Tourism Economic Impact Studies

Trade policy is often discussed in numbers. Duties. Percentages. Revenue projections. But tariffs also reach places the data does not immediately capture. Tourism is one of them. As new U.S. tariffs approach, coastal communities in Canada are already feeling the hesitation. ▶ American visitors are unsure whether they are welcome. ▶ Seasonal businesses face uncertainty before peak travel begins. ▶ Local economies that rely on cross border tourism absorb the risk early. These effects show up long before official data does. They influence bookings, supply access, and the confidence that keeps tourism driven regions operating. Tariffs may be written at the federal level, but their consequences surface locally. Often far from ports, factories, or customs filings. ➜ Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e5p9s-G3 #BenEngland #GlobalTrade #Tariffs #TourismIndustry #CrossBorderTrade #TradePolicy #EconomicImpact #SupplyChain #FDAImports

It’s been two years since the Ram Mandir’s consecration! And what it has brought to India goes far beyond faith. For decades, the Taj Mahal was the singular destination most associated with India’s cultural tourism. Since the Ram Mandir opened in January 2024, that centre of gravity has shifted in very tangible ways. In 2024, Ayodhya welcomed around 16.44 crore pilgrims and tourists, a record footfall that itself was a dramatic jump from previous years. Between January and June 2025, over 23.8 crore devotees and tourists visited Ayodhya, breaking all past records. And this surge isn’t isolated to Ayodhya. Across Uttar Pradesh, religious and cultural tourism has reshaped the state’s visitor patterns, contributing to its position as India’s most-visited destination. Faith-linked circuits from Prayagraj’s Mahakumbh to Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya’s Ram Temple have drawn unprecedented crowds and bolstered local economies. But what does this mean economically? Forecasts suggest Ayodhya’s tourism economy could generate around ₹18,000 crore by 2028, with annual tourism revenue already estimated between ₹8,000 crore and ₹12,500 crore. Not just Ayodhya, but there are expected substantial increases in Uttar Pradesh, with estimates of an additional impact of ₹20,000-₹25,000 crore. Local businesses, retail networks, informal services and artisans have seen demand rise as pilgrim traffic grows Two years on, the Ram Mandir is no longer just a site of faith. It has become a driver of movement, consumption, urban renewal and regional connectivity. Cultural resonance has found economic manifestation, and the convergence of infrastructure, pilgrimage, and experience is knitting Ayodhya into a broader national tourism narrative. As someone who has observed how a place can evolve so quickly, it feels like more than a milestone. It feels like a shift in how we understand destination building in India, rooted in tradition, but shaping modern economic geography.

€9 billion. That's the economic impact GetYourGuide travelers generated in Italy last year, according to research we recently presented at the Grande Brera in Milan. But here's what really moves me: while 75% of tourists typically visit only 4% of Italy's territory, our travelers are going well beyond the hotspots and city centers. We're helping travelers discover 867 municipalities across Italy. They're discovering hidden gems in small Tuscan villages, family-run trattorias in Sicily, and local mountain communities, and we're helping unlock economic opportunity for these destinations, regardless of their size. Here's what I'm most proud of in Italy:  💰 Our travelers spend €486 per day and stay 8.2 days on average — up to four times the national spending average  🛏️ 71% of travelers extend their trips by at least one night because of experiences they discover on our platform  🇮🇹 18.2% chose Italy specifically because of what GetYourGuide offers I'm lucky to have collected my fair share of passport stamps (it comes with the job 🤷♂️), but Italy will always be a particularly special place for me. It was in Italy where Tao Tao and I pivoted the initial iteration of GetYourGuide from a P2P business into a marketplace that sells professional tours. It's been forward movement ever since. That's why seeing our research prove that we're helping spread Italy's magic beyond the city centers — and that each €1 spent generates €1.58 in the local economy — feels deeply personal. We're not just helping travelers fall in love with places they never knew existed — we're supporting communities that have been welcoming visitors for generations, and honestly, that means everything to me. More in the comments ⤵️

