Overtourism causes environmental damage, declines local quality of life, and leads to various negative consequences worldwide.

The tourism industry contributes 8% to global emissions, causing degradation of natural areas, habitats, and rising temperatures in tourist destinations.

Tenerife, Barcelona, and Venice are experiencing negative impacts from overtourism, including strain on services, water restrictions, and rising local costs.

Overtourism can lead to social impacts like gentrification, as seen in Amsterdam and Barcelona, where new hotels and rentals are restricted.

Social media is a key factor in overtourism, as it creates sudden overcrowding by focusing on specific hotspots.

Decentralizing transportation and adopting a "quality over quantity" tourism strategy can help mitigate overtourism.

Addressing overtourism requires balancing economic benefits with environmental and community needs.

Technology can help manage overtourism and promote sustainable tourism practices.

Virtual reality technology can reduce overtourism by providing virtual tours that decrease physical visitors.

Small island developing states must balance tourism's economic benefits with environmental protection and community well-being.

Data analytics and digital platforms are crucial for sustainable tourism management in small island states, enabling evidence-based planning.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning can optimize sustainable tourism by automating tasks and personalizing offers.

Blockchain technology can promote sustainable tourism by securely tracking tourism-related data like carbon footprints.

Managing overtourism requires a comprehensive approach that considers economic, social, and environmental impacts and leverages technology to mitigate negative effects.

Overtourism causes environmental damage, declines local quality of life, and leads to various negative consequences worldwide.

Title:

Content: Point of view
Lin Chi-yin
Lin Chi-yin: "Traveling Everywhere" and "Over-Travel"
Earlier, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Hsia Baolong, advocated the concept of “travel everywhere ” to fully explore Hong Kong ’ s tourism resources.
To speed up the implementation of the concept, the authorities are planning to set up a "special class" to bring together people inside and outside the Government for in-depth discussions.
In recent days, officials and legislators have expressed their views on the development of "red tourism", exploring new spots in the community, beautifying the streets, and presenting some scenes in the movies.
Simply put, it may be the story behind the attraction, or the accumulated word of mouth on social media, and every tree and grass anywhere can become a tourist attraction.
Of course, the author hopes that the "class" can launch various new ideas; and since the task of the class is to implement the concept of "travel everywhere", then how to implement the concept is the best for Hong Kong, the industry, the community and the public, the class can not ignore.
The University of Hong Kong campus has been forced by tourists, and the school has implemented reservation measures this month.
HKU itself has a complete management structure, and the university can still implement crowd control according to the situation. However, if some scenic spots that go deep into the community or even close to residential buildings are really "red hot", it may not be easy to implement crowd control.
“Everywhere travel ” is a concept, the key to implementation lies in the ability of the authorities to foresee problems. If you rely only on“ see and see ”, it is very likely that good things will turn into bad things.
“Aggressive ” Travel
In 2018, the word “overtourism ” was chosen as the Oxford English Dictionary ’ s word of the year, referring to the negative effects of overloading the area, declining quality of life and environmental damage caused by the influx of tourists to tourist attractions.
For example, Venice, Italy, which has long been affected by “overtourism ”, is not a“ once in a lifetime ” – the local population is only 50,000, and the number of daily tourists has exceeded the local population; during peak season, the number of daily visitors has even doubled.
I have friends who visited the place more than a decade ago, and they all agreed to say that people are crowded and will not go again.
In addition to Venice, some European cities or small islands with a tourism-led economy (such as the Canarias in Spain) also face the problem of job opportunities, high prices, and a homogenization of shops. Multinational companies invest heavily in hotels and holiday cottages, which also lead to higher rents, which locals can ’ t afford.
Even if tourism brings a lot of jobs to the region, it does not mean that the average person can earn a living wage.
People in these places understand the importance of tourism to the local economy, but they do not want the tourism industry to be unlimited, resulting in the resources of the whole place are only for the service of tourists.
"Tourism Hazards" and How to Deal with them
In Japanese society after the epidemic, a similar term, "tourism nuisance", has also appeared to describe problems such as traffic, noise, nuisance, and garbage pollution caused by too many tourists.
This phenomenon, in addition to the popularity of exchange rates, affordable air tickets, and people's desire to travel after the epidemic, social media will also have the effect of focusing on specific hot spots.
In the era of image-led, everyone can follow the picture, some places that were not originally planned as tourist attractions have begun to face sudden overcrowding.
Hong Kong people who love to visit Japan will not be unfamiliar with two “attractions ”: the Daokou near Enojima Electric Railway ’ s Kamakura University Station, and a Lawson convenience store in Kawaguchi-cho.
The former is the "holy place" of the popular manga "When Men are in the bottle". In recent years, the crossing has been congested with traffic due to frequent visits by tourists to "punch", local people can not get on the electric train, and some tourists are dangerous for taking good photos. Lawson is also a "punch" attraction, and the picture is a convenience store with a beautiful view of Mount Fuji. of tourists are constantly crossing the road and parking without permission, causing local residents to feel troubled.
Too many tourists can also lead to a decline in the quality of service, even in Japan, which values the spirit of “work people ”.
When I visited Japan last year, I saw some shops find ways to deal with “tourism hazards ” on their own, such as not allowing diners to take photos in the store, so that after the photos are uploaded to social media, it will cause more people to come and see them; limiting the number of diners to the number of people that the staff can serve, even if the seats are not full.
However, some tourists always find it difficult to understand the intentions behind these arrangements, and I have heard some tourists complain: "Obviously there is still a place, why not let us sit?"
When these conflicts can no longer be handled by businesses and residents themselves, how to strike a balance between “tourism ” and“ public nuisance ” will gradually become a policy issue.
The most extreme way to deal with it is to “eliminate ” popular attractions – coincidentally, the authorities of Kawaguchiko recently erected a 20-meter-long and 2.5-meter-high“ black curtain ” in front of Lawson to drive away tourists who came to take photos.
The reason why the authorities have to take extreme measures is that management alone can not prevent tourists from rushing out of the road, which is actually to "play the spot".
In addition, there are more and more tourist cities and hotspots charging tourists "admission fees" or "admission fees", but this method can not play a large role.
In Venice, for example, the city has been charging a 5 euro entry fee (about HK $42) to “overnight ” travelers since last month.
However, these fees simply cannot curb the huge demand for tourists, and the revenue is mainly used as a financial source to cope with "excessive travel", which can only cure the symptoms, not the root cause.
The Real Meaning of “Travel Everywhere ”
At this point, some people may point out that the above problems will only become problems if we succeed in attracting tourists to Hong Kong; what we have to focus on is how to get more people to come to Hong Kong.
However, how much tourism can bring to a city depends on the management and policies of the city, not on the remedial measures that can be taken.
Although the share of tourism industry in Hong Kong's economy is far less than that of the "tourist city" mentioned above, Hong Kong can't wait to see that other places are looking for countermeasures for the "tourism nuisance", and even start to turn to attack, redefine the tourism industry from the planning level and actively promote tourist education.
In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for example, the government announced last month that it would ban new hotels and limit the number of cruise ships to return the city to a livable and tourism-friendly city. In Kamakura, Japan, people are no longer concentrated at certain points by decentralizing transportation (such as the launch of electric tricycle rental business) and proactively promoting multiple circumnavigation routes (such as the travel routes at 13 locations of Kamakura Shogunate).
The main disadvantage of post-event remediation is that the difficulty and cost of solving the problem are greatly increased, which will also affect the experience of tourists. More than 10 years ago, the North District of Hong Kong also experienced a pharmacy every few steps, and the situation of residents in the North District driving out water consignors on their own, which hurt the feelings of the people of the two places.
In particular, there are many policy issues that can be foreseen in advance, and we do not have to go through them personally before we know what the problem is (for example, the legal problems faced by cleaners under the garbage levy will not be known until the moment of trial).
Since there is a great deal of experience and policy measures in various places to refer to, the “Special Class ” must also strike a balance between tourism and city operations when formulating tourist routes and supporting packages, otherwise the attraction will only lead to losses. After the city of Kamakura solved the problem of overcrowding of tourists, the tourism industry representative of Kanagawa Prefecture (that is, the seat of Kamakura City) pointed out:“ Attraction is not tourism. ” The amount of time it takes to win is certainly not appropriate.
“Travel Everywhere ” is not just about adding tourist attractions, but promoting quality tourism in a more nuanced and proactive way to avoid problems.
The author is a public policy consultant.
■ Articles
1.
Forum version is open park, welcome to submit.
Forum articles are limited to 2300 words. Please email to forum @ mingpao.com, fax: 2898 3783.
2. The editor of this paper reserves the right to delete the article based on the space limit, but in order to maintain the main points and positions of the article as the principle; if you do not want the article to be deleted, please indicate.
3.
Please attach the author's real name and contact information (can be published under a pen name), please do not submit one manuscript twice; if not applicable, without prior notice, except for those with postage return, this paper will not return the manuscript.
4.
Note to Contributors: Once an article is published, we have exclusive local rights to publish the article in Chinese. This right also includes the right to republish the article in local and overseas media (including electronic media, such as Internet sites).
In addition, we have the right to grant the right to use the copy of the article to the relevant copying authorizing companies and organizations.
The above rights in this paper do not affect the copyright of the contributor and their rights and interests.
(Criticism of current affairs articles published by this website is aimed at pointing out errors or deficiencies in relevant systems, policies or measures, with the aim of correcting or eliminating such errors or deficiencies, and improving them through lawful means, with no intention of inciting hatred, dissatisfaction or hostility towards the Government or other communities)
[Lin Chi-yin]
Previous / Next News

