commercial of tourism

Encyclopedia of Tourism pp 1–2 Cite as

Commercialization, tourism

• Alan Clarke 3  
• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2015

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Commercialization is the transformation of cultural forms, both tangible and intangible, through the application of business values and the investment of capital, which is often also seen as involving or creating a market economy. Commercialization is often defined tautologically as the introduction of the commercial to the production or development of new forms of business. This reveals more if the values underpinning the concept of the commercial are explored. It can be observed that people do increasingly live not only in a market economy but also in a market society – which means that the market and its categories of thought have come to dominate over more areas of everyday lives.

This is well demonstrated throughout the history of tourism as the origins of the hospitality relationships and the ability to travel have been transformed by the injection of capital and the recognition of the success criteria of capitalism. Commercialization also involves the introduction of...

• Mass Customization
• Market Society
• Specialized Economy
• Consumer Society
• Contemporary Economy

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Jafar Jafari

School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

Honggen Xiao

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Clarke, A. (2015). Commercialization, tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_436-1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_436-1

Received : 18 May 2015

Accepted : 18 May 2015

Published : 23 September 2015

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Online ISBN : 978-3-319-01669-6

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Los Angeles Tourism to Launch Its Largest-Ever Global Advertising Campaign

Dawit Habtemariam , Skift

January 24th, 2024 at 3:24 PM EST

Los Angeles recognizes that global competition for tourists has changed drastically since the pandemic. It's putting more money and targeting more markets to address it.

Dawit Habtemariam

Los Angeles Tourism is launching its most expensive and far-reaching advertising campaign on February 1 in Paris. 

“It’s our largest global campaign in the history of the organization,” said LA Tourism CEO and President Adam Burke. 

The campaign will target the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, U.S., as well as France and South Korea. France is a new market. LA will be making it first in-market advertisement in South Korea since the pandemic. The ads will hit TV, streaming , cable, social media, in-flight video, podcasts, and billboards.

The campaign is the latest iteration of the “Now Playing” campaign, which centers around the destination’s arts, food, culture and other aspects of the LA lifestyle.  The campaign will also include out-of-placement collaborations with LA-based artists Mister Cartoon and Steven Harrington. 

Burke did not disclose how much the campaign cost beyond it being a “record eight-figure” investment. A share of the expenses is being covered by the $7.5 million grant LA received from Visit California to stimulate its post-pandemic recovery. LA Tourism has an annual operating budget of $69 million.

San Francisco Travel also got funding support from Visit California for its advertising campaign to reverse its sluggish tourism recovery .

Why LA Needs Such a Big Global Campaign

Competition for tourism is heating up, said Burke. It’s not just traditional competitors like London and New York City.

“The names that we keep hearing repeatedly when we meet with our partners in the trade are Canada, Saudi [Arabia], Australia,” he said. “Those are the three notable international competitors who are spending significantly against overseas visitation.”

Burke pointed to Saudi Arabia “literally spending billions” on its tourism infrastructure. The kingdom lured Los Angeles World Airports CEO Justin Erbacci into becoming CEO of Neom Airport last year, he said.

Outgoing Brand USA CEO and President Chris Thompson and NYC Tourism CEO and President Fred Dixon both also told Skift Saudi Arabia has become a rising competitor for international travel.

LA’s International tourism recovery pace needs to speed up. LA Tourism expects 24 to 36 months before visitors from overseas markets get back to pre-pandemic levels, said Burke. 

Los Angeles Tourism Plays Off the Paris Olympics Hype

On February 1, the tourism board will kick off the campaign at the Kimpton St Honoré in Paris. The aim is to leverage the excitement around the 2024 Paris Olympics . Los Angeles will be hosting the 2028 Olympics, its third time hosting it (this is also Paris’ third time hosting it).

France has become a growing source of visitors for Los Angeles, said Burke. French tourists can enter the U.S. without a visitor visa.

Now Playing K-Pop

Like France, South Korea is another visa-free country with the U.S. and has become a growing tourist market for LA. The tourism board is working with a K-pop boy band Riize to provide its song “Get a Guitar” to play alongside LA’s ads in South Korea. 

It is also putting ads on Netflix in South Korea. “In Korea, there are opportunities of streaming and Netflix that we really can’t see much in other markets,” said Bill Karz, senior vice president of brand and digital marketing for LA Tourism.

Update: This story has been corrected to say that South Korea is not a new market for LA’s advertising.

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Photo credit: Los Angeles Tourism will launch its largest global advertising campaign. Jake Blucker / Unsplash

The Impact of Tourism Boom on Commercial Real Estate Landscape

Commercial real estate is rising in popularity among investors, with tourism being an important factor to consider. Tourist spending has a direct impact on the value of investments and can provide unique opportunities for savvy investors who are looking to make a profit off their commercial properties. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how tourism affects different types of commercial real estate investments, from hotels to restaurants and everything in between.

We’ll review key statistics related to tourist activity as it applies to business investment, discuss strategies for making returns on your property investments, and explore opportunities presented by both domestic and international tourism markets. Read on to learn more about the powerful influence of tourism when it comes to investing in commercial properties!

Several factors contribute to the success of a commercial real estate investment property, and one crucial aspect to consider is tourism. Tourism not only attracts more investors to a destination but also drives up property values, intensifies competition for prime real estate locations, and fosters further development. By taking tourism into account, investors can make informed decisions that maximize their potential for success in the tourism real estate market.

Key Takeaways

• Tourism and commercial real estate are deeply intertwined, with each influencing the other’s growth, challenges, and opportunities.
• While tourism can boost commercial property values and demand, over-reliance can lead to overdevelopment and strain on resources.
• In 2022, the U.S. saw significant growth in outbound tourism with a market value of $101.7 billion. The Travel & Tourism industry is projected to reach $190.4 billion in revenue by 2023. Additionally, inbound visitors spent $12.6 billion on travel and tourism-related activities in the U.S., a 105% increase compared to May 2021.

The Influence of Tourism on Commercial Real Estate: A Transformational Lens

Tourism significantly contributes to shaping the contours of commercial real estate. The evolution of this impact over time reveals intriguing insights into the symbiotic relationship between these two sectors. By delving into historical context and specific city examples, we can better understand this dynamic.

Historically Shaped By Tourism

The influence of tourism on commercial real estate has been a consistent theme throughout history. Tourism influx often boosts local economies, translating into growth in the commercial real estate market. As tourism-driven demand for services like accommodation, food and beverage, and retail increases, there’s a proportional rise in related commercial real estate’s value and development.

