Tourism Reimagined: The Impact of Geopolitics on Global Travel Trends
The advent of technology and the upcoming stiff competition has revolutionized the tourism industry in the world and it has been mainly achieved due to geo-political factors. As a content in my line of work for about ten years, I have witnessed firsthand of how elections have resulted to change of governments with different ideologies and policies which has greatly altered the traveling patterns. This particular blog will tackle the subject of travel from the point of view of spatial politics and geography, that is, how these relations and spaces are reshaping the direction we are heading to – where we go, how we go, and what do we go for.
The ever-changing political structures and affiliations define the places, how and when people travel. Politics; whether in the form of war, diplomatic relations and even the existence of conflict has determined the movement of human beings. The Arab Uprisings during the early years of the twenty first century undoubtedly altered the tourism dynamics in most places in North Africa and the Middle East. Places that used to boast of tourists now were faced with very low numbers of people visiting due to the fear of insecurity. Other places however, were on the receiving end as more and more people started looking for new tourist sites in places regarded as peaceful.
Nowadays, geopolitics might have a bigger influence on travel but the impact is rather more subtle. It is expected that the traveler's demand when on vacation aligns with his or her principles. The trend of travelers becoming more aware of social and political issues is further defined as the increasing amounts of people practicing conscious travel. For example, many travelers are beginning to prefer going to places that exhibit a key focus on sustainability and ethical concerns. Such a trend is not only a reaction to global problems like climate change or inequality but also a need for deeper and more significant ties with cultures and communities around the world. As a consequence, the travel market is undergoing a transformation and regions where practices of responsible travel are dominant are gaining the greater market share and determining travel patterns.
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the influence of geopolitics in regards to international tourism. With countries trying to deal with the health crisis, travel bans were placed which were at times dictated by foreign relations and the safety of the nation. The travel bans and closure of borders altered the entire frame of international travel and brought to light how vulnerable the tourism industry is as a result of international politics. As countries started to open up, emphasis was put on travel protocols, nation and family protectives along with vaccines making for a new dimension in travel that supports safety, as well as, adventure.
In addition, the changing geopolitics in different parts of the world have given birth to new travel habits and patterns. As an example, people have started working from locations that were more or less impossible to go to. Freed to conduct business wherever they please, people are now opting to stay in countries they may have ignored before for the long run. This strengthens the trend that is already being seen – that of digital nomadism – by remodelling the interaction with travelling as catering for longer periods and nurturing more remote staff members.
In countering such challenges including globalisation, watching the transformational effect of technology on travels would also be worthwhile. Traveler’s reliance on travel guides, brick and mortar agencies, and even offline word of mouth is quickly becoming a thing of the past due to travel Apps and social media. Such ubiquity of information changes the dynamics of travel – now travelers have more options and can plan their trips based on political situations across the globe. Social media pages and travel blogs today enjoy a lot of attention with people wanting to know more about places from these influencers rather than tourist boards, taking into consideration everything within its cultural and historical setting.
The increase in ‘revenge travel’ post pandemic is something else too to observe. Since there had been travel restrictions and lockdowns, plenty of travelers are interested in making the most out of their international travels even at the expense of local traveling opportunities. Thankfully, though, that spike in traveling comes with some issues. There are regions that were regarded as go to places that are now seemingly suffering from over tourism, whereas the other parts that were financially affected by pandemic are now in the bounce back phase. Therefore, the equilibrium between enhancement of tourism and protection of indigenous cultures and sites has never been more critical than now.
When battle lines are drawn between geopolitics and travel, balance shifts and some of the experiences that we as travelers are likely to have become different. Dealing with this seemingly new type of tourism context, it would also be worthwhile to remember the context of tourism itself while traveling. Recognizing the political and historical realities can add a great deal to tourism and thus reasoning in more depth about the visited places. Moving on to the future, let us try to view the concept of tourism not solely as a surplus activity but as a means for enhancing internationalization and sustainability in the world which is constantly transforming.