The tourism industry contributes 8% to global emissions, causing degradation of natural areas, habitats, and rising temperatures in tourist destinations.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
The Guardian: Tourism contributes significantly to the climate crisis
It is a terrible paradox of the climate crisis that some of the most beautiful – and popular – places in the world are also the most vulnerable, especially as most of them have poor infrastructure, which means that with rising temperatures, increasing weather extremes, drying up water sources and the death of natural habitats, these places face another devastating loss, especially tourists.
Tourism contributes significantly to the climate crisis – around 8% of global emissions – and hordes of visitors cause many problems, including excessive development and degradation of natural areas.
The revenue generated by tourists can bring enormous economic benefits to these destinations, and many do not own other forms of industry or otherwise rely on extractive industries such as mining or logging.
She added that tourism can also spread awareness of environmental problems, such as bleaching coral reefs or endangered animal species, and provide funding for conservation efforts.
This complex relationship was highlighted during the coronavirus outbreak, when tourism stopped, carbon emissions dropped, wildlife flourished, and leatherback turtles in Thailand laid the largest number of eggs in two decades, but all this has come at a cost, with the global tourism industry taking a heavy toll, triggering an emergency in developing countries, families struggling to find food, illegal logging in some places has increased, and overfishing has increased.
As the rebuilding of tourism begins, it has become impossible to ignore that the future of the industry is inextricably linked to the climate crisis.
Instead of becoming a major cause of the climate crisis, tourism can be used to raise awareness, increase tourism resources and improve infrastructure.

Tenerife, Barcelona, and Venice are experiencing negative impacts from overtourism, including strain on services, water restrictions, and rising local costs.

Title:

Content: 'I live in Tenerife - we've had enough of ignorant tourists keeping us up until 3am'

Fed-up locals in Tenerife are gearing up to march against unsustainable mass tourism next month.

By Alice Scarsi, World News Reporter

Fed up locals in Tenerife will take part in a march against overtourism in April (Image: GETTY-STOCK)

Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists in 2023.

Data shared by the local Chamber of Commerce revealed more than 6.5 million people arrived on the island in 2023.

Most notably, the number of arrivals - around five million of which were international - was 600,000 higher than that recorded in 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the tourism sector worldwide.

While tourism remains a vital sector for the island's economy, the mass arrivals have become more than a nuisance for many residents.

The large demand for short-term accommodations is one of the factors pushing up the cost of properties and rent, forcing many locals out of their homes and cities.

Particularly in southern Tenerife, some unable to pay rent had to relocate to shanty towns, motorhomes and tents.

Mass tourism is also placing local services and infrastructure under immense strain.

Moreover, as local municipalities are introducing stringent water restrictions amid a drought emergency, residents fear masses of tourists may worsen the situation on the island.

These, however, aren't the only challenging aspects of overtourism.

Josua Garcia-Garcia, 33, who works in a bar in Playas de las Americas, lamented the disregard for rules and lack of manners displayed by some visitors.

Tenerife welcomed a record-breaking number of tourists last year (Image: GETTY-STOCK)

He told the Olive Press: "It can be a nightmare when the tourists come, I only get four hours of sleep every night because of the music and noise, which keeps me up until 3am. We need stricter rules for tourists, a lot of them are ignorant of how we are suffering."

British expat Alex Kelly, 20, who works in the Rejoyce bar in Las Playas de Las Americas, said life in Tenerife has become "tough" in recent years.

Speaking about the eye-watering costs of long-term accommodations, she added: "I’m living with my boyfriend in his parents’ home because we can’t afford to move out.

"I totally get the viewpoint of the anti-tourism people, a lot of young people feel that way, the prices are crazy."

Despite many acknowledging that mass tourism is an increasing issue for Tenerife, other locals realise it is a necessary evil, as much of the economy of the island is based on it.

