Industry experts see an overall decline in tourism arrivals for 2009 ranging from 2% to 5%, continuing the trend begun in mid-2008. This is after an average annual growth rate of 7% for the period 2004-2007. While the most mature destinations such as Europe and the United States are all seeing the most significant drop in visitors, it is the small countries dependent on foreign spending that are likely to suffer most in terms of impact on their economies and the available resources to finance the recovery. At the same time, analysts are seeing a boom in new tourism from China. Some 45 million Chinese travelled abroad in 2008 and China hopes to double that number by 2012.
Recognising both the sensitivity of tourism to national and global events, and its historically rapid rate of recovery, government and industry are exploring ways to overcome current declines in consumer confidence and spending on discretionary travel. PA Consulting Group strongly believes that investments made now will ensure that tourism operations and destinations are best positioned for the recovery.
PA is working with international agencies, host governments and industry leaders to:
-
improve the operations of current tourism business and increase the value added in tourism dominated economies
-
redevelop established tourism destinations in order to create the excitement for visitors to return to popular places
-
integrate sustainability into the design and development of new destinations.
To learn more about PA's sustainable tourism capability, please contact us now.
Find out more about how we support government and public services across the world:
Communities and local government, Defence, Education, Environment and climate change, Economic development and urban planning, Healthcare, Home affairs and justice, Postal Industry, Tax and welfare, Transportation