"Everyone wants the tourism money but nobody wants to deal with the tourists" Is Tourism bad for cities / destinations? Today is the World Tourism Day, a good day to speak about the tourism impact in the world. The Instagramization of tourism and cheap flights we have seen the growth of mass tourism that is overtaking cities like Lisbon, Barcelona, Paris and others. At the same time as Lisbon is crowded most of the year, just 50 km away most of the tourism is suffering with high seasonality, not even sure if they can make it through the winter. Do we have too much tourism? Or a tourism that is too centralized and a tourism monoculture? Tourism helped rebuild the center of Lisbon, that was abandoned just 10 years ago. Tourism helped grow the Foreign Direct Investment in Portugal and grow the country from forgotten to a huge player in many markets. The issue is not the tourism. The challenge is the centralization and monoculture of the tourism. The lack of vision, planning and implementation from central governments and tourism boards is to blame in most of these overtourism cases. Barcelona is crowded but just 50km away Costa Brava is empty 9 months a year. Lisbon is crowded but the west and Algarve is empty 9 months per year. We need better planning, better implementation, less monoculture, and that will control the greed we see in many players in the sector that are destroying the destinations. Digital nomads are a part of the decentralization and end of monoculture. We travel during the low season, stay longer, promote the destination to the world and help bringing innovation to the destination. We see it in Madeira, Pipa, Rio, Bansko and in many other destinations who adapted to our market. What other solutions should we implement to end overtourism? #remote #WorldTourismDay #digitalnomads

₹1,00,000 crore. That’s the estimated economic activity generated in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturthi, in just 11 days. What began as a community festival in 1893, when Lokmanya Tilak turned private Ganpati rituals into public celebrations to unite people under British rule, has grown into one of India’s most significant cultural-economic events. A few numbers that blew my mind: Over 2.5 lakh idols are sold or installed in Mumbai every year, from small ₹500 home idols to ₹50 lakh centrepieces for public celebrations. The idol-making industry is worth ₹500+ crore, giving livelihoods to artisans across Maharashtra, Andhra, and Karnataka. Some of Mumbai’s biggest pandals collect ₹5–6 crore in cash donations alone. For local vendors - flowers, sweets, decor, lighting, food stalls, Ganpati season can make up nearly half their annual income. It’s interesting how a festival that started as a way to bring people together has now become one of the biggest drivers of Mumbai’s economy.

On paper, tourism is a fantastic source of income. People travel to your place to spend money on local goods and services, take some pictures and then leave again. In practice, (too many) visitors can deeply impact the lives of locals, for example by disrupting the housing market in a way that favours tourists over locals' ability to find an affordable home. The success of online short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com have prompted investors to buy up local property with the goal of renting it out to tourists throughout the year. It leaves locals with the short end of the stick: they pay higher rents or are unable to find anything they can afford. This has been the case in Antwerp and Brussels, for example, where rents have gone up more in neighbourhoods with a relatively high number of short-term rental homes, writes The Brussels Times. A study of one Brussels residential area found that rents went up 1.6% for every Airbnb per 100 households. Short-term rentals account for a quarter of tourist accommodation in the EU, according to the European Parliament. To limit their impact on local housing, the EU passed a law earlier this year that requires homestay platforms to share more data with local authorities to help them enforce the rules. Separately, cities have also taken action. In Amsterdam, private properties may only be rented out 30 days a year and they are obliged to mention their registration number in the advertisement. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of listings. At the same time, The Economist advises governments to think twice before they kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. The Greek, Portuguese and Spanish economies, all with huge tourism sectors, grew by more than 2% last year, which is significantly higher than the EU average of 0.4%. Rather than deter foreign visitors, policymakers should try to "make tourism work" by, for example, using the proceeds of tourist taxes on infrastructure and housing to improve the lives of locals and better accommodate holidaymakers.   Amsterdam's estimated €240m tourist tax revenue is said to go to infrastructure, culture, cleaning services and law enforcement, according to National Geographic. Do you think governments should restrict the inflow of tourists or should they simply be better managed, for example, by investing more in housing and transport infrastructure? ✍️ Pieter Cranenbroek 📷 Getty Images Sources: The Brussels Times https://lnkd.in/dpXuABxt European Parliament https://lnkd.in/dXFNs6P9 The Economist https://lnkd.in/d-_3hkjW National Geographic https://lnkd.in/dhhtSv-a

How AI Can Support Sustainable Tourism Efforts in Africa Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize sustainable tourism efforts in Africa by enhancing efficiency, providing innovative solutions, and improving decision-making processes. Some of the many areas AI can support are : Environmental Monitoring: AI can process data from satellite imagery, drones, and IoT sensors to monitor environmental conditions in real time. This includes tracking wildlife movements, detecting deforestation, and assessing the health of ecosystems. Visitor Behavior Analysis: AI can analyze patterns in visitor behavior and preferences, allowing for better management of tourist flows and minimizing environmental impacts. For example, AI algorithms can predict peak tourist periods and suggest alternative destinations to reduce overcrowding. It is also important to address issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the digital divide is crucial to ensure that AI's application in sustainability is fair and inclusive. Nonetheless, the intersection of AI and sustainability offers promising solutions with potential.

