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Report: Social Business | Travel and Tourism Industry

The Travel and Tourism Industry has experienced continued growth and deepening ‎diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world over the last few decades. ‎Modern tourism is closely linked to development and encompasses a growing number ‎of new destinations. These dynamics have turned tourism into a key driver for socio-‎economic progress.‎

International Tourism receipts hit new record

According to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourism receipts hit a new record in 2012, reaching an estimated US$ 1075 billion (€837 billion) worldwide, up 4% in real terms, from US$ 1042 billion (€749 billion) in 2011.

- Europe saw the largest share by region - US$ 457 billion in tourism earnings (€356 bn) equivalent to 43% of the world’s total tourism receipts.
- Destinations in Asia and the Pacific (US$ 323 billion or €251 bn) account for 30% of international tourism receipts
- The Americas (US$ 215 billion or €167 bn) account for 20%.
- In the Middle East (4% share) total tourism receipts reached US$ 47 billion (€36 bn)
- In Africa (3% share) US$ 34 billion (€26 bn)
- Some 6.3 million overseas visitors came to Ireland last year, the same as the year before, but revenues increased to €4 billion, up by 2 per cent.

Tourism supports growth in other sectors

The aim of any country, tourist attraction, town, business, et al, is to increase footfall and therefore revenue and hopefully, profit. Tourists will not only increase revenues but also job creation and possible investment to increase further enticement for visitors to an area or attraction. A thriving tourism industry supports growth in other sectors, such as transport, construction, agriculture and retail. As tourism increases, there are more opportunities for small business to develop.

Tourism and Social Media are perfect partners

The majority, who have the resources, will employ PR and advertising companies to take care of their marketing needs. Being online and therefore available globally, Social Media are an ideal platform for the tourism industry to market themselves to the world.

“Tourism Ireland has a significant presence on Facebook and is now the second most popular tourism board in the world on Facebook, after Australia. Tourism Ireland has grown its fan base from a couple of thousand at the beginning of 2010 to the grand total of about 1.56 million fans today (as at June 2013) across 14 markets.

Having such a huge fan base is significant, because each fan has an average of 200 friends – making Tourism Ireland just one degree of separation, or just one click away, from having its message shared through Facebook with 250 million+ people around the globe, allowing us to communicate millions of messages about the island of Ireland each month to prospective visitors.”

- Sinéad Grace, Media & Public Relations Manager for Tourism Ireland

The Ahain Group has researched and analysed various Tourism entities, from countries as a whole down to tourist attractions and restaurants, to see best practice across the board in Social Business within the Travel and Tourism Industry.

For more information, contact The Ahain Group:

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Sian Phillips

Sian Phillips is the Managing Editor of TweakYourBiz.com, an Associate with The Ahain Group and a Moderator on Bizsugar.com. With over 20 years’ worth of experience in business and accounting Sian provides help to the SME sector. The other half of Sian’s day is spent working in the Social Media space; writing blog posts and conducting interviews for TweakYourBiz.com, plus writing for clients globally about Social Business and Accounting. She is a qualified Accountant with an Honours Diploma in Journalism too.