The frustration expressed by many locals will be publicly voiced next month.

Organisers of the protest taking place on April 20 - many of whom are groups focused on safeguarding the environment - will protest under the slogan "The Canary Islands have a limit. For a change of the model!

Their aim is to highlight how in their opinion the current tourism model has "overwhelmed" the island.

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?

Title:

Content: It was easy to look away when local protesters sprayed water on surprised tourists snacking on pavement cafes on a recent sunny afternoon in Barcelona, one of Europe ’ s best summer destinations.
But the anti-tourism demonstration here was also a telling snapshot – and a warning – of rising tensions on the continent and beyond, where record travel levels this summer are colliding with climate change, social disparities and capacity even in the most visitor-friendly cities.
If you think the world ’ s tourist hotspots are already saturated, think again – specifically the hitherto untapped markets for international travelers from China and India.
For decades, tourism has been growing around the world, and its impact has varied disproportionately in Europe, especially in the solar belt region of southern Europe.
Barcelona, a magical place whose popularity has skyrocketed since hosting the Olympics 32 years ago, is an example.
In 1990, the overcrowded city of Barcelona, with a population of 1.6 million, hosted less than two million tourists.
This year, city officials expect nearly 13 million arrivals, representing about 38 million tourist nights.
As a result, rents in the city have risen by almost 70% in a decade.
Nearly 150,000 people work in tourism jobs in Barcelona, but many cannot live in the city.
Similar concerns surround Lisbon, Athens, Las Palmas, Ibiza and other major destinations, as these cities are the victims of their tourism-revenue success, but increasingly fear the loss of working-class residents, neighborhood grocery stores — and their lives.
No European city has seen as much tourist density as Venice, where 70% of its population has been driven out since the 1950s, and more than 20 million visitors a year are crowded into the three-square-mile city.
Venice this year imposed an entrance fee of $5.30 on day visitors, a gesture that seems futile.
Reactions and protests by locals against tourist waves are intensifying – not only in southern Europe, but also in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Seoul and elsewhere.
In Barcelona, where tourism was almost universally viewed as positive 15 years ago, nearly a quarter of the population now say it has brought negative impacts.
In Barcelona, I spoke with Jordi Valls, the city ’ s deputy mayor for economy, taxation, economic promotion and tourism, who took office last year.
He soon decided that tourism, which accounts for nearly a fifth of the city ’ s non-public economy, had reached its limits and could not be stopped either.
He said: “I can ’ t control the demand.
I can only influence the show. ”
In pursuit of this goal, the city has banned the renting of rooms in private apartments, and by 2028 plans to cancel another 10,000 short-term rental rooms through Airbnb and similar companies.
The city also raised the municipal overnight tax, capped new hotels in the city centre and legalized the size of tourist groups.
This is difficult enough in some parts of the city, and then there is the long-term pressure exerted by tourists on water, electricity, transportation and other resources.
Writer specializing in European affairs
Published by special arrangement with Washington Post Leasing and Syndication

Overtourism can lead to social impacts like gentrification, as seen in Amsterdam and Barcelona, where new hotels and rentals are restricted.

Title:

Content: 1.
Jump to Content
2.
Go to Main Menu
3.
Jump to more DW sites
“Let the tourists go home! ” – Over-sightseeing is overwhelming the residents of Europe ’ s popular cities
Lisa Stüve
14 July 2024
Many of Europe ’ s holiday destinations are expected to see record numbers of visitors this summer.
However, local residents were deeply troubled by the development of mass tourism and took to the streets to protest.
Is there a solution?
Https: / / p.dw.com / p / 4iD5I
In many of Europe's most popular tourist cities, residents began to protest against the influx of tourists.
Venice is one of them, the local residents are plagued by tourism, the city's housing prices are rising, and the number of available housing is decreasing.
Venice ’ s Old Town also has a resident population of less than 49,000, compared to an estimated 20 million tourists visiting Venice each year.
Europe has the most visitors from all over the world, and Venice isn ’ t the only city to suffer from a surge in visitors.
In Barcelona and other tourist cities in Spain, there are increasing reports of local residents protesting against tourists.
In Lisbon, Prague and Amsterdam, large-scale tourism has led to growing tensions between tourists and locals.
Residents everywhere protested for the same reasons: rising rents, soaring property prices, and problems with access to resources.
Tourism is one of the economic sources
The EU estimates that tourism accounts for about 10 per cent of the economy's total output.
About 12.3 million people are employed in the industry.
“But these are just abstract numbers, ” says Sebastian Zenker, a tourism researcher at Copenhagen Business School.
He pointed out that if rents rise at the same time, property prices exceed residents' affordability, and restaurants are affordable only to tourists, then the income from tourism will not bring real benefits to local residents.
For locals, tourism development must provide them with the balance they feel – that is, liveability is not unduly negatively affected while benefiting from tourism.
Although a large number of people are employed in the tourism industry, "only a few have a good income or can make a living from it," Zeng said in an interview with Deutsche Welle.
He said low wages were a problem.
In Italy, where there is no legal minimum wage, the minimum hourly wage is 4.85 euros in Portugal and 6.87 euros in Spain.
Big tourist tax
Where did all the money go?
Paul Peeters, who studies sustainable tourism and transportation at the University of Breda in the Netherlands, says the money is mostly going to the airline industry, large hotel chains, international companies and cruise lines.
When calculating the flow of tourism, the choice of travel mode is crucial. Cruise tourists eat and drink on board, and passengers who order through large travel agencies usually sell their tickets, hotels, and meals in packages, which tend to spend less locally.
But at the same time, the arrival of tourists brings with it air pollution and water consumption – all at the expense of local residents.
This sense of imbalance has further exacerbated tensions between locals and tourists.
All stakeholders in the tourism industry understand that they need tourists, and the question is how to develop tourism and what kind of tourism to develop.
Copenhagen tourism researcher Zeng Ke said.
Restrictive marketing, rules and bans
The first policies are in place.
For example, new hotels are no longer allowed in Amsterdam.
In addition, the city is trying to control drug and party-themed tourism through targeted restrictive marketing measures.
“De-marketing ” refers to advertising strategies designed to reduce the demand for a product from a specific target group – for example, the city of Amsterdam.
In Lisbon and Palma de Mallorca, the housing market has long been disconnected from the needs of residents and economic realities.
Response: No new rental licenses will be issued to online short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb.
Mallorca has set a time limit for tourist rental housing.
Barcelona has taken a more radical step: the city ’ s 10,000 vacation apartment permits for tourists are set to expire in 2028.
The move aims to reduce pressure on the housing market.
Rents in Barcelona have risen by more than 60% in the past decade.
In addition, there will be further restrictions on the scope of cruise activities or additional charges.
From 2021, Venice will no longer allow large cruise ships to sail into its waters in its historic center.
Amsterdam plans to adopt a similar measure in 2026.
This will not only reduce the number of tourists, but also reduce air pollution.
Are tourists bad too?
Similar to Amsterdam, Mallorca wants to shake off the image of a party city.
They hope to reduce the overall number of tourists, and will be more willing to accept those who can afford to spend.
This is known in industry jargon as “high quality tourism ”.
But is this the solution to the problem?
“It ’ s not, ” says Macià Blázquez-Salom, a geography professor and activist.
He is also a resident of Mallorca.
He believes that excessive emphasis on “luxury tourism ” will only exacerbate inequality.
“‘ Party tours ’ and ‘ beach tours ’ are often limited to specific areas and operate on a scale and standardised basis similar to factory production lines, ” Blasker-Salon told Deutsche Welle.
Its immediate impact is often limited to a small part of the city.
In contrast, tourists with high spending power typically have higher demand, consume more water, tend to travel more excursions, and generally have the financial means to purchase property.
“This will further promote gentrification (Gentrifizierung) and with it the possibility of real estate speculation, ” explains Blaske Salon.
"This type of visitor will have a direct impact on the lives of all the residents," the statement said.
Making tourism sustainable
The tourism industry is still largely driven by pure data growth and is delighted with the growing number of visitors each year.
But for residents of places like Barcelona, Venice and Mallorca, further growth is no longer an acceptable option.
Is there a solution?
Peters says keeping visitor numbers within the limits of what cities and communities can afford or as a way to do it.
He said that ecological and social factors should be taken into account when formulating tourism development strategies and management measures.
For tourism to be sustainable, agreements must be reached with airlines, ports and airport operators, which are often driven by overcapacity – that is, by expanding growth.
© 2024 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.

