COMCEC Tourism Outlook-2018
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shared usage platforms is changing the tourism marketplace and giving people new options for
where to stay, what to do and how to get around. Sharing economy platforms have adopted
different business models, some of which closely resemble traditional tourism activities, while
others appeal to users’ sense of community (OECD, 2016).
This rapid growth of the sharing economy is placing pressure on existing tourism policy
frameworks. This requires a balanced, informed approach, which considers all interests. Tourist
protection, safety and quality assurance frameworks are important factors to translate to the
sharing economy model. Taxing and regulation of sharing economy and impact on residents are
other challenges to be dealt by legislative bodies. Governments should make sure that they
capture the opportunity to stimulate innovation and support the development of tourism, while
addressing the challenges it poses for the traditional tourism sector and the impacts on society
(OECD, 2016).
Governments are recommended to modernize policy and regulatory approaches, re-think policy
incentives, better understand the policy environment and test new approaches, utilize the data,
strengthen data collection and research on the impacts of the sharing economy on tourism and
local communities (OECD, 2016). Increased local planning, management and marketing of
destination and regional leadership and institutionalization in tourism through DMOs at
destination level also emerge as a necessity (Edgell, 2015).
Economic, social and environmental costs and benefits have to be balanced in order to ensure
the long-term sustainable development of tourism. Sustainable tourism development requires
the participation of all relevant stakeholders at the destination level including and engaging
particularly the locals.
International Tourist Arrivals
According to the UNWTO (2018a), international tourist arrivals grew by 7% in 2017, and
reached 1.322 million tourists. Despite occasional shocks, international tourist arrivals have
shown virtually uninterrupted growth – from 277 million in 1980 to 529 million in 1995 and
1.322 million in 2017 (UNWTO, 2018a). 2017 was the eighth consecutive year of above-average
growth (more than 4%) in international tourism following the 2009 global economic crisis.
Despite ongoing geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges in various regions of the
world, demand continued to be strong in most of the destinations.
Tourism flows were influenced by three major factors in 2016 and 2017. These were
fluctuations in exchange rates, decline in the price of oil and other commodities which increased
disposable income in importing countries but weakened demand in exporting countries and
increased global concern about safety and security in some destinations (UNWTO, 2017a).
The strong momentum in growth is expected to continue in 2018 based on 2017 and is expected
to be 4-5%, above the UNWTO’s long term projections (for 2030: +3.8% a year on average
between 2010 and 2020). International tourist arrivals already grew by 6% between January
and April 2018, compared to same period of last year. UNWTO forecasts international tourist
arrivals to increase by 4% to 5% over the full year 2018 (UNWTO, 2018a). Arrivals to Europe
and Americas are both expected to rise by 3,5-4,5%, Asia and the Pacific by 5-6%, Africa by 5-
7% and Middle East by 4-6% in 2018.