What role have International Travel Organisations played on the evolution and growth of the air travel industry?

Answer 1

Tourism leaps and distortions: continuing growth in tourist flows as a source of environmental damage is facing new challenges worldwide. In the course of the globalization of economies and societies, tourism is also showing many indicators of development leaps and distortions: continuing growth in tourist flows as a source of environmental damage, new destinations and markets, with resulting increase in competition, risk of overcapacity, particularly in the key tourist areas of air traffic and accommodation, polarization and increased trend towards concentration among industry providers. There is also the expectation of growth in "man-made" travel and adventure environments worldwide and major expansion in tourist offerings and infrastructures (mega-events, leisure parks, transport systems) – with uncertain economic, social and ecological prospects. The growth rates predicted for tourism and its anticipated continuing expansion, with the associated potential for employment and macroeconomic welfare effects are, however, dependent on specific conditions, such as a growing world economy, low energy prices and a global decline in conflicts. The frameworks for and trends in tourism Globalization of the world economy The world economy is characterized by internationalization and globalization. So far, the dismantling of borders to production and trade has been concentrated on the group of developed countries in the OECD. This situation has been unaffected by the emergence of a number of Asian NICs. Within the OECD, trade is highly regionalized. Besides the international trading and production networks, regional ones are also emerging. Regional integration processes of this kind will probably continue and develop into free trade zones of increasing Tourism is facing new challenges worldwide. In the course of the globalization of economies and societies, tourism is also showing many indicators of development damage, new destinations and markets, with resulting increase in competition, risk of overcapacity, particularly in the key tourist areas of air traffic and accommodation, polarization and increased trend towards concentration among industry providers. There is also the expectation of growth in "man-made" travel and adventure environments worldwide and major expansion in tourist offers and infrastructures (mega-events, leisure parks, transport systems) – with uncertain economic, social and ecological prospects.