Social media is a key factor in overtourism, as it creates sudden overcrowding by focusing on specific hotspots.

Decentralizing transportation and adopting a "quality over quantity" tourism strategy can help mitigate overtourism.

Title:

Content: Global News
The world today - spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
You are now following the news of spraying with water guns.
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
From the World News section and now we leave you with the full details
SAHAD MOHAMMED - Abu Dhabi on Friday 19 July 2024 04: 25 PM - Spain's tourism unrest has reached its peak in the past few days, with some locals in Barcelona spraying tourists with water guns and canned drinks, asking them to go back to where they came from.
Angry residents, numbering about 3,000, blocked the entrances to hotels and cafes in the Barceloneta neighborhood in a symbolic attempt to express their indignation at the excessive tourist overcrowding in their city.
This is not the first time tourism has been highlighted as a problem in Spain, where the country, which attracted 85 million visitors in 2023, has seen a series of protests against excessive tourism in the country, especially in the city of Barcelona with a population of 1.6 million, which received more than 7.8 million visitors in 2023, leaving many locals unable to afford to live there due to high rental prices.
Fear of Protests in Europe
Spain ’ s overcrowding problem, and the decision to confront it by locals, has highlighted the potential for anti-tourist protests to spread to the rest of Europe ’ s heavily tourist-ridden cities, as UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project chief Peter Debrin warned.
The protests will certainly spread if European officials fail to address the negative impact of mass tourism on the lives of the local population, DeBrin says, noting that the situation in Spain has become very volatile, as the coming of civil society and its attempt to bring about change is critical, after all elected officials must respond to what the residents of their cities want.
He cited the 2021 ban on large cruise ships in Venice, Italy, which was passed after protests by residents, as cruise ships no longer pass through the Grand Canal, but are now docked away from Venice, helping to preserve the city ’ s structural and environmental integrity.
But despite the decision to ban large cruise ships in Venice, passengers continue to flock to its narrow lanes in the thousands, with Venice expected to attract about 540,000 cruise passengers this year, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2023, according to the North Adriatic Ports Authority.
In a bid to reduce crowds, Venice has imposed a 5 euro ($5.45) tourist tax on peak days this year, a measure that has so far failed to rein in tourist numbers, Euronews reported.
Quality rather than quantity tourism
Like Venice, Barcelona residents have long struggled with the global popularity of their city: every year, fewer locals say tourism benefits the city, while more people feel it is harmful, according to a survey conducted by the Barcelona City Council in 2023.
UNESCO ’ s Sustainable Tourism Project Chief Officer Peter Debrin believes that Barcelona, which handles too many travelers, could join cities and countries that rely on a “quality over quantity ” tourism strategy – prioritizing high-spending travelers, rather than budget ones – a strategy that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, when safety and employment concerns pushed destinations around the world to take in fewer affordable travelers. Instead of a lot of budget travelers.
Debrin said Barcelona ’ s reliance on a “quality rather than quantity ” tourism strategy helps correct another problem plaguing the city: tourists who behave badly, noting that for Barcelona residents, it ’ s not just about visitor numbers, but also how people behave, with Spaniards complaining for years about tourists drinking too much, throwing garbage and cigarettes on the streets.
Debrin called on tourists to be more aware in their travel decisions, suggesting focusing on beautiful cities with fascinating tourist and cultural attractions, which are in need of more tourists.
Civil Society Demands
Civil society groups are calling on Barcelona officials to implement a number of policies aimed at “declining tourism growth, ” such as increased tourism taxes, restrictions on cruise ships, and restrictions on short-term rental housing, just like the steps being explored in Amsterdam to crack down on buses, boutiques, new hotels and short-term rentals. In 2023, it asks some visitors, especially young British tourists, to“ stay away ” if they are travelling to the city for drugs or partying.
The most popular Spanish cities with tourists
The General Coordinator of the Association of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Mediterranean States (ASCAME) Anwar Zebawi, said in an interview to the site "Economy dot Gulf", that some tourist destinations in Spain already suffer from the problem of overcrowding, and these destinations are Barcelona, Malaga, Madrid and Valencia, as these four cities attract tourists more than their capacity, and the problem is that the largest number of these tourists, come in specific months of the year. Sixty percent of all tourists who visit Barcelona each year do so during the months between July and September, creating severe congestion, while the other 40 percent is spread over the rest of the year.
Amplify for protests
Zibawi stressed that what everyone should realize, is that there is a kind of amplification of the recent protests in Barcelona,   the city has not witnessed "major" demonstrations against tourists, as the problem of the local population is never with tourists, and the people who have been sprayed with water, very few and may not exceed the fingers of one hand, pointing out that what happened was directed against those who rent houses as hotel houses. Real estate, largely, deprived the local population, especially young people, of the possibility of obtaining apartments at an appropriate rental price.
Causes of tourist overcrowding in Barcelona
Zibawi explains that one of the reasons that contribute to excessive tourist congestion in Barcelona,   is to allow tourists to stay in tourist houses and chaos in this area, the city contains about 10 thousand houses that have a license to do these works, while there are about 30 thousand hotels operating without a license and in a way contrary to the law, the offer of houses for rent at competitive prices, in addition to cheap flights available in Europe make the cost of travel to Barcelona tourist destinations. This has exacerbated the phenomenon of excessive tourism.
European cities where protests could spread
According to Zibawi, the European cities that can witness objections from the local population because of their suffering from excessive tourism, are Rome, Venice, some Italian islands, Crete in Greece, and some other Greek islands, while Amsterdam in the Netherlands, suffer from the problem of excessive tourism only, in some weeks of the year, especially at the end of the year. year.
Paris found a solution.
Zibawi pointed out that Paris had a major problem with the subject of overcrowding of tourists, and therefore prevented the work of hotel houses and raised the prices of hotels, where she saw that these steps contribute to making the cost of travel high, which prevents the tourist who does not have enough money to come, and this limits the phenomenon of overcrowding, pointing out that if the principle of quality tourism instead of quantity in Barcelona, this may solve the problem of overcrowding and contribute to the distribution of tourists in other areas. Spain.
Solutions that can be resorted to
For his part, Amer Daboussi, executive partner of Eagle Travel Travel, said in an interview with Eqtisad.al-Khaleej that cities suffering from tourist congestion can face this phenomenon by adopting a policy of "quality rather than quantity", where this policy focuses on imposing high standards of hospitality to attract rich or well-resourced tourists, and get rid of the large numbers of tourists from the middle category. h its reception, which reduces the negative effects on the local community.
Dabbousi believes that cities can also resort to the solutions of imposing tourism taxes on foreign visitors, raising hotel prices, restricting the work of hotel house rental applications by imposing financial fees on these apartments and using the revenues collected to improve infrastructure in tourist areas, in addition to the need for affected countries to market new tourist destinations within them, which contributes to attracting visitors to areas outside the main tourist centers.
Excessive damage from tourism
Cities facing the challenges of overcrowding, such as Bangkok in Thailand, Paris in France and New York in the United States, as well as some Greek and Spanish cities, must take measures to manage tourism sustainably and distribute tourism pressure in a way that preserves the quality of life of local residents and respects local culture. Eat and drink, making life more expensive for local residents.
We hope that we have succeeded in conveying the full details of the spraying with water guns..
Are tourist expulsions spreading in Europe?
In God ’ s care and protection.
Advertisements
You may also read.

