CHALLENGES FACING THE TOURIST INDUSTRY

1. TAXES

Traveler’s taxes often make travelling very expensive.

Look at the percentage of taxes paid on an airline ticket, a hotel room, or a rental car.

2. GLOBAL STANDARDIZATION

Less unique locales – the same products are often available throughout the world.

A lot of people travel to experience unique cultures and goods (shopping), having similar products will deter people from travelling.

3. COST OF FUEL

With the cost of gasoline on the rise, many travelers may have to adjust their spending (or vacation length) in order to pay for additional fuel charges.

4. WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ADVANCEMENTS

Leisure travelers are not simply on vacation – people are interconnected at all times; which means, news stories and events (good or bad) are spread instantaneously throughout the world.

Business meetings no longer need to be conducted face-to-face; as a result, less business travelers.

5. SECURITY

Lack of communication between tourism offices (visitors bureaus) and local police departments to protect tourists – local governments do not provide enough economic and manpower resources to protect visitors and tourism facilities.

6. SAFETY/HEALTH ISSUES

Baby boom generation is aging but still travelling and involved in many different physical activities.

Tourism officials will be facing all sorts of safety issues; mobile medical units may be needed, others will need special diets and readily available pharmacies open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Pandemic and/or pandemic scares (i.e. SARS, Anthrax, Ebola, etc.)- nervous public may cease to visit a locale due to health related safety issues.

7. POLITICAL STRESS

Visa restrictions becoming more complicated – frustrate travelers

Street demonstrations, riots, terrorism, wars etc. – give negative publicity to the host locale, but also make travel more difficult and less appealing.

8. TRAVEL STRESS

The harsh restrictions, increasing prices, and hassle of travelling are becoming more prominent and the potential for it to affect the tourism industry is very present.

CHALLENGES FACING THE FLORIDA TOURIST INDUSTRY

DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Swamp lands drained, rivers rerouted, canals constructed, overuse of freshwater for irrigation and industry leads to deforestation = Everglades threatened

Florida panther endangered, manatee on Endangered Species list

DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Severe water shortages = urban

development restrictions & sink holes Coastlines (Gulf & Atlantic sides) are

ecologically sensitive – the mangrove trees that protect the shoreline and provide habitat for many species are being removed for urban development

HURRICANES

Florida is said to be vulnerable to hurricanes from June 1st to November 30th.

With the combination of hurricanes and summer season in most areas where tourists generally come from, Florida tourism experiences a lull 3-6 months of the year.

POPULATION DENSITY

Population Growth rate is the highest in USA (1000 people/day move to Florida). Therefore more infrastructure (roads, buildings, etc.) is needed but it conflicts with tourist activities based on natural attractions

Immigration (legal & illegal) from the Caribbean & Central/South America fleeing political & economic problems. This has changed the cultural face of Florida, and conflicts have risen over language, politics & economic development.

ILLEGAL DRUGS

From Latin America = high crime rate in Miami (logical entry point for billions of dollars in illegal drugs)

VIOLENCE

Tourists have been robbed and murdered, sometimes on roads in rental cars. Mid 1980’s held back development of tourist trade.