City Transformations by Tourism

Cities and regions the world over have experienced dramatic transformations, largely driven by thriving tourism industry. Take Barcelona, for instance. The Spanish city has seen a vibrant evolution in its commercial real estate since the 1992 Olympics – a colossal event which marked the city on the global tourism map.

It resulted in the significant development of hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces. Similarly, Dubai’s strategy of positioning itself as a global tourist destination has led to rapid tourism development and the meteoric rise of its commercial real estate sector.

The Tsai Research: Built Tourism Resources’ Influence

According to a research piece by Henry Tsai from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, there is a notable correlation between tourism facilities and property value. Initial studies indicated a positive effect of natural resources on the value of nearby properties. Lately, scholars have expanded their focus on ‘built’ tourism resources, such as resorts and sports facilities.

Their influence on both housing prices and surrounding property value is increasingly acknowledged as these constructed attractions not only draw tourists but also promote the areas as desirable locations for commercial activities. The influx of tourism enhances demand for services and goods, which in turn stimulates the local commercial real estate market. Be the focus natural or built, the influence of tourism on commercial real estate remains compelling.

Property Types

Tourism bears a significant impact on diverse segments of commercial real estate, helping shape the demand and value of various property types. Here are some areas that most directly reap the benefits of the tourism sector’s dynamism:

Hotels and Resorts: Beneficiaries at the Forefront

When it comes to tourism development’s immediate effects, hotels and resorts usually lead the charts. These properties serve as the mainstay for tourists and handle the primary demand created by the influx of visitors. The growth of tourism directly correlates with the expansion and success of these hospitality establishments.

Retail Spaces: Meeting Tourist Shopping Desires

With tourism comes the inevitable surge in retail activity. From standalone shops to grand shopping malls and bustling local markets, retail spaces distinctly benefit from tourism. These establishments cater to tourists’ unique shopping needs, offering local crafts, brand-lined offerings or even mundane necessities. The growth of retail spaces is undeniably linked to the consumption habits of tourists.

Restaurants, Cafes, and Entertainment Venues

Food & beverage and entertainment locales substantially gain from a thriving tourism sector. Tourists exploring local cuisines and cultures inevitably frequent restaurants, cafes, and other entertainment venues. These popular hangouts become highlights of the travel experience, leading to their prosperity in regions with high tourist traffic.

Cultural Spaces: Showcasing Artistic and Historical Wealth

Cultural establishments such as museums, art galleries, and theaters also experience a positive ripple effect. Tourists are often drawn to these cultural hotspots to engage with local history, art, and culture, leading to boosted activity and revenue for such properties.

Mixed-Use Developments: A Composite of Needs

Mixed-use developments, which weave together residential, retail, and recreational spaces, also see an evolution propelled by tourism demand. These multifunctional properties cater to a variety of tourist needs, encapsulating accommodation, shopping, dining, and entertainment under one roof.

The demand and success of these developments often echo the ebb and flow of tourism trends. In 2022, the U.S. outbound tourism market was valued at US $101,697 million , while revenue in the Travel & Tourism market is projected to reach $190.40 billion in 2023. Moreover, inbound visitors spent $12.6 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities in the U.S., up 105% compared to May 2021.

The impact of tourism extends its hands to various segments of commercial real estate. From hospitality-focused real estate like hotels and resorts to retail spaces and cultural establishments, they all tie their growth and success to the throbbing pulse of the tourism industry.

Investment Dynamics in Tourism-Driven Real Estate

The lure of tourism-centric properties transcends mere interest, creating a broader canvas filled with nuanced trends, key influencing factors, and potential risks and rewards. Through illustrative case studies, we can unearth successful narratives of tourism-driven real estate investments.

Investment Trends in Tourism-Driven Real Estate

The investment landscape of tourism-oriented real estate has witnessed noteworthy shifts and turns. Investment interest has been steering towards mixed-use developments in recent years, owing to the broad range of services they offer, making them highly attractive to tourists. Eco-tourism developments also have seen a surge in interest, aligning with the global rise in sustainable travel trends.

Furthermore, digitally-driven concepts such as home-sharing platforms have unveiled an alternate route for individual investors to tap into tourism’s profitable potential, with properties in prime tourist locations garnering substantial returns.

What Draws Investors to Tourism-Centric Properties

The chief allure for investors in tourism-centric properties lies in the potential for robust return on investment. Tourism hubs tend to sustain high occupancy rates year-round, translating into steady income streams. Furthermore, these locations often see appreciable property value growth, offering the prospect for capital gains in addition to rental income.

The vibrant and varied needs of tourists have given rise to innovative property types, offering investors plenty of options to match their specific risk profiles, investment goals, and interests.

Risks and Rewards of Investing in Tourist Areas

Investment in tourism-oriented real estate is associated with a unique risk-reward matrix. High footfall in tourist areas can yield lucrative rental returns and, over time, an increased valuation of the property. However, this also exposes investors to risks such as seasonal variations in footfall or unforeseen global events, like pandemics.

Property maintenance costs can be elevated due to high usage, and intensified regulations and licensing requirements associated with tourism also add to the complexity. However, these risks are often offset by the potential for consistently high demand, especially in well-known or burgeoning tourist destinations.

Illuminating Success Stories of Tourism-Driven Investments

Various successful cases in tourism-driven real estate investments worldwide underscore their potential. The consistent growth of mixed-use developments in Dubai, for instance, spotlights a winning formula. Combining luxury residential spaces with retail and leisure facilities, these properties are an irresistible draw for tourists, resulting in attractive and sustained returns for investors.

Another example is Orlando, Florida, renowned for its enchanting theme parks. The city’s high visitor influx has fueled massive success in the vacation home rental market, making real estate investment and tourism investment here a fruitful venture.

In sum, tourism-driven real estate investments offer rich prospects. By understanding the underlying trends, attractiveness, risk-reward trade-off, and drawing valuable insights from successful investments, investors can be well-positioned to capitalize on the growth of tourism’s love affair with real estate.

Seasonality of Tourism

The ebb and flow of tourist arrivals, occasioned by the cyclical nature of tourism, wield substantial influence on property prices and demand, challenging the commercial real estate sector to adapt and devise ingenious strategies for seasonality.

Cyclical Tourism and Its Impact on Property Demand

Tourism, by nature, experiences peaks and valleys, often driven by seasons, and sometimes, by factors like events and school holidays. These oscillations have significant implications for the real estate industry. Peak seasons typically bring about high demand, potentially pushing property values up and boosting the overall business environment. However, during lulls, reduced visitor numbers may lead to lower property demand, potentially affecting profitability and occupancy rates.