Addressing overtourism requires balancing economic benefits with environmental and community needs.

Title:

Content:
Menu

Sedona Film Festival presents ‘Crowded Out’

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring over-tourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts. (Image provided by SIFF)

Originally Published: September 14, 2022 8:43 p.m.

The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the third film in its four-week Sustainable Tourism Film Series. “Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will show on Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre at 4 p.m. The event will also include a selection of “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” short films along with a panel discussion.

“Crowded Out” is a powerful short documentary exploring overtourism, featuring interviews with local residents and global experts.

Overtourism occurs when there are too many visitors to a particular destination. When rent prices push out local tenants to make way for holiday rentals, when narrow roads become jammed with tourist vehicles, when tourists cannot view landmarks because of the crowds – these are all signs of overtourism.

And it is the backlash from local residents that has made overtourism news. Cities such as Barcelona, Venice and Dubrovnik, and places once thought of as remote such as Iceland and Skye have suffered firsthand, and the protests by local residents have spread.

There has been decades of virtually uncontrolled growth, and it has crossed a threshold: in many destinations, tourism now demonstrably creates more problems than benefits.

This special event will also include a selection of short films from “Sustainable Travel: Where Next?” This series includes short-form documentary films, featuring insightful stories from the global travel and tourism sector showing how they are driving sustainable travel and protecting these precious destinations.

Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion with representatives the City of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, Keep Sedona Beautiful and the tourism and hospitality industry here.

“Crowded Out: The Story of Overtourism” will be shown at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $12, or $9 for Film Festival members. For tickets and more information, please call 928-282-1177. Both the theatre and film festival office are located at 2030 W. Hwy. 89A, in West Sedona. For more information, visit: www.SedonaFilmFestival.org.

The final film in the Sustainable Tourism Series is:

Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. “Vendemmia”

Technology can help manage overtourism and promote sustainable tourism practices.

Title:

Content: European Tourism Data Sharing: Opportunities and Challenges

Cultivating Europe's Tourism Potential: A Journey towards a Common Data Space. Image: Shutterstock/ Mopic

TOURISM is a significant economic driver for the European Union, contributing to GDP, job creation, and cultural exchange. In recent years, data-driven technologies and digitalisation have transformed various sectors, including tourism. To harness the full potential of data in the tourism industry, the European Commission is taking proactive steps toward establishing a Common European Data Space for Tourism which was introduced by the European Commission at the end of July. This ambitious initiative aims to facilitate data sharing, interoperability, and collaboration among stakeholders to drive innovation, sustainability, and growth in the tourism ecosystem. In this article, we will delve into the key elements, objectives, and challenges surrounding this data space, followed by a discussion on the pros and cons of its implementation.

The Objectives of the Common European Data Space for Tourism

The primary objectives of the Common European Data Space for Tourism are to foster innovation, support data-driven decision-making for sustainability, enhance services and offers, and facilitate better access to data sources for producing statistical information. The tourism sector faces specific challenges related to data sharing, such as interoperability, access to data, and the provision of data by public and private stakeholders. To address these challenges, the data space aims to establish technical standards, governance models, and incentives to encourage data sharing among stakeholders.

The Key Enablers of the Data Space

The success of the data space hinges on several key enablers, including interoperability, data control, governance, technical data infrastructure, openness, and cybersecurity. Interoperability is crucial as the tourism sector draws data from various domains and sectors. The data space aims to ensure that data can be accessed, shared, and used in a lawful, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner. Technical standards and a governance model are being developed to guide data-sharing agreements and ensure compliance with EU rules and values.

The Role of the Private Sector

The private sector, including businesses and data intermediaries, plays a vital role in the success of the data space. Many platforms are already voluntarily sharing their accommodation data with Eurostat for producing European statistics. The European Commission supports non-personal data-sharing agreements initiated by the private sector and encourages the use of user-friendly tools for SMEs and destinations. The Code of Conduct for data sharing in tourism, developed by private stakeholders with Commission support, fosters trust and provides guidance for data sharing agreements.

Support for SMEs and Destinations

The European Commission is committed to supporting SMEs and destinations in transitioning to data space. Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) and the European Enterprise Network (EEN) offer technical expertise, financing advice, and skills development to SMEs. Meanwhile, the EU Competence Centre will support destinations in implementing data-driven management strategies. The Commission emphasises the importance of tailoring the data space to local specificities and requirements.

