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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 implies a more sophisticated type of tourism, one that emphasizes quality over quantity, minimizes environmental impact, and delivers greater returns with a lower negative impact on the destination. However, as more destinations adopt this approach, one crucial question is often overlooked: High-yield for whom? This question goes to the core of tourism ethics and sustainability. While “high-yield” sounds beneficial for businesses, governments, and the environment, the advantages are not always evenly distributed. In fact, they may exacerbate inequality, exclusion, and economic leakage. At High-Yield Tourism, we have developed and promoted a new definition of high-yield tourism, one that transcends daily spending or luxury metrics. In our framework, a high-yield tourist is defined as someone who creates lasting, inclusive value for

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 their decisions. But what if the data they are using is misleading or misunderstood? At High-Yield Tourism, we believe that it’s not just about having data; it’s about using the right data in the right way. The Illusion of Big Numbers A common pitfall in tourism strategy is an overreliance on top-line metrics, such as total visitor numbers, total tourism spending, or year-on-year growth. While these figures may make for impressive headlines (e.g., “10 Million Tourists Visited Our Shores Last Year!”). They can often obscure more than they reveal. For instance, comparing absolute tourism spending between countries without adjusting for the number of visitors or cost of living can present a distorted picture. A destination may boast high spending, but

Rethinking Digital Nomadism
Rethinking Digital Nomadism Digital nomadism is emerging as a significant and influential segment within global tourism. These location-independent professionals blend

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

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

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

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

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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Beyond the Crowds: How to Ensure Tourism Benefits Local Communities
Beyond the Crowds: How to Ensure Tourism Benefits Local Communities Tourism success has been measured by the number of visitors a destination attracts annually for years. However, this focus on

Breaking Free from Quick-Win Pressures in Tourism
Breaking Free from Quick-Win Pressures in Tourism The Challenge: Short-Term Pressures vs. Long-Term Gains In the tourism industry, destinations are constantly grappling with the pressure to deliver immediate results. Politicians,

Unlocking High-Yield Tourism: The Power of Smart Segmentation
Unlocking High-Yield Tourism: The Power of Smart Segmentation The Challenge: Sub-Par Segmentation in Tourism Many destinations pour substantial resources into marketing, aiming to boost visitor numbers. However, despite this investment,

Rethinking Your Tourism Partner Network for High-Yield Growth
Rethinking Your Tourism Partner Network for High-Yield Growth Are Your Travel Partners Delivering High-Value Visitors? Many destinations rely on traditional travel agents and OTAs to boost visitor numbers. While these

The High-Yield Tourism Game Plan: Unlocking Sustainable Growth
The High-Yield Tourism Game Plan: Unlocking Sustainable Growth The Challenge: No Clear Strategy for High-Yield Tourism High-yield tourism has emerged as a vital strategy for destinations around the world, offering

Maximizing Tourism Marketing ROI: Proving Value and Driving Growth
Maximizing Tourism Marketing ROI: Proving Value and Driving Growth The Growing Challenge: Measuring Tourism Marketing Impact Around the world, tourism destinations are pouring millions into marketing campaigns, from glossy social

Maximizing Tourism Revenue: Ensuring Local Communities Benefit
Maximizing Tourism Revenue: Ensuring Local Communities Benefit Is Your Destination Benefiting from Tourism Revenue? Tourism is often celebrated as an economic engine for destinations worldwide. Visitor arrivals are counted and

THIS WEEK IN HIGH-YIELD TOURISM #7
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The Tourism Outlook between Australia, South East Asia, China and India
High-Yield Tourism Opportunities Between Australia, South East Asia, China & India The tourism landscape between Australia, South-East Asia, China, and India is evolving, driven by new patterns of consumer demand

From Volume to Value: How Tourism Taxes Can Support High-Yield Strategies
From Volume to Value: How Tourism Taxes Can Support High-Yield Strategies The Rising Trend of Tourism Taxes Tourism taxes are an increasingly common feature in travel destinations worldwide. Bali (Indonesia),