Weathering the Off-Peak Seasons: Strategic Approaches

Managing off-peak seasons effectively is crucial to maintaining profitability in the commercial real estate sector. An emerging strategy is to offer discounted rates during low seasons to attract tourists looking for less crowded, cost-effective travel experiences. Likewise, property owners often schedule routine maintenance and renovation during these periods to ensure optimal service during high seasons.

Furthermore, targeting different tourist types can also help. For instance, marketing luxurious, serene retreats to older tourists or digital nomads during off-peak months might counterbalance the reduced influx of holiday tourists.

Leveraging Events, Festivals, and Attractions

Special events, festivals, and local attractions play a vital role in driving year-round tourism. Cities that host significant events, such as music festivals, sports tournaments, or international conferences, often witness consistent visitor numbers irrespective of the season.

Likewise, regions with unique attractions such as vineyards, historical sites, or theme parks also typically enjoy sustained footfall. Leveraging these attributes to diversify and stretch the tourist season is an effective way to combat the cyclical downturns in tourism.

In summary, the undulations of tourism seasons present both challenges and opportunities to the commercial real estate sector. A shrewd understanding of these cycles, effective off-peak as well as boom property management strategies, and capitalizing on local attractions and events can instill resilience in property demand, ensuring healthy returns throughout the year.

Positive Outcomes of Tourism on Commercial Real Estate

Tourism, with its power to invigorate economies, brings about an array of beneficial impacts on commercial real estate. An appreciation of property values, sustained demand for specific property types, and the birth of new business possibilities are among the many positive outcomes.

Appreciation of Property Values

An influx of tourists often translates into a thriving local economy. This heightened economic activity can lead to an increase in the value of commercial real estate. Prime locations and well-maintained properties, especially those that cater directly to tourists such as hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces, are likely to see the most significant appreciation in values. This appreciation benefits property owners and investors, contributing to rental prices and higher returns.

Sustained Demand for Certain Property Types

Tourism can boost demand for specific types of commercial real estate. Properties like hotels and other lodging establishments see increased, sustained usage due to tourists. Retail spaces and food & beverage establishments also experience a surge in demand as tourists shop for souvenirs, dine out, and explore the local culture. This demand often remains resilient, even during economic and housing price fluctuations, given the standing allure of travel for many.

Creation of New Business Opportunities

Tourism often leads to the creation of new business opportunities, contributing to the dynamism of the commercial real estate sector. For instance, growth in tourism can incentivize the development of unique property types, such as glamping sites, boutique hotels, or experiential retail stores.

Similarly, it has the potential to transform real estate usage – an old factory might be repurposed into a thriving cultural market or a series of abandoned buildings turned into unique vacation rentals. These new uses energize the property market, attracting innovative investors and fostering a continuously adaptable real estate landscape.

The influence of tourism on commercial real estate is profound and positively transformative. Through the appreciation of residential property values itself, the enhanced and sustained demand for certain property types, and the birth of new business opportunities, tourism emerges as a pivotal pillar in the prosperity of the commercial real estate sector.

Challenges and Negative Impacts of Tourism on Commercial Real Estate

While tourism undeniably shoulders the prosperity of the commercial real estate sector, it can also foster unique challenges and negative impacts. Seasonality, the potential for overdevelopment, and the strain on local resources and infrastructure encapsulate some of the pressing concerns.

Seasonality and Dependence on Tourism

The cyclical nature of tourism causes fluctuations in demand for commercial properties. Peak seasons bring inundating tourism activity, while off-peak times often see low property usage and income. This seasonality could lead to financial instability for businesses unable to effectively manage these cycles.

Furthermore, over-reliance on tourism creates vulnerability. Sudden global events, economic downturns, or shifts in travel behavior can lead to notable declines in visitor numbers, impacting property demand and occupancy rates.

The Risk of Overdevelopment

Driven by the prospect for robust returns, real estate developers and investors might overextend, leading to an oversupply of tourism-oriented properties. Overdevelopment could result in excessive competition, diminishing profits, and wasted resources. Moreover, abandoned constructions or underutilized properties impact the aesthetic appeal and overall environment of a region.

Strain on Local Resources and Infrastructure

A tourism boom often demands more power, water, waste disposal, and transportation services, placing a strain on local resources and infrastructure. Not only does this raise concerns about sustainability, but it can also lead to deterioration in the quality of life for local residents.

Commercial properties might also face increased costs for utilities and services during high-load periods. Moreover, enhancing infrastructure to meet tourist demands can raise property and construction costs, potentially less housing affordability and inflating market prices.

In conclusion, while tourism is largely beneficial for commercial real estate, it does come with its set of challenges. Understanding and addressing these issues—seasonality, overdevelopment, and the strain on the local community, infrastructure and resources—is crucial to sustainably harness tourism’s potential for commercial real estate success.

Case Studies: Tourism and Commercial Real Estate

Tourism’s impact on commercial real estate is conspicuous in various cities and regions worldwide. Let’s delve into a few examples, outlining their experiences and lessons learned.

Case Study 1: Dubai, UAE

Dubai, a global tourism hub, has commercial real estate significantly impelled by tourism. The city’s transition from an oil-based economy to one focused on tourism and real estate showcases how embracing tourism can revitalize an entire region.

Lesson Learned: Dubai demonstrates the value of diversification in property types — luxury hotels, mega malls, unique attractions like the Burj Khalifa, man-made islands, and the development of trade and exhibition centers. This diversity attracts a diverse range of tourists and secures different income streams, mitigating risks associated with over-reliance on a single property type or tourist demographic.

Case Study 2: Barcelona, Spain

The Catalan city is renowned for its lucrative tourism industry. However, the boom in tourism led to an oversupply of short-term holiday lets, negatively impacting the local housing market and community.

Lesson Learned: Barcelona’s experience underscores the importance of regulatory measures in maintaining balance in commercial real estate. The city has imposed restrictions on short-term lets and is implementing strategies to control tourism, reflecting the need for careful management and regulation in cities profoundly impacted by tourism.

Case Study 3: Orlando, Florida, USA

Orlando, with its vast array of amusement parks, consistently attracts substantial tourists, causing boom properties in tourism related income for commercial real estate – hotels, vacation rentals, retail, and food & beverage establishments.

Lesson Learned: Orlando’s experience underlines the importance of having major, year-round attractions to maintain consistent tourist influx, mitigating the impact of seasonality. The city also exemplifies how well-managed tourism growth can sustain a vibrant real estate market.

