According to the latest Business Travel ShowClimate change is the main challenge facing the tourism industry in Europe. 2020while individual buyers are more concerned about the quality of their products. cost reductionwhich will once again be their biggest challenge next year.
The Business Travel Show survey of 114 buyers the European tourism industry, has also shown that the stress created by Brexit seems to be fading, while sustainability is becoming a greater priority. The pressure on reductions in travel costs which has been felt for the last four or five years, and which only decreased once - in 2018 - in the face of Brexit, is well and truly back at the top of the list of issues.
After taking the lead last year, Brexit slips back down to 3rd place in the Business Travel Show survey, just ahead of "finding a new agency (TMC)", present in the ranking for the second year running (in eighth place last year). "Enforcing the rules" is also back in 2019, having been absent the previous year, and slips into 2nd place in the buyers' ranking. Travel manager Jef Robinson says it's what keeps him up at night, particularly "influencing traveller behaviour over time". In his view, "changing behaviour would lead to a more effective and robust programme, with better suppliers. Many travellers don't want to leave their comfort zone, or change supplier, despite the short- and medium-term benefits".
Perhaps the most interesting news from this study is the arrival of sustainability in this Business Travel Show ranking, albeit only in ninth place - reflecting the growing awareness and changing dynamics in terms of global warming. Climate change (1st), travel alternatives (6th) and sustainability (9th) all appeared on the list of issues facing the tourism industry.
Jef Robinson also believes that it is possible - to a certain extent - to have an ethical travel programme that would include: "reducing non-essential travel, easily replaced by other arrangements; improved planning and analysis of internal business tourism. For example, team meetings, quarterly reviews, or prioritising suppliers with solid ethical and environmental programmes, while getting rid of less good suppliers and partners".
