The Global Tourism Industry

The tourism industry contributes significantly to the worldwide economy, employing 200 million people and representing 10% of global GDP (Socci, 2016). International tourism is defined as a person or group of people temporarily visiting a foreign country and the activities they partake in while abroad (Filiposki, 2014). Socci expands on the definition by identifying ten primary sub-industries that combine to form a more aptly named tourism “cluster.” These sub-industries include: accommodation services; hotel and restaurant; food and beverage; land transport; water transport; rail transport; air transport; supporting transportation services; recreational, cultural, and sporting services; and retail and country-specific tourism (2016). In 2014, foreign tourism generated $1409 billion, which was 30% of global service exports (Filiposki, 2014). It is important to note that economic statistics of international tourism are difficult to measure with complete certainty, as it is challenging to distinguish whether revenue is generated from incoming tourists or citizens of a designated country. Both tourists and locals

Rather than spurring an improvement of infrastructure, increased traffic flow brought on by tourism may be harmful to existing infrastructure if the host country is unprepared to accommodate an influx of people; thus, decreasing quality of life. Tourism can also deteriorate or eliminate local culture. As tourists enter foreign countries, the demonstration effect may affect local behavior. The demonstration effect is a phenomenon in which locals adopt behaviors and cultural customs of foreign visitors (Filiposki, 2014). The sociocultural implications of international tourism are similar to the economic ramifications because success in both arenas is largely dependent on interaction between producers and