The world tourism industry is depicting supple and strong character despite the gloomy economic outlook. The international tourism and holiday market looks poised to remain relatively resilient. Feedback from the UNWTO, WTM and other premier travel trade associations shows that holidays are the last to go when the public is cutting back on spending, with consumers choosing to make savings on eating out or home improvements before losing out on their vacation.

With the financial crisis still unfolding, high inflation and low economic growth forecasted in 2013, the squeeze on household budgets is set to continue in the second half of the present year. One in five consumers is so keen on their foreign trips and enhancing their tourism boundaries that they regard a longer trip overseas as a necessity they couldn’t do without.

The continuing financial crisis is expected to see holidaymakers and global tourists continue to seek value for money in the coming years, with 71% of consumers believing that getting good value for money, but not necessarily the lowest price, is an essential or important element when booking a holiday. Perhaps surprisingly, finding the lowest prices comes much further down people’s list of priorities, with only 53% seeing this as essential or important. In fact, this came lowest out of a list of ten considerations when booking a holiday.

The focus on value for money, rather than the cheapest price, suggests people are thinking carefully about what they want and being more discerning about their holidays and where they spend their money. Thus the world tourism industry news speaks aloud about the technologies that will assist travelers to plan better trips. Perhaps a best call for tourism boards of the world and the world tourism market. Money shall roll; the cache is in utilizing the wealth properly.

Financial protection is expected to continue to be a priority for holidaymakers in 2013. Recent events, such as the natural disasters, Ash Cloud, dollar and pound inflation (for the Asian tourism industry) and economic downturn have made consumers more cautious when booking their vacations and eight in 10 (79% of consumers) now see a financial protection scheme as essential or important – up from 74% in 2010. Due to the financial fortification they offer, package holidays are expected to remain popular.

The reforming regulations and stress on responsible tourism abiding by the sustainability standards of UNWTO will also see its effects on the new agendas of the world tourism trends.