1. Environmental disasters and Climate Change: Natural calamities like hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, and the consequences of climate change, affect various destinations, causing tourism disruptions and leading to a decrease in tourist visits.
2. Global pandemics: Outbreaks of diseases such as COVID-19, disrupt international travel due to travel restrictions, quarantine requirements, and health concerns, leading to a significant decline in tourism demand and revenue.
3. Political instability and acts: Tensions, conflicts, civil unrest, and terror threats make certain destinations unsafe and unattractive to visitors, disrupting tourism activity.
Internal influences seriously impacting the travel and tourism industry:
1. Overtourism: Excessive numbers of tourists visiting popular sites can lead to overcrowding, damage to natural areas, and dissatisfaction among both locals and tourists. It puts a strain on infrastructure and may result in the erosion of cultural heritage and traditions.
2. Inadequate infrastructure: Lack of adequate transportation networks, accommodation options, and visitor amenities hinder the development and growth of tourism in many regions.
3. Insufficient human resources: Shortage of skilled workforce and lack of training and professional development affect the quality of tourism services, customer experience, and overall destination competitiveness.
4. Seasonality: Over-dependence on specific seasons for tourism makes certain destinations vulnerable during the off-season.