Examining the drivers of economic movement is what our in-house experts at the Mastercard Economics Institute do best. Kicking off their new research series, Eventful Economy: Impact Uncovered, the team measured the real economic impact of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour across 20 U.S. cities - and what we are calling "The Swift Lift."     With insights at the zip code level and interactive visuals, the report reveals that the singer-songwriter sensation delivered an extraordinary sales boost to restaurants, accommodations and inbound tourism.     While there is no one quite like Miss Swift, this story is one of consumer resiliency and speaks to the continued prioritization of experiences-based spending. Bravo to Michelle Meyer and her team. Looking forward to what else is in store for 2024.   Check out the report here: https://rb.gy/h8myuj

From Revenge Travel to Intentional Journeys: What’s Next for Hospitality? For years now, industry experts have been predicting the decline of "revenge travel"—that post-pandemic travel boom where people rushed to make up for lost time. And yet, 2024 turned out to be another record-breaking year for global tourism. Airlines like Emirates are adamant that demand isn’t fading. “I've never seen anything as strong.” its Presindent said. But while the travel appetite remains robust, we are seeing shifts. Travelers are evolving, priorities are changing, and the way people spend on flights, accommodation, and experiences is becoming more strategic. The era of impulse-driven revenge travel is making way for a more intentional and value-conscious approach. The Shift in Travel Spending: Who’s Holding Back and Who’s Doubling Down? According to Skyscanner, 70% of global travelers plan to spend the same or more on flights in 2025 compared to 2024. Demand is strongest in #India, #UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil, where more than half of respondents plan to increase their travel budgets. Meanwhile, in North America and #Europe, there’s a growing sentiment of caution. Many travelers are planning to keep spending flat or even reduce budgets, opting for shorter trips or more affordable accommodation. With Western travelers becoming more budget-conscious, serviced apartments and aparthotels are seeing a surge in demand. These offer: ✅ Longer stays with more flexibility ✅ The ability to self-cater and manage costs ✅ A mix of home-style comfort and hotel-level service At the same time, hospitality players must recognize that value-seeking doesn’t mean cheap travel. Priceline’s latest US travel report suggests a rise in experience-driven, cost-conscious travelers—people who still want quality, but who are now using smarter spending strategies to maximize their trips. The days of "traveling at any cost" may be over, but the desire to explore remains strong. However, how people travel is changing: -Slow travel & mindful tourism -Small-town & regional travel -Eco-conscious choices What this means for Hoteliers and Travel brands 1️⃣ Agility is key—Hotels and travel brands must quickly adapt to shifting traveler behavior. Fixed assumptions about revenge travel no longer apply. 2️⃣ Flexibility wins—Aparthotels and serviced apartments will continue to thrive, offering guests options to balance comfort, cost, and longer stays. 3️⃣ Personalization is the new premium—Travelers want experiences that feel customized and meaningful. Those who offer tailored services—whether through digital tech or hands-on guest engagement—will come out ahead. 4️⃣ Beyond the big cities—Secondary destinations and hidden gems will attract more visitors as over-tourism concerns drive travelers away from the most crowded hotspots. Are you ready for the next phase of travel? Torres Hospitality Consulting Oaky Revenue Growth Global Revenue Forum - Madrid

Recently, I stayed at one of the most beautiful properties I've ever experienced, a luxury retreat tucked into the Northern Rivers hinterland. It wasn't just the architecture or the setting, though both were spectacular. It was the way it made you feel. The attention to detail, the locally sourced breakfast that felt like art on a plate, the way CBD luxury translated seamlessly into regional hospitality. You felt looked after in a way that big hotels, no matter how expensive, rarely achieve. The operator knew what travellers were seeking, that blend of sophistication and authenticity, of escape without compromising on comfort. It crystallised something I'd been seeing in the data but hadn't fully appreciated until I experienced it firsthand. This style of accommodation luxury farm stays, boutique rural retreats, places that offer five-star service alongside paddock-to-plate dining, represents one of the most compelling opportunities in Australian tourism property right now. Agritourism is now a $20.3 billion sector in Australia. The visitors engaging with these experiences spend nearly double what typical travellers spend. The sector grew 10% in visitor nights last year, well ahead of overall tourism. International trips involving agritourism surged 15%. Three in four agritourism trips visit regional Australia, driving demand for premium accommodation in places like the Northern Rivers, the Scenic Rim, and Margaret River. As I look at this photo from my stay, I'm reminded that behind every data point about high-spending agritourism visitors, there's someone creating something remarkable in a regional location. Someone backing themselves to offer something different. Full analysis in the article below ⬇️