The Testing Phase and Future Prospects

The European Commission plans to initiate a case to test the enablers of the tourism data space and gather valuable feedback from stakeholders. Member States will explore the possibility of setting up an EDIC to manage the data space, and additional funding under the Digital Europe Programme will be allocated for its development. By 2025, the data space is expected to integrate unique identifiers, semantic rules, and technical interoperability standards to support data sharing across the EU.

Pros of the Common European Data Space for Tourism:

Innovation and Growth: The data space will encourage innovation and foster the development of new services and offerings, leading to growth in the tourism sector.

Sustainability: Data-driven decision-making will enable authorities and destinations to manage tourism flows sustainably, reducing environmental and social impacts.

Enhanced Data Access: SMEs and smaller destinations will have improved access to diverse data sources, levelling the playing field and promoting inclusivity.

Better Statistical Information: The data space will enhance the availability of data sources for producing statistical information, facilitating evidence-based policy-making.

Collaboration and Synergy: The collaboration between public and private stakeholders will create synergies and maximize the benefits of data sharing.

Cons of the Common European Data Space for Tourism:

Data Privacy Concerns: Data sharing may raise privacy concerns, and stakeholders must ensure compliance with GDPR and data protection regulations.

Technical and Implementation Challenges: Establishing technical standards and ensuring seamless data interoperability across different systems can be complex and time-consuming.

Cost and Resource Requirements: Building and maintaining the data space infrastructure may require significant investment and resources.

Lack of Participation: The success of the data space depends on active participation from all stakeholders, and some may be hesitant to share data due to competitive reasons or other concerns.

The Common European Data Space for Tourism is a visionary initiative that holds great promise for the European tourism industry. By fostering innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, it has the potential to transform the sector and improve services for tourists and stakeholders alike. While challenges exist, the commitment of the European Commission and the active engagement of all relevant actors can lead to the successful development of the data space, shaping the future of tourism in Europe.

Click here for the full communication from the commission

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Virtual reality technology can reduce overtourism by providing virtual tours that decrease physical visitors.

Title:

Content: U.S. markets closed
  • S&P 500

    3,825.33
    +39.95 (+1.06%)

  • Dow 30

    31,097.26
    +321.83 (+1.05%)

  • Nasdaq

    11,127.84
    +99.11 (+0.90%)

  • Russell 2000

    1,727.76
    +19.77 (+1.16%)

  • Crude Oil

    108.46
    +2.70 (+2.55%)

  • Gold

    1,812.90
    +5.60 (+0.31%)

  • Silver

    19.77
    -0.51 (-2.50%)

  • EUR/USD

    1.0426
    -0.0057 (-0.54%)

  • 10-Yr Bond

    2.8890
    -0.0830 (-2.79%)

  • GBP/USD

    1.2103
    -0.0072 (-0.59%)

  • USD/JPY

    135.1750
    -0.5530 (-0.41%)

  • BTC-USD

    19,209.57
    -32.52 (-0.17%)

  • CMC Crypto 200

    420.84
    +0.70 (+0.17%)

  • FTSE 100

    7,168.65
    -0.63 (-0.01%)

  • Nikkei 225

    25,935.62
    -457.42 (-1.73%)

TickerWin Releases Report on 'Upcoming New Changes on XR, VR, AR Industry'

·5 min read

HONG KONG, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / July 2, 2022 /TickerWin, one of the leading market research companies, has released a report on 'Upcoming New Changes on XR, VR, AR Industry'. VR and its derivatives are still fairly niche, and only of use to technically-oriented sections of the community. However, many industry pundits are pointing towards a greater spread of VR use amongst people who would not be seen at its natural users. One of the biggest trends in the AR and VR space in 2022 will be the use of immersive technology and VR in the workplace or Metaverse games. For businesses, AR and VR have gotten the spotlight as the next great leap in boosting worker productivity. However, AR and VR technologies are not generally practical in safety critical environments like the industrial frontline.

In 2022, people expect the reskilling process via VR training to become more widespread as content becomes more scalable and accessible for businesses. As such, VR will be increasingly used for high skills transfer in engineering, and medicine, particularly due to the costs of headset prices making VR more accessible. As headset prices decrease, VR in gaming will go mainstream and VR that blends sectors, such as gaming and fitness, will gain more of a foothold off the back of this.

VR and XR Training

VR is a refreshing way to be with other people in training scenarios, but without actually being there. During the first stages of COVID, everyone was all about Zoom; this year, people are likely to see the start of XR devices taking its place. VR will aid people's ability to collaborate, communicate, and connect remotely. In 2022, VR devices will get even more comfortable for longer wear, offer advanced optics for increased text clarity, and will enable avatars to mirror their real expressions - so they can be themselves at work. It will be inevitable that companies begin to normalise VR in addition to tools like laptops, tablets and phones. It's the best way to create a shared sense of space and connection among dispersed workforces.

VR in Remote working

With many workers reluctant to get back to the office, VR is the major tool that can fill the gap in working from home while connecting. Most headsets have been uncomfortable to people to wear for longer periods. The original head strap that shipped with the VR device was torturous after much more than 30 minutes, but as third-party designers have looked at the issue, much more comfortable alternatives are available. Sustainability will be the key trend in the AR and VR space in the coming year. As organizations are increasingly aware of their carbon footprint, many will be looking for innovative technology, which will help in their efforts to reach net zero goals.

AR Online Shopping

Currently seen as a mobile phone AR experience, it is not going to be long before XR headsets take this a logical step further and make the notion more immersive. In addition, once that happens, others will quickly follow suit. XR shopping is going to grow this year, and even non-niche users are likely to want to experience it, and pick up a headset to do so.

VR Social interactions

The different VR headsets are littered with social features where people can hook up and hang out, and they are becoming increasingly immersive. VR does the same thing, but with the added element of being in increasingly realist virtual environments where people can interact with avatars. Once the graphics has a hold of the 3D modeling, social interactions in this way are going to skyrocket. Like shopping, this too will attract more non-natural users to VR.

AR Application in Enhanced design functions

With freely available Apps like Gravity Sketch, Tilt Brush, and SculptVR, product and game design has become a serious topic in virtual environments, so much so that a growing number of serious design houses routinely use these tools. 3D literacy is key to the future of science, creativity, and entertainment but the barrier to entry needs to be in 2022. Complex and expensive cost and tools mean only the privileged have the opportunity to work in industries such as design, but 2022 will see this start to change as companies strive to make their tools more accessible and organizations realize the need for a more diverse workforce.

VR in Travel Industry

Having a virtual tour of New York or Hong Kong plainly is not the same as going there - yet - but it is still early days and as VR systems mature, these immersive experiences will become more convincing and engaging, and are likely to completely replace paper brochures.

