Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Open Access

Abstract

Domestic Tourism Development: Issues Constraints and Trends

Kassegn Berhanu Melese

Tourism is widely promoted as one of the world's biggest and fastest-growing industries. Technology, telecommunication and tourism are the three major industries that drive the 21st-century global economy. In 2018, Travel and Tourism’s total contribution to the global economy rose to 10.4 % of global GDP and it supports 319 million jobs or 10% of total employment. In 2019, the total number of international tourists reached 1.5 billion and the average world growth of international tourist arrivals was 5.6%. Domestic tourism continues to account by far for most of 86% of total tourism in the world but yet it is under-researched, overlooked and undervalued compared to international tourism. The main objective is to uncover the issues, practices and constraints of domestic tourism development as much recent research, articles, reports and plans or policies of both developing and developed nations. A mixed methodological approach of narrative and systematic reviewing will be employed. The articles revealed that countries with larger and richer populations (developed nations and emerging economies) have more domestic tourists. Factors that motivate people to travel and or to have the intention to visit are technological advancements, improvement of transportation, unique cultural and natural attractions, conducive climate, and reduction of working hours, education and awareness creation by media. Some of the challenges that hinder domestic tourism development are the higher relative value of a local currency than in other countries, which resulted in more locals traveling abroad, a lack of domestic package tours holidays, lack of awareness and understanding by locals about their tourism resources and heritage attractions, lack of money, distance and high transport cost, the high emphasis for international tourism by government and other concerned bodies, poor attitude towards tourism and lack of travel habit and low promotion. The main conclusion drawn is through strong collaboration and integrated effort of governments at different levels, NGOs working in travel and tourism, tourism and hospitality, a more sustainable domestic tourism can be developed.

Published Date: 2022-06-06; Received Date: 2022-05-06