Popis: |
The international tourism industry has had to face many challenges in the recent past. These include the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 as well as those in tourist destinations such as Bali and Egypt. In addition, tourism has been put under pressure by the lung disease SARS, the war in the Middle East and years of rising energy prices. The industry has also been marked by changes on both the supply and demand sides. The travel behaviour of many consumers has changed considerably. Some of the key factors characterising this change are: late bookings, increased price-consciousness, shorter holiday trips, the desire for more flexibility and individuality and the trend towards special and theme holidays. On the supply side, notable changes include the major success of the low-cost carriers and new distribution channels such as the Internet. All things considered, the tourism industry is looking back at turbulent times. |