AR and AI in fashion and beauty industries

AI and AR technologies will also help fashion and beauty brands achieve their sustainability goals by reducing the use of wasteful testers, packaging, and transportation from the traditional shopping experience.

About TickerWin

TickerWin offers marketing research reports on industry trends, especially in AI, Cloud Computing, AR/VR, Big Data, NFT, Cryptocurrency, and DeFi fields. It offers customers with real-time visibility, transparency, and traceable through the tracking of the project's database throughout the complete lifecycle of a researching project all on an immutable ledger with continuous insights.

Media Contact

Company: TickerWin Marketing Research Ltd
Contact: Ronald Luo
Address: Room 12C, 22/G, Sheung Wan Building, 345 Queen's Road Central, HKSAR
Email: support@tickerwin.com
Website: https://www.TickerWin.com

SOURCE: TickerWin Marketing Research Ltd

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/707440/TickerWin-Releases-Report-on-Upcoming-New-Changes-on-XR-VR-AR-Industry

Small island developing states must balance tourism's economic benefits with environmental protection and community well-being.

Title:

Content: OPINION

A model of growth

There are parts of Greece that were regarded as unlucky until recently because mass tourism hadn’t reached them yet. Now we consider them lucky because they are able to evolve in a measured manner.

They have the ability to develop modern infrastructure, such as clean energy. They have the luxury of seeing the adverse consequences of hasty and ill-planned growth and choosing a different path by keeping the primary sector alive and the tourism economy in the hands of the local community.

The island of Astypalaia is one such place and it is being talked about a lot these days. It has the opportunity to serve as a model of sustainable growth for other islands at a similar stage of development. Our national industry needs positive examples.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Data analytics and digital platforms are crucial for sustainable tourism management in small island states, enabling evidence-based planning.

Title:

Content: There were 109 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 423,709 in the last 365 days.

Pacific Tourism Organisation Unveils Ground-breaking Data Training Program in Solomon Islands

In a significant milestone, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) launched the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) and introduced the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Indicators Framework training in the Solomon Islands in February.

Spearheaded by the SPTO, and teaming up with Tourism Solomons on this occasion, the PTDI New Zealand Government funded research project includes the implementation and collection of data for the Digital Measurement and Benchmarking Dashboard, setting standards for marketing and sustainable tourism indicators in the Pacific region.

Covering 10 Pacific Island nations, including the Cook Islands, Niue, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, Kiribati, Timor Leste, and FSM-Yap, the PTDI project is designed to support evidence-based planning and decision-making. It includes the production of a bi-annual International Visitor Survey (IVS), an annual Business Confidence Index (BCI), and an annual Community Attitude Survey (CAS) report, providing invaluable insights into community awareness and attitudes towards tourism.

SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Cocker emphasised that the PTDI is a research project specifically tailored to collect and report on tourism information, while the Digital Measurement and Benchmarking Programme play a crucial role in SPTO’s monitoring and evaluation function.

Underlining the importance of data in decision-making, Mr. Cocker emphasized, the pivotal role of data quality, and precision through standardized protocols, rigorous quality control, and adept data validation techniques. It is also imperative to encourage awareness and utilisation of Pacific Sustainable Tourism Indicators (PSTI) to analyse and gauge the sustainability of tourism activities and understand key sustainability indicators, collect related data, and seamlessly integrate sustainability considerations into the tourism planning and decision-making processes.”

Tourism Solomons Acting CEO Dagnal Dereveke, acknowledged the value of the training, stating, “The provisions of these trainings are great as they broaden our knowledge on different tools, assisting the research and statistics teams in their daily work.”

Expressing the benefits of the digital tools, Ministry of Culture and Tourism Principal Trainer Rachael “The digital tools are great for us with their user-friendly features. More practical sessions on this will enable us to capture and analyze data more efficiently.”

Solomon Islands National Statistics Officer Desmond emphasized the necessity of these tools, stating, “We need this tool to make our work more efficient. More practice and more training on this will help us master the tool and enhance our research and data analysis skills.”

Artificial intelligence and machine learning can optimize sustainable tourism by automating tasks and personalizing offers.

Title:

Content: How digital transformation is changing the travel sector

1 hour ago

Tom Kershaw. Image: Nick Morrish

Travelport’s Tom Kershaw discusses the ways that emerging tech is affecting the travel sector and how the company is addressing sustainability in this space.

Tom Kershaw is the chief product and technology officer at global traveltech company Travelport. Kershaw has more than two decades of experience leading innovation, technical strategy and execution within global technology and internet organisations, and has worked on mobile application development, advertising, data science and large-scale data processing.

Prior to joining Travelport in 2021, he served as chief technology officer at advertising platform Magnite, and he has also held various leadership positions at companies such as Google, Ericsson and VeriSign.

In his current role at Travelport, Kershaw is responsible for the company’s global technology and product teams while overseeing the development and delivery of products and solutions.

“Since joining Travelport, I’ve expanded our engineering and product development team in order to accelerate the delivery of tools that help our agency customers seamlessly search, shop and service travel across a broad array of content types,” he says.

“My team and I are responsible for continually building new tools and enhancing features that agents need to operate as modern retailers and provide better, faster, more personalised online travel retailing experiences for both leisure and business.”

What are some of the biggest challenges you’re facing in the current IT landscape and how are you addressing them?

Traditionally, the travel sector hasn’t been known for having a super easy, intuitive retailing experience, but technology and modern applications are helping to overcome challenges within the travel ecosystem that will simplify and improve the experience going forward.

For example, AI and automation are crucial pieces of the puzzle to work smarter and more efficiently, and this shift has been propelled by one key factor: customers. Customers demand a more modern travel retail experience and agencies that can respond to search requests the fastest or proactively recommend trip options that travellers really want are going to thrive.

At Travelport, we’re using AI to not only help agents automate routine tasks like refunds and exchanges, but to personalise offers and gain more control with ever-changing pricing and itinerary options for travellers.

What are your thoughts on digital transformation in a broad sense within your industry? How are you addressing it in your company?

The way that travel is searched, booked and serviced is transforming. The industry is fast to adapt and travel distribution is becoming more modern, as the complexity of the travel ecosystem and the ever-changing pricing and itinerary options for travellers continues to grow.

At Travelport, we’re seeing search volumes increase daily as airlines and other suppliers are creating more options and decoupling ancillaries to tailor an offer. That is why it was imperative for us to restructure our search and ordering systems to create a fully predictive and intuitive search infrastructure.

The way we’re now using AI and machine-learning to improve the speed and accuracy of data-driven search responses is really exciting to see, because it means travel is finally catching up with other modern retailers. With this level of intuitiveness, agencies will be able to easily understand what their travellers need, make accurate predictions and recommend the best trip options. It is this level of personalisation, driven by rich, robust datasets and AI-based search that will continue transforming booking processes and business travel management into a seamless internet-like retailing and servicing experience.

