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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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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
Tourism Today: A Landscape in Flux
Tourism Today: A Landscape in Flux Recent years have dramatically changed the tourism ecosystem. Following COVID-19, volatile travel patterns have emerged, driven by several key factors: Changing Consumer Preferences: Travelers
Unlocking APAC’s High-Yield Tourism Potential: Insights from Arabian Travel Market Panel Featuring Gary Bowerman
Unlocking APAC’s High-Yield Tourism Potential: Insights from Arabian Travel Market Panel Featuring Gary Bowerman The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse for high-yield tourism, with international travel
Can a Unified ASEAN Visa Unlock High-Yield Regional Tourism?
Can a Unified ASEAN Visa Unlock High-Yield Regional Tourism? Inspired by reporting by Gary Bowerman via Asia Media Centre As Southeast Asia accelerates its tourism recovery, a longstanding proposal is
Market Segmentation in Tourism: The Strategic Approach to Maximizing Revenue
Market Segmentation in Tourism: The Strategic Approach to Maximizing Revenue In the ever-evolving landscape of the visitor economy, merely aiming for increased visitor numbers no longer guarantees a destination’s success.
High-Yield Tourism Isn’t About Luxury – It’s About Fit
High-Yield Tourism Isn’t About Luxury – It’s About Fit For decades, the term “high-yield tourism” has been shorthand for luxury, five-star resorts, premium experiences, and wealthy travelers. But this narrow
Community Pushback and Social Equity: Rethinking Who Benefits from Tourism
In times of financial uncertainty, travelers often stay closer to home. As tourism rebounds globally, a growing number of residents in popular destinations are asking the same question: “Who is
In times of financial uncertainty, travelers often stay closer to home.
In times of financial uncertainty, travelers often stay closer to home. As inflation continues to shape the global economic landscape, the tourism industry faces a dual challenge: travelers are becoming
Gary Bowerman on China Tourism Tuesday
China’s Tourism Shift: Embracing High-Yield Travelers for Sustainable Growth In the June 3, 2025 episode of China Tourism Tuesday with Charl Albertin and Michael Jones, Gary Bowerman, co-founder of High-Yield
Workforce Shortages and Talent Retention: A Critical Test for Tourism’s Recovery
Workforce Shortages and Talent Retention: A Critical Test for Tourism’s Recovery As global travel surges back to life, tourism destinations face a new kind of bottleneck—not in airports or visitor