What global trends are challenging tourism organizations and destinations today? Strategic question overview

Abstract

Purpose

The main aim of this paper is to introduce the articles of this theme issue and explain the pertinence of the strategic question.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief context for the strategic question is provided, as well as the issue alignment and a content analysis of the articles selected.

Findings

The profile of current and future tourists is changing. Travel consumers now want and expect accurate information to guide their choices, and these are increasingly based on quality, experimentation, willingness to undertake active holidays and to travel to sites with diverse and unique tourism products.

Practical implications

Collectively, the articles in this theme issue provide rich insights on key trends impacting the worldwide tourism industry, as well as suggestions on how to explore the opportunities arising from the highly competitive tourism markets. Proposals on scanning the tourism business environment are also presented and their importance discussed and illustrated.

Originality/value

From various angles of analysis, the final articles for this issue explore the trends and issues affecting the tourism industry, as well as approaches to scan the tourism business environment.

Citation

Costa, J., Montenegro, M. and Gomes, J. (2016), "What global trends are challenging tourism organizations and destinations today? Strategic question overview", Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 8 No. 6, pp. 620-624. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-09-2016-0055