The tourism, the economy, and many activities of our society have experienced periods of development and stagnation throughout history, which we could characterize as true cycles in their evolution.
When conducting a historical analysis of the evolution of tourism, specific aspects and factors can be identified that explain the stagnation of tourism and that generate a new cycle of development, but with characteristics different from the previous one.
Thus, the industrial revolution, and more specifically, the application of steam to railways and ships allowed the movement of larger numbers of people to different parts of the globe, resulting in an incipient commercial tourism, symbolized by Sir Thomas Cook, who organized group trips, coordinated various services, and created vouchers and traveler’s checks.
Following the First World War and the financial crisis of 1930, mandatory and paid vacations were established, along with the execution of large public works, such as roads and transportation terminals, to create employment, which generated internal tourism and the beginning of trips by the middle layers of the population.
After the Second World War, a significant change occurred in the tourism activity, characterized by the incorporation of large sectors of the population, known as the beginning of mass tourism, together with the emergence of a large quantity and variety of companies producing, distributing, and marketing tourist services, and the creation of national and international public bodies, such as the WTO, for the development of tourism policies and management.
In the 1990s and up to the present, it has been characterized by the emergence of information and communication technology, mainly the internet and various computer and communication platforms and tools, with the increasing and massive use of cell phones in recent years.
Currently, caused by Covid-19, we are experiencing a major crisis, with millions of people infected and dead; economic recession and increased levels of poverty; and a new period of stagnation in many human activities, including tourism, which has caused a great sense of vulnerability and uncertainty.
Covid-19 has virtually halted tourism activity, leading to the closure of thousands of companies and the consequent unemployment in this sector of the economy, which will take several years to recover. But at the same time, there are increasingly significant changes in the way of studying, working, producing, consuming, as well as a rapid awareness of the fragility of the environment, climate change, and biosecurity.
Considering the exposed evolution of stagnation and development of tourism in the last two hundred years, motivated by factors that have impacted society in general based on specific structural and systemic situations described above, we are facing the beginning of a new cycle in which new factors will determine the future evolution of tourism, particularly digital transformation and sustainability.
Digital transformation is a factor that is permeating all human activities, including, increasingly, tourism. In general terms, it is modifying tourism policies, business models, and business management, marketing and commercialization, competitiveness and productivity, data analysis, and consumer experience and behavior, etc., with permanent innovations that will result in structural changes in tourism development.
Similarly, the awareness of consumers, producers, intermediaries, public bodies, academia and research centers, host communities, etc., of the need and convenience of incorporating and implementing in public policies, business management, and operational practices, etc., the sustainability of tourism, through the balanced implementation of environmental, social, cultural, and economic aspects, and lately biosecurity and health aspects, which will mean a new factor that is generating a significant transformation in tourism activity.
Following the described historical evolution, we are undoubtedly at the beginning of a new cycle of growth and development, which will result in a new tourism model as has happened at the beginning of previous historical cycles.