These case studies from Dubai, Barcelona, and Orlando illustrate various facets of tourism’s impact on commercial real estate. They emphasize the benefits of diversified offerings, the need for controlled growth, and potential strategies for seasonality management. By absorbing these lessons, stakeholders can formulate policies and strategies that embrace the benefits of tourism while mitigating its challenges.

Future Trends in Tourism and Commercial Real Estate

Several evolving trends give a glimpse into the future of tourism and its impact on commercial real estate. Sustainable tourism, the rise of virtual tourism and remote work, and shifts expected in the post-pandemic world emerge as significant themes.

The Challenge of Sustainable Tourism

Attuned to growing global environmental concerns, sustainable tourism is set to play a vital role in shaping the commercial real estate market. This concept builds upon the idea of developing and managing tourist spaces in a manner that respects local cultures, preserves the environment, and promotes socio-economic benefits for host communities.

Investors and developers will need to adopt eco-friendly design elements and operational practices, such as energy-efficient buildings, reduced water usage, and waste management systems. Green certifications may also become important selling points, adding value to properties.

The Emergence of Virtual Tourism and Remote Work

Virtual tourism, propelled by advances in technology like VR and AR, is promising an alternative travel experience. While it’s unlikely to replace traditional tourism, it may impact the demand for tourist-specific commercial real estate, especially tailored towards experiential tourism.

The rise of remote work culture has instigated a new trend of prolonged stays. Commercial properties, particularly serviced apartments and co-working spaces, would need to accommodate this new demographic, offering long-term stays with work-friendly environments.

Predictions for the Post-Pandemic World

The global pandemic has accelerated various trends and has prompted a reassessment of tourism’s role. As international travel normalizes, a rebound in tourism and subsequently, commercial real estate, is widely expected.

The emphasis, however, may shift towards localized, less crowded experiences, boosting rural and suburban real estate markets. Health and safety considerations will be paramount — properties offering contactless services, rigorous cleanliness protocols, and flexible booking policies would likely gain preference.

In conclusion, sustainable practices, the advent of virtual tourism and remote work, and adjustments ushered in by the pandemic are set to reshape the tourism-commercial real estate landscape. By staying abreast of these trends and adapting to them, the commercial real estate sector can continue to reap the benefits of a dynamic tourism industry.

The Impact of Tourism on Commercial Real Estate FAQs

How is real estate related to tourism.

Commercial real estate and tourism have a symbiotic relationship. As tourism drives demand for accommodations, attractions, shopping, and dining, it also impacts the development of commercial properties in these areas. In turn, well-managed commercial real estate helps attract and enhance the overall tourism experience, creating a cycle of mutual benefit.

Why does the Philippines need to develop tourism focused real estate?

The Philippines relies heavily on tourism as a significant contributor to its economy. Developing tourism-focused real estate can not only enhance the overall tourist experience but also provide additional revenue streams for the country. It can also create job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in areas that may not have been traditionally popular among tourists.

How does tourism affect the housing market?

The impact of tourism on the housing market can vary depending on the specific location and type of tourism. In some cases, an increase in tourism can lead to higher demand for short-term rentals, driving up housing prices, and reducing available long-term housing options. This can negatively affect local residents, making it more difficult to find affordable homes.

What are the impacts of the tourism industry?

The tourism industry can have both positive and negative impacts on the areas it affects. On one hand, it can bring in significant revenue, create job opportunities, and contribute to economic growth. On the other hand, it can also put pressure on local resources and infrastructure, cause overcrowding and strain relationships with local communities.

What is the biggest impact of tourism on the economy?

Tourism offers a significant advantage: the ability to generate revenue through foreign exchange earnings. When tourists spend money, it contributes to the income of the host economy. These funds can then be reinvested into the country’s economy, fostering further growth and development.

From the rise of virtual experiences to sustainable real estate tourism, the link between commercial real estate and tourism will be continuously evolving. Although there are numerous ways that tourism can impact real estate landscape and markets, all in all, it is clear that travel and commerce are distinctly interdependent. Significantly, this creates a unique set of challenges and opportunities for companies in both industries.

So if you’re interested in finding out more regionally-specific information, or wish to discuss strategies regarding how to best leverage this relationship for future success, make sure to call or schedule a free consultation with me at Tolj Commercial real estate. As an experienced real estate professional, I’m here to answer your questions and help you get the most out of your investment ideas.

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The Importance of Tourism Advertising

Navigating today’s highly competitive and ever-changing tourism industry is no simple feat — you need to stand out from a constantly expanding crowd to be successful. That’s why effective tourism advertising is essential to any successful tourism brand. It’s not only important to create captivating ad campaigns and impactful messaging to engage potential customers but also to ensure that those campaigns reach the right audience. 

But how do you make sure your travel advertising is effective? While there is no one-size-fits-all solution for marketing for travel advertising, there are certain key elements to consider when advertising travel and tourism that can make all the difference. 

This blog will delve into the multifaceted realm of travel industry advertising, exploring the key components that make a campaign captivating and unforgettable. 

Understanding the Role of Advertising in Tourism Promotion

Advertising plays a pivotal role in tourism promotion, serving as the bridge that connects potential travelers with tourism products, destinations, and experiences. Its primary function is to generate awareness and interest in a specific location or service, ultimately influencing travel decisions and driving consumer action. 

Advertising in tourism promotion encompasses several key aspects:

• Increasing Visibility and Awareness: Advertising tourism destinations helps increase their visibility by promoting attractions, accommodations, activities, special events and other offerings to potential travelers. Creating memorable and engaging advertisements can capture your target audience’s attention and generate interest. This increased awareness can lead to higher demand and more bookings.
• Targeting Specific Audiences: Today’s adtech allows travel and tourism brands to target specific market segments based on demographics, interests, and travel motivations. Tailoring advertising campaigns to resonate with these specific groups enables businesses to attract the right type of visitors, increasing the likelihood of bookings and conversions. Recent advances in AI-driven data science tools enable you to gain deeper insights into your own data, target predictively modeled custom audiences, and optimize campaigns in real time to ensure you’re engaging with relevant, ideal audiences.
• Building Brand Image and Reputation: Effective advertising helps establish a strong brand image and reputation for a destination or travel brand. Businesses can create a lasting impression on potential travelers by consistently conveying a unique brand identity and promoting positive experiences. A strong brand image and reputation will then encourage travelers to choose you over competitors, leading to increased bookings and customer loyalty.
• Communicating Unique Selling Propositions (USPs):  Advertising enables you to highlight unique selling points and differentiate yourself from competitors. Showcasing the distinct features, benefits, and experiences that set you apart can entice potential travelers to visit or use your services.
• Educating Potential Travelers: With informative and engaging content, you can provide valuable information about tourist attractions, local culture, customs, and other considerations that are important to travelers planning their trips. This educational aspect helps travelers make informed decisions and increases the likelihood that they will choose a particular destination or business based on their interests and needs.
• Staying Competitive: The tourism industry is fast-paced and dynamic, making advertising crucial for businesses seeking to stay competitive. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends and adapting advertising strategies can help you maintain relevance and appeal to potential travelers. 
• Measuring Success and Optimizing Strategies: Digital advertising campaigns provide valuable data and insights that your business can use to measure the success of its tourism promotion efforts. You can evaluate the effectiveness of your advertising strategies by analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) such as website traffic, social media engagement, and conversion rates. This analysis enables you to make data-driven decisions to optimize your campaigns, ensuring that you continue to effectively promote your offerings and attract potential travelers.

