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Tourism Industry 2025: Challenges and Opportunities

30 Mar 2025 · 1 min

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Mark Simpson (speaker) discusses challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry in 2025, with primary focus on rising regulation and responses to "overtourism." He urges tourism business owners to participate in local policy conversations—joining chambers of commerce, engaging MPs/local officials, and educating policymakers—because media-driven narratives (e.g., criticisms of short-term rentals/Airbnb) are shaping regulatory action. The tone is advisory and pragmatic.

Chapters

What are the challenges and opportunities that we're facing this year? Regulation is obviously still a big one. It seems that every week, every month, there's a new city or a new country that is cracked down and on what's called over tourism. Regulation is going to happen whether we like it or not. I think all we ask for is fair regulation. And I feel like what's really important now for business owners, again, who are wanting to make a career out of this, you've got to be in the room on these conversations. So look at where your local chamber of commerce is. Look to see who your local MP is. You've got to try and get in their ear in some way, shape or form. And it is literally education, because they are coming at it from what they learn from the media. And obviously it gets paid in such a bad light. Everybody feels like all of this is just Airbnb. People get rich quick, taking money and taking property away from people who want to rent. All the nonsense that we have heard. So that's one thing that you need to do if you are are struggling potentially.