Tag Archives: trend

5 travel and tourism megatrends reflect the rise of new technologies, businesses and prospering nations

2019-03-14

Travel and tourism is already one of the largest, yet also one of the fastest growing global industries. It was estimated to account for about 10% of global GDP in 2017. Entire regions depend on the arrival of tourists, like Bali or Southern Portugal. Since the world is changing, travel is changing. Here are five megatrends that are shaping the way the world travels in the near future.

The five megatrends have been identified by WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) and Bloomberg Media. WTTC is an organization that represents the Travel & Tourism private sector globally.

The travel and tourism megatrends 2019 according to the WTTC report are as follows.

1. Reality, Enhanced

Anywhere, anytime connectivity that allows access to information, communities and services have led to an experience-driven world that only 20 years was pure science fiction.

Today, it is reality. For some people, it can be harsh reality that has gone a step too far. Digital detox and unplugging from social media, or from the internet altogether for awhile is a real option for stressed minds. New travel products and services can help people who experience anxiety because of their digital habits. It doesn’t have to mean a year on an isolated island, but a trek to a mountain, or a bicycle trip around Lake Geneva. Additionally, wellness and travel have a close relationship that both industries are rapidly developing.

2. Life, Restructured

Work, especially knowledge work, is expected to change dramatically in the near future. Not only because of artificial intelligence (AI), but because of the so called gig economy. People want to work remotely and it already has a big impact on life, commute and travel.

As much as 50% of the workforce in the US is expected to be freelancers by 2027. Many of them – not all – have skills that they can sell to clients while they are actually staying at home, or on the other side of the world. Digital nomads started the trend of traveling and working years ago. Now, both young adults and seasoned knowledge workers are trying the life of a connected nomad.

3. Data, Revolutionised

Automatic collection of data is familiar for all of us because of companies like Facebook and Google. They have been criticized for their collection and of archiving private data for business purposes. Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are connecting fridges, lamps, door bells and practically everything else to the network so that we can monitor and control our homes, police can monitor streets, and Facebook and Google everything.

Travel businesses and officials are also collecting private data from travelers. For businesses, it is a way of learning more about their customers and a way for governments to secure borders. The collection of data will increase – there is no stopping it. It is up to travel businesses to apply the rules of the Europe’s GDPR and respective laws in other regions that are already being prepared across the world.

4. Power, Redistributed

The economic power and demographic power is shifting to the East. Pretty quickly. China’s GDP is expected to overtake the US by late 2020s. But it is not only about China: also India, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey are forecasted to grow strongly and comprise 50% of global GDP within the next 30 years.

China has been identified in specific markets, such as in Rovaniemi, Lapland years ago as the number one priority. Years ago, Nordic airline Finnair positioned itself as the hub between Asia and Europe. Today, everyone who has traveled in popular destinations in Europe recently has witnessed large groups of Chinese selfie-takers at all key sights.

5. Consumption, Reimagined

Years of talk of tourism causing pollution and breaking sensitive ecosystems has led to initiatives like sustainable tourism and ethical travel. Some travelers even try to compensate their air miles by reducing their carbon footprint by other means. This is an opportunity for travel businesses that can offer nature-friendly products.

Overtourism – although not discussed in the report – is a serious concern for regions that are getting so many travelers that their way of life and identity are at risk. Venice and Barcelona are examples of cities that are already finding ways to balance the needs of locals and travelers.

The WTTC report concludes that

– Tomorrow’s traveller is not the same as a traveler today. More personalization, enrichment of experiences and autonomy will be required in travel products and services.
– Travel businesses are going to have to deliver authentic experiences to tourists. Some of the experiences are likely to be enhanced by technology, like AR (augmented reality).
– Travel industry will capitalise on new trends, business models and technologies. Businesses that don’t adopt will be left behind. An example is electric vehicles that can assist both locals and visitors to move around in urban environment easily and without polluting the air.

Ebook news digest: artificial intelligence in writing, fact-checking for non-fiction, digital media trends

2018-07-02

News on ebooks, writing and digital media

Photo by Nana B Agyei.

How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Writing

Daily Writing Tips makes a case for six ways AI may change the business of writing. Numbers 3 and 4 are tasks that may quickly gain AI skills, and few writers will complain.

Amazon is turning its Fire tablets into portable Echo Shows

Ars Technica reports of a major new feature in Amazon Fire HD tablets. When the Fire HD 8 or the HD 10 tablet is inserted into a new dedicated 40 dollar Charging Dock stand, the tablet becomes an access point (with a large tablet display) to the Alexa voice assistant system. The software of the tablet must be updated, but Amazon sync should do it automatically. Audiobooks may benefit from this.

Fact or friction: the problem with factchecking in the book world

The Guardian discusses nonfiction books that publishers don’t fact-check. Generally, the writer is trusted to be the authority of the subject matter (that’s why the publisher signed a publishing agreement), and therefore, knows what he or she is writing about. Naturally, there are authors who try to cut corners, but they tend to be quickly caught in the age of digital media.