Why Is Tourism Advertising Important?

Effective advertising is obviously essential for any tourism business that wishes to stay ahead of its competition, promote its brand, and thrive. Here are a few reasons why it’s so important to keep your tourism advertising ahead of the curve today:

The Travel and Tourism Industry Is Extremely Competitive

With countless tourist destinations, hotels, resorts, tourism agencies, and attractions vying for the attention of potential travelers, differentiating yourself to stand out from the crowd and capture a share of the market is vital.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there is significantly increased demand for travel and experiences across all audiences – and brands are responding, saturating the market with messaging. In such a competitive environment, a sound advertising strategy can help you capture the attention of potential visitors and convince them to choose your destination or service over another. The ever-increasing popularity of digital platforms has also intensified the competition, as businesses now have access to a global audience and can target their advertising efforts more precisely than ever before.

Tourists Are Always on the Hunt for One-of-a-Kind Experiences

In an age where travelers are increasingly driven by a desire for unique, authentic, and memorable experiences, tourism brands must showcase their ability to provide these exceptional experiences to attract and retain visitors.

Tourism marketing plays a pivotal role in highlighting the distinctive offerings of a destination or service by showcasing its unique attributes, such as local culture, history, natural wonders, or exclusive activities. By effectively communicating these characteristics through advertising, you can spark the curiosity of potential travelers and persuade them to choose your offerings over those of competitors. Today’s formats and tech-enabled creative capabilities can help you convey the power of a destination or experience, with high-impact creative, augmented reality integrations, interactive video, and more.

Advertising Is a Must To Reach International Audiences

In an increasingly globalized marketplace, destinations and businesses within the travel industry must extend their reach beyond local markets to attract visitors from all over the world. While local tourists are an important source of repeat income, international travelers bring invaluable cultural exchange and can generate a much higher economic impact.

Tech-enabled creative and advanced targeting capabilities can be especially effective at targeting international audiences, finding behaviors and interests that help you determine the right channels, formats and messaging to resonate across cultural and geographical boundaries. By crafting compelling tourism-related marketing messages that resonate with a global audience, your business can create brand awareness and encourage potential visitors to choose your offerings.

Keeping Up an Active Online Presence Is Paramount to Business Success

Digital marketing is one component of an active online presence, which is crucial for business success in today’s digital landscape. With most travelers relying heavily on the Internet for researching, planning, and booking their trips, businesses in the tourism industry must prioritize their online presence to stay competitive, attract potential customers, and foster customer loyalty.

An active online presence ensures that your business remains visible and discoverable to potential customers. Being responsive and informative by engaging on organic social media and providing in-depth content about topics such as your specific offerings, destination, and local cultures will help establish trust and credibility among potential customers and encourage them along their customer journey. Showcasing positive reviews, testimonials, and engaging content demonstrates expertise, reliability, and commitment to providing exceptional experiences, encouraging potential customers to choose your business over competitors.

6 Tips for Successful Tourism Advertising

Here are a few tips to ensure that your campaigns capture the attention of potential travelers and stand out from the crowd:

1. Use the Right Advertising Tools and Services

Successful tourism advertising requires utilizing the appropriate tools and services to reach the right audience effectively. While traditional methods, such as print ads and billboards, still have value, digital channels like social media, search engine marketing, and programmatic advertising provide invaluable targeting capabilities and performance metrics to ensure you’re reaching precise audiences and getting the most out of every spend.

For example,  Google Ads allows businesses to target specific keywords and demographics, enabling them to reach an audience that is already actively interested in relevant destinations or services. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter offer advertising options that allow businesses to reach a wide range of users, including those who have shown interest in travel and tourism, by basing targeting on extensive demographic and interest-based behavioral data. Additionally, programmatic advertising enables placement on numerous relevant channels and outlets such as tourism-focused websites, blogs, apps, and even streaming video content and audio. On social media, working with travel influencers can also help you gain exposure to a highly engaged and relevant audience. 

Take, for instance, a hotel targeting young travelers. Partnering with a popular travel blog or influencer can help the hotel gain exposure to an audience of young, adventurous travelers who are likely to be interested. The hotel may also prioritize social media advertising on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, where their target audience is most active. They could use visually appealing images or video ads showcasing unique experiences they offer and collaborate with influencers to increase reach and engagement. 

On the other hand, a luxury resort catering to an older demographic may prefer to focus on display ads on high-end travel publication websites, complementing their print ads in related magazines, or launching targeted email marketing campaigns.

2. Have a Solid Marketing Strategy in Place

A well-defined marketing strategy is essential for successful tourism advertising. This involves setting clear objectives, identifying your target audience – ideally using data science methodology to ensure accurate, objective analysis – determining your USP, and choosing the most effective channels for reaching your audience. Adtech tools like the machine learning technology leveraged by AUDIENCEX strategists can simplify this process, ensuring accurate and unbiased analysis and channel mix recommendations.

This process begins with outlining your goals and objectives, including increasing bookings, driving website traffic, or raising brand awareness. Next, define your target audience by considering age, income, interests, and travel preferences. This is where AI-driven data science tools can help ensure you’re working from objective fact rather than assumptions or unconscious biases. Finally, your USP should highlight what sets your offerings apart from those of competitors: a unique location, exceptional service, exclusive experiences, etc.

Once these elements are in place, you can select the most appropriate advertising channels based on your target audience’s preferences and habits. This is where unbiased media recommendations can help, ensuring that you’re operating from objective performance data based on extensive historical and real-time analysis.

For instance, a  destination marketing organization (DMO) aiming to attract more international visitors may set specific goals for increasing website traffic, social media engagement, and visitor numbers. It would then conduct research and employ data science analysis to understand the preferences and motivations of its target audience and develop a USP that sets its destination apart with a relevant point of interest, such as highlighting unique cultural experiences, stunning natural tourist attractions, or exceptional culinary offerings.