‘One of the biggest challenges facing the travel industry are the risks with using personal data’

Sustainability has become a key objective for businesses in recent years. What are your thoughts on how this can be addressed from an IT perspective?

When it comes to sustainability in travel, it can be difficult for agents and travellers to identify which flights, routes and accommodations are the greenest. Our travel retailing marketplace, Travelport+, is continuing to evolve and we’re delivering the tools to help travel retailers understand, communicate and promote the most environmentally sustainable or ‘carbon-conscious’ options.

One way we are empowering travel agents is by giving them the ability to access consistent carbon emissions data for flights using the travel impact model (TIM). The TIM framework has been developed by an open-source, industry-collaborative coalition, and administered by Travelyst, an independent non-profit organisation of which Travelport is a member. The TIM takes a variety of attributes into account, for example: aircraft type, cabin class and seat configuration. This model also incorporates upstream emissions, which are emissions produced during production, delivery and use of fuels. Including upstream emissions will be beneficial as sustainable aviation fuels become more common in aviation.

We are also exploring solutions that will help travel retailers offer carbon compensation and nature regeneration to their customers, as well as tools and capabilities to support corporate travel managers with emissions reporting requirements for business travel.

What big tech trends do you believe are changing the world and your industry specifically?

Travel is much like the rest of the retail world, in that the personalisation and automation of the internet is really the most important mission we have in front of us. And yes, the much-hyped AI trend will help in that regard by automating routine tasks and making agents smarter and more agile.

But those are things that everyone talks about. For me, what excites me most is the data-sharing technologies that were born out of cloud computing – the ability to share data in a secure, anonymised way between a wide range of different entities. Think about the different knowledge and perspectives held by airlines, hotels, travel agents and technology providers like Travelport. Each of those silos can be limited on their own, but if shared and leveraged into a common set of insights, we can truly be transformational.

What are your thoughts on how we can address the security challenges currently facing your industry?

One of the biggest challenges facing the travel industry as generative AI has become more of a priority are the risks with using personal data. I am worried about privacy because the type of data we deal with in our industry is extremely sensitive. For example, Amazon knows my shoe size and that’s not a huge concern (what are they going to do with that information?) But in travel, we consume personal data such as passport numbers and other kinds of very important, sensitive information.

The challenge that exists now is making sure that information is protected but still allows for travellers to experience seamless check-in and other personalised service eligibility, and being able to accomplish both is a very difficult balance. Beyond AI, I think the main challenge for travel is adopting best-in-class security technologies around identity and authentication, including older things like two-factor authentication as well as standards like single sign-on and OAuth [open authorisation]. While this may seem easy, with so many agents distributed in so many places and using so many different types of systems, getting it all into a single framework can always be a challenge.

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

Blockchain technology can promote sustainable tourism by securely tracking tourism-related data like carbon footprints.

Title:

Content: There were 1,191 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 392,532 in the last 365 days.

Fireflies' FFT Token Revolutionizes the Tourism Industry With Its Unique Crypto Travel Synergy

As more travellers join the FFT Token ecosystem, the community will drive its growth and development

PFäFFIKON, SWITZERLAND, May 17, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Since its launch, the FFT Token by leading travel portal Fireflies has been a game-changer in the travel industry, offering a new level of convenience, security, and value for travellers around the world. As we look to the future, the FFT Token promises to continue revolutionizing the way we explore and experience the world. Here’s a glimpse into what the future holds for this innovative digital currency.

Smoother Payment Systems

Fireflies is working on integrating the token into the payment systems for hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and travel agencies, offering exclusive deals and promotions for users who choose to pay with this digital currency. Travelers can expect a more personalized and enriched travel experience. With FFT Tokens, loyalty programs can be more flexible and rewarding, offering tailored perks based on travel history and preferences. Imagine receiving instant upgrades, exclusive access to events, or personalized travel itineraries curated just for you—all powered by your FFT Token usage. One of the standout features of FFT Tokens is their ability to facilitate seamless transactions.

As the technology continues to evolve, transaction times will become even faster, and the process will become even more streamlined. This means no more waiting for confirmations or dealing with delays, making last-minute bookings and spontaneous travel plans easier than ever.

Increased Security

Security is a major concern for travellers, especially when it comes to financial transactions. The blockchain technology behind FFT Tokens ensures a high level of security, reducing the risk of fraud and identity theft. As blockchain technology continues to advance, the security features of FFT Tokens will become even more robust, providing travellers with peace of mind when making transactions. The FFT Token is designed to be a global currency, breaking down geographical barriers and making travel more accessible to everyone.

In the future, we foresee a world where FFT Tokens can be used seamlessly across borders. This will particularly benefit travellers from countries with weaker currencies, enabling them to explore the world more affordably. Smart contracts can automate booking processes and enforce agreements, minimizing the risk of fraud and errors. Additionally, Web3 fosters a more personalized travel experience by leveraging decentralized data storage, enabling tailored recommendations and seamless loyalty programs.

‘’With FFT Tokens, travellers enjoy fast, hassle-free transactions without currency exchange issues, while smart contracts automate bookings and reduce fraud. Our platform's global accessibility democratizes travel, making it easier for everyone to explore the world. We're thrilled that our program has soared, highlighting the tremendous enthusiasm and trust in our vision for the future of travel,” said István Varga, Director of Business Development at Fireflies.

Environmental Impact

As the world becomes more conscious of the environmental impact of travel, FFT Tokens can play a role in promoting sustainable travel practices. The blockchain technology used by FFT Tokens can be leveraged to track and offset carbon footprints, allowing travellers to make more eco-friendly choices. Additionally, partnerships with sustainable travel providers can offer special incentives for those who choose green travel options.

A Community of Travellers

The success of FFT Tokens lies in its community. As more travellers join the FFT Token ecosystem, the community will drive its growth and development. User feedback will be crucial in shaping the future of FFT Tokens, ensuring that the currency continues to meet the needs and expectations of travellers. Community-driven initiatives and collaborations will lead to innovative uses and applications of FFT Tokens, further enhancing the travel experience.

Find out more about the Fireflies Token and its services.

About Fireflies:
Fireflies is a cutting-edge and unique user interface for all your end-to-end travel needs. It combines Swiss precision and reliability with the tourism industry. Over the last 12 years, Fireflies has served a database of over 300,000 worldwide registered users from 165 countries across the world.

For media inquiries, contact:

Vaishali Gauba
Fireflies
info@fireflies.com
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube

Managing overtourism requires a comprehensive approach that considers economic, social, and environmental impacts and leverages technology to mitigate negative effects.