‘Don’t take your mobile phone – and avoid bandits’: Dervla Murphy’s lessons from a lifetime of adventure

The Telegraph has managed to find travel writer Dervla Murphy in Ireland after she spent 50 years more or less on the road. She has fascinating stories and valuable tips for all travelers.

The Best of Helsinki – The Sights, Activities, and Local Favorites

Here is a travel guide to the city where the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the President of U.S. Donald Trump meet in July. The presidents have settled their meeting place to be in Helsinki, Finland. Likely reasons for the decision to meet in Scandinavia are safety, choice of venues, and reliable management of the events. In addition, most residents are out of town enjoying their summer vacations, so traffic will flow easily.

Six predictions about digital trends in 2018

Business Insider and Emarketer have analyzed Mary Meeker’s annual Internet Trends report, and concluded that there are six trends above others. They include mobile devices driving the business on the web, breakthrough of voice control and China becoming a major player online.

BlackBerry Key2 vs iPhone: Keyboard Face-Off

Many writers like to instantly write down ideas and brief drafts when a thought pops up in the head. Often, it means typing on a smartphone touch screen. Blackberry has brought physical keyboard back to its smartphone, promising more convenient typing. Tom’s Guide compared the new Blackberry Key2 to the iPhone. Even Blackberry is not what it used to be.

From virtual reality to ebooks, the future of digital media in schools is a total toss-up

GeekWire visited a conference in Chicago that was focused on educational technology. The report from the conference is not convinced technology in schools in the US is moving to the right direction. Well, many European countries have already established methods to apply digital media to education, so it is doable.

Ebook news digest: publishing trends 2017, tools for remote workers, tips for book proposals

2017-01-15

Ebook news digest January 15, 2017

Top Ten Trends in Publishing Every Author Needs to Know in 2017
(Written Word Media)

Some bold predictions and some things that already have happened are featured in this article. 2017 will be an exciting year for ebook publishing. Digital markets are growing in many countries, for instance, in Europe, whereas in the US, big publishers rather sell paper books than ebooks. The rise of self-publishers and independent publishers will be one of the key trends to follow in 2017.

The Ultimate List of 22 Remote Work Tools Any Digital Nomad Needs in 2017
(Remoters)

Remote workers need good tools to be able to work both online and offline anytime and anywhere they happen to be. The ultimate list of tools introduced by Remoters features the usual suspects, but they are proven tools. We encourage Remoters and readers to think about two issues: offline work situations and being locked out of your free cloud service account. We have argued against using Google services for business or freelance work because of risks that particularly traveling workers will eventually face.

What To Know Before You Submit: 28 Great Tips from Literary Agents
(Writer’s Digest)

This is actually a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) with expert answers to the mystery of how to approach an agent with a book proposal. It is worth mentioning that not all publishers, especially in Europe, require an agent to represent the author. If a publisher’s web site has instructions for submitting book proposals, follow the instructions and submit directly (for instance, here). The points, however, made in the Writer’s Digest article are very valid for those direct submissions as well.

Travel Photography Essentials
(Wanderlusters)

An accidental travel photographer carries a camera, and a lens or two along for a trip, but a travel photographer who shoots for money often has a bag full of photography equipment for a trip. Wanderlusters introduces a comprehensive kit for on the ground and underwater travel photography. Here is a travel photo gallery updated by our writers.

Best Events For Digital Nomads In 2017
(flystein)

Life of a digital nomad can be lonely unless you are participating in one of those organized tours that move from one country to another once a month. Plenty of online services can help you find fellow nomads and connect with others near your location. If you want to connect with hundreds or even thousands of digital nomads in one place, attend a conference. Yes, they exist for nomads, too.

Top 10 trends and challenges in book publishing 2016

2016-06-09

Relative to the population, the number of new book titles published each year in Scandinavian countries is big. Books and reading are appreciated in the region, where the number of book publishers is relatively big as well. Each country, however, has its own language, reducing the potential market size for books that haven’t been translated. Ebooks haven’t made a major breakthrough in Scandinavia yet, but signs of change are in the air.

Successful digital media businesses that originate from Scandinavia and have expanded outside their home markets are, for instance, music streaming service Spotify and book streaming service Storytel. Schilling is a software and consultancy company that organizes an annual conference for Scandinavian publishing professionals. Inspired by the recently held 2016 conference, the company has written a report that outlines the trends in book publishing for 2016.

1. Think digital, or move over.

Traditional publishing business must adapt themselves to the digital era and transform their old business models. Often, established businesses only worry about threats, but forget to adopt new opportunities.

2. Streaming services are becoming the norm for books.

Spotify proved that people are willing to pay for a good service, even though it is easy to find music for free. Streaming of books may mean serialized flash fiction stories, or further development of services that we already have, like 24 Symbols, Bookmate and Scribd. Audiobooks are a prime product for streaming.

3. Student piracy and second-hand sales of books slow down the industry.

Young people tend to have time to enjoy books, music and movies, but little money to fulfill all their wishes. Piracy is a problem in some markets and in some genres. The industry should innovate and find solutions that satisfy both the rights owners and everyone else.