3. Build Tourism Campaigns That Resonate With Your Target Audience

Creating tourism campaigns that resonate with your target audience is key to successful advertising. This involves understanding their needs, desires, and motivations and crafting messages that speak directly to them.

An Expert’s Guide To the CTV Landscape

One approach to achieving this is by developing buyer personas, which are fictional representations of your ideal customers. These personas can help you understand your audience’s travel preferences, pain points, and decision-making process, enabling you to create campaigns that address their needs and showcase your offerings in a compelling way. These can also be informed by data science to ensure they are accurate to your most valuable segments.

Using storytelling, personalization, immersion and interactivity in your campaigns can particularly help you connect with your audience on an emotional level. Share real-life experiences of previous guests, highlight the unique aspects of your destination, or showcase local culture and history to create memorable and engaging content that resonates with potential customers.

4. Stay on Top of Tourism and Travel Trends

Keeping up-to-date with the latest tourism and travel trends is essential for successful advertising. This helps you stay relevant in a rapidly changing industry and enables you to identify new opportunities and adapt your digital campaigns accordingly.

Some popular sources for staying informed about travel trends include industry reports, tourism conferences, tourism boards, travel-focused websites, blogs, and social media. Additionally, monitoring your competitors’ activities and analyzing their marketing strategies can provide valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t in your particular niche. 

5. Enhance the Customer Experience

A positive customer experience is paramount to the success of your tourism marketing efforts. This includes providing exceptional service from the moment potential customers encounter your ads to the point when they complete their trip.

To enhance the customer experience, ensure your website is user-friendly, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. Provide detailed information about your offerings, including high-quality images, video ads, and testimonials from satisfied customers. Offer multiple booking options and payment methods to cater to different preferences and make the process seamless.

Additionally, consider implementing customer relationship management (CRM) tools to track and analyze customer interactions and preferences. This data can help you personalize your marketing efforts, improve customer service, and anticipate the needs of your guests, and can be helpful to build your first-party data and inform future analysis, audience modeling, and optimization.

6. Highlight the Value of Your Offerings

Lastly, successful tourism advertising involves demonstrating the value of your offerings to potential customers. This means showcasing the features of your destination or services and the benefits and unique experiences they provide.

Communicate how your offerings can meet the needs and desires of your target audience, whether they seek relaxation, adventure, cultural immersion, or something else entirely. Ensure that the message is tailored to the audience you are speaking to, as different travelers have different reasons to employ your services or visit a particular destination. Use compelling visuals and descriptions, as well as engaging interactivity where possible, to paint a vivid picture of what customers can expect when they choose your destination or services. And, of course, consider offering special promotions, discounts, or added-value packages to entice potential customers and demonstrate the value of your offerings.

Grow Your Business With HolisticTourism Advertising Campaigns

The importance of tourism advertising cannot be overstated in today’s highly competitive market. Businesses must partner with proficient advertising partners to stand out in a crowded landscape, promote unique offerings and experiences, attract potential travelers, and drive revenue.

AUDIENCEX is built to be an adaptable partner to help marketers navigate the digital landscape, access emergent technology, and achieve meaningful, measurable performance throughout the digital landscape. Our team has extensive experience with numerous travel, tourism, and hospitality brands, and we pair that expertise with seamless media access, AI-powered data science, holistic strategy and award-winning, tech-enabled creative services. With an in-depth understanding of the full-funnel marketing and data-enabled insight into each unique customer journey, we can deploy impactful, engaging campaigns to reach your ideal audience across channels, screens, and devices.

Contact us today to talk to a member of our team about your needs and goals. We’d love to explore how we can help you find the right audience, engage them effectively, and drive real results today.

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The concept of authenticity is closely related to heritage tourism, especially cultural heritage tourism. Seeking authenticity is one of the main trends in heritage tourism because people want to identify and understand themselves or reminisce about the past by looking back to the old ways of life and cultural traditions. Compared with actual authenticity, perceived authenticity has more value. It is a bridge between heritage authenticity and tourist experience. Heritage tourism is essentially a form of tourism that attracts tourists based on the commercialization of historical and cultural assets. A heritage site not only draws tourists to experience the authentic past, but it also provides them with a place for entertainment, relaxation and consumption. That is, heritage tourism development inevitably encounters commercialization. From a demand perspective, heritage tourism is an emotional experience, the perception of tourists at its core.

1. Tourism Authenticity

MacCannell [ 1 ] proposed the concept of ‘staged authenticity’ and introduced it into tourist motivation and experience research, after which authenticity became a hot topic in tourism research. However, as MacCannell [ 1 ] [ 2 ] did not give a clear definition of authenticity, this caused various meanings and types of authenticity to emerge, such as staged and true authenticity [ 1 ] , symbolic authenticity [ 3 ] , constructive authenticity [ 4 ] [ 5 ] , emergent authenticity [ 4 ] , hot and cold authenticity [ 6 ] , hyper-reality [ 7 ] , existential authenticity [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] , indexical and iconic authenticity [ 11 ] , customized authenticity [ 12 ] , etc. In fact, tourism authenticity is a multifaceted concept that leads to the need for multiple perspectives to coexist in its study [ 13 ] . Epistemologically, however, these authenticities can be classified into objective authenticity, constructive authenticity, existential authenticity and postmodern authenticity [ 14 ] [ 9 ] . Additionally, current empirical studies show that they can be perceived by tourists during their travels (e.g., [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] ).

Objective authenticity refers to the authenticity of originals [ 9 ] or that which is recognized by authority [ 18 ] . Constructive authenticity refers to the tourists’ projection of the authenticity of toured objects [ 9 ] . Existential authenticity refers to the potential state of being activated by tourist activities [ 9 ] . Postmodern authenticity has nothing to do with toured objects being authentic or inauthentic because in many cases toured objects are contrived attractions that are imagined, fantasized or simulated without original references [ 9 ] . In a cultural heritage tourism destination, objective authenticity often corresponds to the core attractions that have survived from the past, constructive authenticity means that the heritage site can be changed and reconstructed, existential authenticity is activity related or environment induced and postmodern authenticity refers to the objects that are simulated, imitated and even created. The four authenticities basically cover all objects and activities from premodern to modern and postmodern in cultural heritage sites.

