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The AI Divide in Tourism: How Big Data Is Leaving Small Operators Behind
The AI Divide in Tourism: How Big Data Is Leaving Small Operators Behind Artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are transforming the tourism industry. From predictive demand modeling and dynamic pricing to personalized marketing and operational efficiency, AI tools offer unprecedented opportunities for destinations and businesses to optimize revenue and enhance visitor experiences. However, these benefits are not equally accessible. A growing divide is emerging between large corporations and small operators, as well as between major platforms and local destinations. The Struggle for Smaller Operators Small operators, such as boutique hotels, regional tour operators, and lesser-known destinations, often lack access to these tools. Investing in AI requires both capital and specialized expertise—resources that many smaller players simply do not have. As João Romão stated in Episode 22 of the High-Yield Tourism Podcast, “This creates a widening gap in tourism, where larger actors dominate while smaller destinations and operators are left
Introducing The Strength-based Strategy Framework To Drive High-Yield Tourism
Introducing The Strength-based Strategy Framework To Drive High-Yield Tourism How an Adapted Business Model Is Revolutionizing Destination Planning: From Volume to Value soar /sɔː/verb: achieving new heights; to rise very quickly to a high level A New Lens for Tourism Planning: The SOAR Approach When Jacqueline Stavros and Gina Hinrichs introduced the SOAR model in 2009, their goal was to move strategy conversations from problem-finding to possibility-seeking to address a fundamental challenge in organizational development: how do you create strategies that build on strengths rather than simply fixing weaknesses? Fast-forward to 2025, and destinations worldwide are grappling with remarkably similar questions. How do we move beyond chasing visitor numbers toward creating meaningful value? How do we turn tourism into a genuine force for good? After two decades working with destinations worldwide, I’ve observed how traditional planning frameworks, while valuable, often focus significant energy on problems rather than possibilities. SWOT analysis
Beyond Boom and Bust: Rethinking Tourism Policy for Sustainable Growth
Beyond Boom and Bust: Rethinking Tourism Policy for Sustainable Growth Tourism is often hailed as a key driver of economic
6 Reasons Why Western Australia Excels at Self-Drive Tourism
6 Reasons Why Western Australia Excels at Self-Drive Tourism Gary Bowerman reflects how ‘WA’ – self-titled as ‘Home of the
Cultural Fighting as a Passion Tourism Micro-Niche: Unlocking High-Yield Traveler Engagement
Cultural Fighting as a Passion Tourism Micro-Niche: Unlocking High-Yield Traveler Engagement The economics of martial arts tourism present a compelling
Beyond High-Value: Why High-Yield Tourism Changes Everything
Beyond High-Value: Why High-Yield Tourism Changes Everything Recently, I have been seeing the term “High-Yield Tourism / High-Yield Travelers” increasingly
Diaspora, Edutourism & Slow Travel: Family Trends Shaping High-Yield Tourism
Diaspora, Edutourism & Slow Travel: Family Trends Shaping High-Yield Tourism Family travel has evolved beyond affordability and routine destinations. In
Gary Bowerman on Malaysia’s Readiness To Accommodate Digital Nomads?
Malaysia’s Digital Nomad Moment: Insights from Gary Bowerman on BFM 89.9 On a recent episode of BFM 89.9’s “Enterprise Explorers,” host Richard Bradbury interviewed Gary Bowerman, Co-Founder of High-Yield Tourism. They discussed a transformative trend in global mobility and local economies: the rise of the digital nomad and its implications
Gary Bowerman @ Halal in Travel Global Summit 2025
Unlocking High-Yield Potential: Muslim Travelers as a Premium Market at HIT Global Summit 2025 To find out how High-Yield Tourism can support you, understand high-yield travel segments and trends. At the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2025 in Singapore, High-Yield Tourism led an important discussion on one of the most
Diversifying Asia’s Tourism Future: Insights from the Skift Asia Forum
Diversifying Asia’s Tourism Future: Insights from the Skift Asia Forum At the recent Skift Asia Forum in Bangkok, the panel “Diversifying Asia’s Tourism Future” brought together leading voices to examine the shifts redefining travel across the Asia-Pacific region. The panel featured Fazal Bahardeen (CEO, CrescentRating & HalalTrip), Hannah Pearson (Founder,
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Not All That Glitters Is Luxury: Understanding the Difference Between Luxury and High-Value Tourists
Not All That Glitters Is Luxury: Understanding the Difference Between Luxury and High-Value Tourists Why Smart Tourism Strategies Focus on Value, Not Just Spending Power In the world of tourism
Navigating the Risks of AI in High-Yield Tourism
Navigating the Risks of AI in High-Yield Tourism Why the Race Toward AI Adoption in Travel Needs Careful Strategy, Human Oversight, and Ethical Grounding In the rapidly evolving tourism sector,
How Integrating Tourism with Other Government Sectors Transforms Destinations
How Integrating Tourism with Other Government Sectors Transforms Destinations Why Cross-Sector Collaboration is the Key to Maximizing Tourism’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Impact Tourism is often praised as an economic
High-Yield for Whom?
High-Yield for Whom? Rethinking Who Wins and Who Loses in the Pursuit of Quality Tourism In tourism policy and destination marketing, the term “high-yield” has emerged as a buzzword. It
Gary Bowerman on Malaysia’s Readiness To Accommodate Digital Nomads?
Malaysia’s Digital Nomad Moment: Insights from Gary Bowerman on BFM 89.9 On a recent episode of BFM 89.9’s “Enterprise Explorers,” host Richard Bradbury interviewed Gary Bowerman, Co-Founder of High-Yield Tourism.
The Danger of Superficial Data in Tourism Decision-Making
The Danger of Superficial Data in Tourism Decision-Making In the fast-paced world of tourism strategy, data is crucial. Policymakers, destination marketers, and investors often rely heavily on statistics to guide
Rethinking Digital Nomadism
Rethinking Digital Nomadism Digital nomadism is emerging as a significant and influential segment within global tourism. These location-independent professionals blend work and travel, often staying in destinations for weeks or
Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Thailand’s Approach to Tourism
Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking Thailand’s Approach to Tourism Thailand’s tourism industry is at a crucial juncture. Although international arrivals have rebounded strongly since the pandemic, they have declined compared to
Building Capacity and Targeting the Right Visitors: A Unified Strategy for High-Yield Tourism
Building Capacity and Targeting the Right Visitors: A Unified Strategy for High-Yield Tourism Rethinking the False Choice: Volume vs. Value For years, the tourism sector has been trapped in a
Gary Bowerman @ Halal in Travel Global Summit 2025
Unlocking High-Yield Potential: Muslim Travelers as a Premium Market at HIT Global Summit 2025 To find out how High-Yield Tourism can support you, understand high-yield travel segments and trends. At