4. Mobile storytelling for a new generation of readers.

Mobile devices and multimedia technologies are present in daily life of all of us, but young generations have lived with them all their lives. Book publishers must take multimedia and mobile platform seriously in order to attract young generations to read, listen or watch books.

5. Digital voice technology is a new opportunity for audiobooks.

Audiobooks are quite expensive to produce and so far, the market has been small compared to the rest of the book market. Innovations in digital voice technology – computer voice reading a book, rather than a human voice – have made it possible to express emotions digitally. As the technology improves, it makes it possible for readers to read/listen books like they used listen to radio.

6. Video is the fastest growing content type.

YouTube, Netflix, and Dailymotion are only the tip of the iceberg when online video is considered. Billions of smartphone and tablets produce billions of minutes of video for Facebook, Periscope, Snapchat, and other platforms. Live broadcasts via the Internet are growing as well (at the expense of broadcast TV). One of the few – if not the only – media industry that has managed to avoid video is book publishing.

7. Ebooks and printed books will coexist.

There are people who only read printed books, and people who only open ebooks. Most readers accept both. This is the scenario for the foreseeable future as well.

8. Digital mindset for traditional publishing.

For established businesses, it is easy to protect the cash cows of today, and reject anything new that might disrupt it. The thing is that everything has been disrupted already. Only 10 years ago, who would have thought that ebooks will have about 25% market share in the US and UK in 2016? In 2006, ebooks didn’t exist (apart from some niche products – Amazon launched the Kindle in 2007).

9. Creative discovery of new revenue streams.

The business of book publishing is about finding talent and turning their thoughts into products that can be sold to large audiences. It doesn’t have to change, but perhaps it is possible to create additional revenue streams around the core product.

10. 360-degree management of assets.

360-degree management in music business means that a party takes responsibility of an artist’s all income sources: recordings, shows, merchandise, rights, and whatever can be thought of. This business model may have potential in book industry as well.

You can download Schilling’s report here.

A digital voice technology expert explains about speech synthesis on this video:

These neighborhoods are trending travel destinations in cities across the world

2016-01-27

Online accommodation service Airbnb is disrupting a large segment of travel industry: ordinary people make a spare bedroom available at their apartment for tourists, and usually at lower price than hotels. Young city-dwellers who like to travel are probably the most frequent users of Airbnb, and it reflects in the destinations that are popular at the service. Airbnb has released a report that lists the hottest neighborhoods in the world for travelers.

Osaka by Thomas Park

Here is the top 16 hottest districts ranked by the relative growth in bookings in 2015 (tallied up from bookings of 40 million users in 190 countries):

1. Chuo-ku (Osaka, Japan): 7,471% growth
2. Banglampoo (Bangkok): 1,239%
3. Brickfields (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia): 1,231%
4. Capucins (Bordeaux, France): 966%
5. Koukaki (Athens, Greece): 801%
6. Triana (Seville, Spain): 774%
7. Hammerbrook (Hamburg, Germany): 418%
8. Kaneohe (Oahu, Hawaii): 324%
9. Meireles (Fortaleza, Brazil): 287%
10. Roma Sur (Mexico City): 279%
11. Oak Lawn (Dallas, Texas): 264%
12. Poncey-Highland (Atlanta, Georgia): 242%
13. District VII (Budapest, Hungary): 148%
14. The Bukit Peninsula (Bali, Indonesia): 134%
15. Richmond (Melbourne, Australia): 126%
16. Constitucion (Buenos Aires, Argentina): 125%

The percentages for growth are so big that the starting point may have been rather low in many destinations. That’s often the reason for huge growth numbers, but nonetheless, something draws travelers into these neighborhoods, so there’s something going on in there.

Who would have thought that Dallas or Atlanta are hot destinations? We have visited many cities (or islands like Bali) listed in the hottest neighborhood report, but we can recognize only a few of districts. Who knows, maybe we have passed through Triana in Seville, but never took notice, or a taxi has driven us via Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur without making a fuss about it.

Buenos Aires by Kevin Dooley

Despite uncertain economic times, international tourism industry is growing, with Europe attracting ever more travelers

2015-11-04

UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) has published its World Tourism Barometer that reveals some interesting pieces of information on trends in travel. The number of international tourists who stayed at least one night overseas grew 4.3% during January-August 2015. Europe showed the strongest growth with 5% increase in the number of international travelers.

– Central Europe had +7% growth in international tourist arrivals
– Eastern Europe +7%
– Northern Europe +6%
– Southern Mediterranean Europe +5%
– Western Europe +4%
– The 28 countries of the European Union had 6% more arrivals than the year before.

Other regions of the world experienced growth as well, only Africa recorded lower number (-5%) of tourists than the year before.

UNWTO’s Press release.

Travel guides for planning a trip to Europe, and taking the guide along for the vacation are, for instance:
The Gems of Nice and the French Riviera
I, Helsinki (A guide to Helsinki, Finland)
Gothenburg and Sweden’s West Coast