In the past decade, the study of tourism authenticity has moved from conceptual elaboration and qualitative research to advanced empirical research. After Kolar and Zabkar [ 19 ] constructed an authenticity-centred model to explore the relationships between cultural motivation, object-based (i.e., object-related) and existential authenticity and loyalty, many studies borrowed and/or developed this theoretical model in the cultural heritage context (e.g., [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 17 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] ). Among them, the positive relationship between objective, constructive and existential authenticity and tourist loyalty has indeed been verified [ 16 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 17 ] . Meanwhile, many other studies have also confirmed that objective authenticity, constructive authenticity and existential authenticity, respectively, have a positive impact on tourist satisfaction in the context of cultural heritage tourism (e.g., [ 16 ] [ 25 ] ).

Although the direct relationship between postmodern authenticity and tourist satisfaction and loyalty has not been tested, Xie’s [ 26 ] research shows that tourists can have a satisfactory experience from the Li people’s bamboo-beating dance performance. The Aboriginal dance is a simulation and reproduction of past rituals [ 26 ] , which belongs to postmodern authenticity. This suggests that postmodern authenticity has a positive impact on tourist satisfaction. Meanwhile, Yi, Fu, Yu and Jiang’s [ 17 ] research on heritage villages found that postmodern authenticity has a significant positive conditional indirect effect on the relationship between objective authenticity and tourist loyalty through existential authenticity. Souvenirs have postmodern authenticity; Fu, Liu, Wang and Chao [ 24 ] found that souvenirs’ authenticity has a significant positive impact on tourist loyalty. Thereby, postmodern authenticity is likely to have a positive impact on tourist loyalty in a cultural heritage context.

2. Tourism Commercialization

Commercialization is defined as a commercial relationship established around tourism products and activities [ 27 ] , while commodification is defined as a process by which things or activities are transformed into commodities or services based on their exchange-value for trade [ 4 ] . The distinction between them lies in whether the product or activity is controlled by the producer [ 27 ] . When there is no direct monetary exchange between the producer and tourists, there is only commercialization instead of commodification. Commodification is a special process of commercialization in which ‘all commodities are commercialized, but not all commercial activities are commodified’ [ 27 ] ; thus, commercialization is more universal. In fact, commercialization is often used rather than commodification in the Chinese context (e.g., [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] ).

For cultural heritage tourist destinations, tourism commercialization is a special commercial phenomenon which has the following characteristics: first, the transformation of the destination’s commercial function is mainly driven by tourism development rather than production and life, which is reflected in the fact that the commodity supply capacity of shops exceeds the actual purchase demand of local residents, their target customer groups being mainly tourists rather than local residents, and these types of tourism shops account for a large proportion, even more than life shops; second, the tourism products of the destination are seriously homogenized, traditional handicrafts are reduced and products produced by modern technology flood the local tourism market [ 28 ] . Additionally, tourism commercialization is also reflected in the aggravated commercial atmosphere, the increased exotic business culture, the diminished local life vitality with the emigration of Aboriginal people, the construction of commercial buildings, etc. [ 31 ] . The level of these characteristics reflects the extent of tourism commercialization, from lower commercialization to higher commercialization, to over commercialization. What is important is that the commercial presentation of authenticity should not exceed the threshold of tourists’ tolerance for inauthenticity, which mainly depends on the level of tourists’ knowledge about specific aspects [ 32 ] .

All tourism forms encounter commercialization due to the fact that tourism and culture are sold as commodities to tourists [ 33 ] [ 34 ] . There are two views in academia about the effect of commercialization on destination and tourist experiences. One view is that tourism commercialization has only negative effects: that it destroys local authenticity [ 2 ] [ 35 ] , reduces tourists’ perceived authenticity [ 36 ] , damages the sustainable development of destinations and negatively affects tourists’ satisfaction and future behaviour [ 37 ] [ 38 ] .

Another view is that tourism commercialization is not always toxic (Zhou et al., 2013). This view not only accepts that tourism commercialization may lead to an increase in the number of migrants and the feeling of crowding at destinations, damaging the local environment, harming the sense of place, reducing the attractiveness of tourist attractions, affecting the daily life of local people and weakening their socioeconomic status and even causing the disappearance of the original meanings of traditional beliefs, cultures and customs [ 29 ] [ 39 ] , but it also holds that tourism commercialization can promote local economic development, create employment opportunities, increase local people’s and government’s financial revenue, present a positive local image, improve the survival and protection of traditional culture and folk customs, strengthen local people’s sense of identity and cultural protection consciousness [ 29 ] [ 39 ] , reconstruct and even enhance local authenticity [ 40 ] [ 4 ] , enrich destination attractions and promote tourists’ perception of destination authenticity [ 41 ] . This research mainly examines the impact of commercialization on tourists’ perception of authenticity.

Tourism commercialization creates opportunities for tourists to experience an authentic destination culture [ 26 ] [ 42 ] . Zhou, Zhang and Edelheim’s [ 20 ] research on the Chinese calligraphy landscape indicates that tourists can still obtain a higher perception of objective authenticity and existential authenticity in a commercialized context. Xie’s [ 26 ] research on the Li dance suggests that commercialization helps tourists experience the authenticity of cultural heritage. The dance has postmodern authenticity [ 26 ] and existential authenticity [ 9 ] . In addition, the process of commercialization forms constructive authenticity and can be perceived by tourists [ 40 ] [ 4 ] [ 36 ] . These indicate that tourism commercialization may positively impact tourists’ perception of objective, constructive, existential and postmodern authenticity. Of course, these inferences need to be tested by this research.

3. Tourist Satisfaction and Loyalty

Satisfaction is the overall evaluation by consumers of their own consumption experience [ 43 ] . Tourist satisfaction comes from customer satisfaction in the field of marketing, which is usually defined as the comparative result of tourist pretour expectations and post-tour experiences [ 44 ] [ 45 ] . The expectation-disconfirmation model is the most commonly used method for evaluating tourist satisfaction [ 46 ] [ 47 ] . It shows that tourists compare the actual performance of the current destination with their pretour expectations. In addition to this approach, the perceived performance model, equity theory and norm theory are also used for tourist satisfaction evaluation [ 48 ] . The perceived performance model only considers tourists’ actual experiences at the destination and does not consider their pretour expectations, the equity theory compares tourists’ benefits and costs (including time, money and energy), and the norm theory compares tourists’ experience differences between the current destination and other destinations visited in the past. The integrated method is more effective for evaluating tourist satisfaction because tourists may have different travel motivations and satisfaction standards [ 48 ] .

Loyalty is the most direct monitor to predict the future behaviour of tourists to a certain destination. Tourist loyalty is usually defined and measured in recommendation intention and revisiting intention [ 19 ] [ 23 ] [ 49 ] . However, with the widespread use of smartphone apps, sharing travel experiences through social media helps to improve overall post-tourism evaluation [ 50 ] . Thus, the measurement of tourist loyalty should add a dimension of sharing intention.

