wages and job
security caused people to not travel.
Detail –Population Growth and
Family Size:
8 billion people- more go on holiday
Smaller family size in most developed countries -
easier and cheaper to take holidays.
Detail - (Paid) Holidays:
Laws stating that companies have to give their
employees paid leave.
EU – minimum paid holiday is 28 days
[with weekends almost 6 weeks]
Detail - Advertising:
• Bill boards, magazines, TV and online
and growth of TV programs about holiday
destinations
• awareness of new destinations
persuades us to visit new places.
Nuayaca Waterfall
New Destinations:
communication and transport improvements
makes it easier to hear about and travel to,
more remote destinations
Antarctica and the Amazon Rainforest are now
common destinations.
Detail - Credit cards:
Easier purchase of holiday and paying for things in
different countries - no safety issue with large
amounts of cash or exchanging currencies
[hotels, online flights, take local currency out of
ATMs].
Supply:
• Greater supply of tourist facilities and
attractions worldwide – (more
hotels/restaurants/accessible sites/parks)
• Can be due to a deliberate government policy to
encourage tourism.
• Technology has increased the accessibility of
new places through better transport and
information systems.
• Greater level of international securityso
tourism is now offered to more destinations
worldwide.
Accommodation:
Improvements in the quality and quantity of
accommodation
More people are now comfortable about
traveling abroad.
Wide choice of options:
Resorts:
• Large-scale usually on coast.
• Cater for package holidays, often all inclusive
[ food, drinks, water sports and entertainment
included in the one price – Barcelo Tambor.]
• Some resorts cater more for families, while
others may cater for couples and
honeymooners.
Hotel:
• Range from large TNC owned brand hotels
(hundreds of rooms) to smaller independent
hotels.
• Internet facilitated the attraction of
international tourists to even small hotels
[own websites, e-mail addresses and reviewed
on sites like TripAdvisor.]
Hostel (Dorm):
• More basic, aim for budget travellers - back
packers.
• Shared bathrooms and sometimes shared
rooms. Rooms with multiple occupants -
dorms.
http://www.kismetdao.com/
Bed and Breakfast (B&B):
• B&B's - usually a converted house run by a
family living in the same house
• small and intimate and offer a personal
service - provide a bed and breakfast!
http://www.roystonguesthouse.com/
Boutique Hotels:
• Independent or owned by a multi-national.
Limited number of rooms, usually designed
along a theme making it unique.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/
Hotel_Review-g312658-d1734969-
Reviews-Sea_Five_Boutique_Hotel-
Camps_Bay_Western_Cape.html
Caravans:
• Towed behind a car and taken to various
places - only possible in regions with good
road networks e.g. Europe.
• Static caravans are placed in one location -
often not owned by individuals but rented.
Tents:
• Traditionally tents - budget option.
• Recently permanent tent sites have emerged
and luxury camping is popular - “glamping”.
http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/3873/Paperbark_Camp_Luxury_Tent.jpg 11/5/14
Airbnb
Detail - Transport:
relative cost of transport has fallen and easier to move
between countries
increase in Car ownership
new train networks and airports
emergence of low-cost airlines [removed added extras like
airport check-in, in-flight meals, checked baggage and seat
selection.]
Effect : people can go on more holidays and also go on
weekend breaks.
Booking:
Booking flights and Travel agents or
hotels is now much online to book their
easier. own flights and
hotels and flights
either directly or
through agents.
Can view customer reviews (www.tripadvisor.com)
- assess the quality of hotels, tours, etc.
Communication:
Technology makes keeping in contact easier.
Update your status on X, Facebook, Instagram
or Whatsapp, Facetime, Skype, send an e-mail
or text
inform family where you are or what you are
doing
