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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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North East Asia: Growth & Recovery
North East Asia: Growth & Recovery May 2024: China. Japan. South Korea. Hong Kong. Taiwan. Rewind to 2019, and these inter-connected air markets shared dynamic travel flows. Then came the
High-Yield Tourism Launches Services for Destinations to Engage High-Value Tourists for BalancedVisitor Economy Growth
High-Yield Tourism Launches Services for Destinations to Engage High-Value Tourists for Balanced Visitor Economy Growth New marketing tools and services are designed to help tourism organizations understand and attract the