In the literature, tourist loyalty is mostly presented as a consequence, and its antecedents are usually tourist motivation, perceived value, experience quality, perceived authenticity, destination image, place attachment and tourist satisfaction [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 22 ] [ 43 ] [ 51 ] . Tourist satisfaction is often used as a mediator between tourist loyalty and other antecedents [ 43 ] . The positive relationship between tourist satisfaction and loyalty has been supported by several studies (e.g., [ 16 ] [ 43 ] [ 48 ] [ 51 ] ).

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The International Trade Administration offers a range of industry expertise and business development opportunities for U.S. travel and tourism organizations including travel and tourism statistics, market intelligence, and trade events leveraging our National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) and the U.S. Commercial Service’s worldwide network located in 100 offices nationwide and in more than 70 international offices.

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In addition to providing statistics, the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) creates a positive climate for growth in travel and tourism by reducing institutional barriers to tourism, administers joint marketing efforts, provides  official travel and tourism statistics , and coordinates efforts across federal agencies through the Tourism Policy Council. The Office works to enhance the international competitiveness of the U.S. travel and tourism industry and increase its exports, thereby creating U.S. employment and economic growth.  Contact our staff below:

Alex Lasry Deputy Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism Brian Beall Office Director Jennifer Aguinaga Deputy Director, Policy and Planning (202) 482-2404 Email Jennifer Aguinaga

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Space Tourism: Can A Civilian Go To Space?

2021 has been a busy year for private space tourism: overall, more than 15 civilians took a trip to space during this year. In this article, you will learn more about the space tourism industry, its history, and the companies that are most likely to make you a space tourist.

What is space tourism?

Brief history of space tourism, space tourism companies, orbital and suborbital space flights, how much does it cost for a person to go to space, is space tourism worth it, can i become a space tourist, why is space tourism bad for the environment.

Space tourism is human space travel for recreational or leisure purposes . It’s divided into different types, including orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism.

However, there are broader definitions for space tourism. According to the Space Tourism Guide , space tourism is a commercial activity related to space that includes going to space as a tourist, watching a rocket launch, going stargazing, or traveling to a space-focused destination.

The first space tourist was Dennis Tito, an American multimillionaire, who spent nearly eight days onboard the International Space Station in April 2001. This trip cost him $20 million and made Tito the first private citizen who purchased his space ticket. Over the next eight years, six more private citizens followed Tito to the International Space Station to become space tourists.

As space tourism became a real thing, dozens of companies entered this industry hoping to capitalize on renewed public interest in space, including Blue Origin in 2000 and Virgin Galactic in 2004. In the 2000s, space tourists were limited to launches aboard Russian Soyuz aircraft and only could go to the ISS. However, everything changed when the other players started to grow up on the market. There are now a variety of destinations and companies for travels to space.

There are now six major space companies that are arranging or planning to arrange touristic flights to space:

• Virgin Galactic;
• Blue Origin;
• Axiom Space;
• Space Perspective.

While the first two are focused on suborbital flights, Axiom and Boeing are working on orbital missions. SpaceX, in its turn, is prioritizing lunar tourism in the future. For now, Elon Musk’s company has allowed its Crew Dragon spacecraft to be chartered for orbital flights, as it happened with the Inspiration4 3-day mission . Space Perspective is developing a different balloon-based system to carry customers to the stratosphere and is planning to start its commercial flights in 2024.

Orbital and suborbital flights are very different. Taking an orbital flight means staying in orbit; in other words, going around the planet continually at a very high speed to not fall back to the Earth. Such a trip takes several days, even a week or more. A suborbital flight in its turn is more like a space hop — you blast off, make a huge arc, and eventually fall back to the Earth, never making it into orbit. A flight duration, in this case, ranges from 2 to 3 hours.

Here is an example: a spaceflight takes you to an altitude of 100 km above the Earth. To enter into orbit — make an orbital flight — you would have to gain a speed of about 28,000 km per hour (17,400 mph) or more. But to reach the given altitude and fall back to the Earth — make a suborbital flight — you would have to fly at only 6,000 km per hour (3,700 mph). This flight takes less energy, less fuel; therefore, it is less expensive.

• Virgin Galactic: $250,000 for a 2-hour suborbital flight at an altitude of 80 km;
• Blue Origin: approximately $300,000 for 12 minutes suborbital flight at an altitude of 100 km;
• Axiom Space: $55 million for a 10-day orbital flight;
• Space Perspective: $125,000 for a 6-hour flight to the edge of space (32 km above the Earth).

The price depends, but remember that suborbital space flights are always cheaper.

What exactly do you expect from a journey to space? Besides the awesome impressions, here is what you can experience during such a trip:

• Weightlessness . Keep in mind that during a suborbital flight you’ll get only a couple of minutes in weightlessness, but it will be truly fascinating .
• Space sickness . The symptoms include cold sweating, malaise, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting. Even experienced astronauts are not immune from it!
• G-force . 1G is the acceleration we feel due to the force of gravity; a usual g-force astronauts experience during a rocket launch is around 3gs. To understand how a g-force influences people , watch this video.

For now, the most significant barrier for space tourism is price. But air travel was also once expensive; a one-way ticket cost more than half the price of a new car . Most likely, the price for space travel will reduce overtime as well. For now, you need to be either quite wealthy or win in a competition, as did Sian Proctor, a member of Inspiration4 mission . But before spending thousands of dollars on space travel, here is one more fact you might want to consider.

Rocket launches are harmful to the environment in general. During the burning of rocket fuels, rocket engines release harmful gases and soot particles (also known as black carbon) into the upper atmosphere, resulting in ozone depletion. Think about this: in 2018 black-carbon-producing rockets emitted about the same amount of black carbon as the global aviation industry emits annually.

However, not all space companies use black carbon for fuel. Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket has a liquid hydrogen-fuelled engine: hydrogen doesn’t emit carbon but simply turns into water vapor when burning.

The main reason why space tourism could be harmful to the environment is its potential popularity. With the rising amount of rocket launches the carbon footprint will only increase — Virgin Galactic alone aims to launch 400 of these flights annually. Meanwhile, the soot released by 1,000 space tourism flights could warm Antarctica by nearly 1°C !

Would you want to become a space tourist? Let us know your opinion on social media and share the article with your friends, if you enjoyed it! Also, the Best Mobile App Awards 2021 is going on right now, and we would very much appreciate it if you would vote for our Sky Tonight app . Simply tap "Vote for this app" in the upper part of the screen. No registration is required!

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