Ancient World in London Bloggers' Challenge 5: The Future of Tourism

Worldwide tourism is expected to top 1 billion arrivals in 2010 and push 1.6 billion by 2020. Estimates suggest that more than 40% of travellers put a cultural experience in their top three holiday objectives. Good news for the pyramids, the Terracotta Warriors, King Tut and Stonehenge.

Yet, such statistics don’t reveal the complexities of the changing face of tourism. The global recession has left currency markets in a confusing spin, and rising fuel costs are meanwhile choking airlines and pushing up fares. Meanwhile, we’re all under moral pressure to think about our carbon footprint and its impact on the environment before we travel.

Going on holiday these days just isn’t as simple as picking the best package deal and jetting off to the sun – it’s a delicate process of placating the wallet and the conscience, while at the same time selecting an experience that’s going to at once be both fun and stimulating.

With these considerations in mind, which are the most innovative and enticing options out there for travellers looking to indulge in a spot of cultural tourism? Are particular new destinations about to usurp the traditional travel hotspots, by offering new thrills and unseen attractions? Or should we all just be satisfied spending our vacations making the most of the abundant heritage treasures on our doorstep?

We’ve decided to throw the topic open to the blogosphere in round five of our Ancient World in London Bloggers' Challenge, by posing this question:

What’s the future of tourism?

Just by entering you'll will win 100 points, setting you well on your way to winning the Ancient World in London grand prize of a holiday in Turkey. The best entry this round – picked by a panel of judges here at Heritage Key – will also receive an additional 500 points, plus five books of their choice from Thames & Hudson’s current catalogue.

Gamping, Staycations and New Heritage Hotspots

All kinds of new tourist packages have sprung up in recent months offering out-of-the-ordinary cultural tourism experiences. Just last month, Annie blogged on the burgeoning craze of “glamping” in the African desert – camping tours with a bit of added glamour, which take in sites such as Luxor by day, then return to hot running water, flushing toilets and four-poster beds by night, rather than a tent and a hole in the ground.

A great option if you can afford it – but what for the people that can’t? Should we just stay at home? Actually, that’s perhaps not such a bad idea. Not only because you can visit many famous heritage sites around the world from the comfort of your own computer via Heritage Key Virtual, but also because there’s a wealth of cultural tourism experiences to be had close to home in the UK. A look at some of the videos in our Ancient World in London series reveal just how many fascinating heritage sites there are around Britain – including the remains of Roman Colchester, Hadrian’s Wall and Roman Londinium – that might otherwise be overlooked by tourists intent on having foreign adventures. We can’t guarantee the weather will be any good though, mind.

Some traditional foreign tourist destinations are threatened with falling spectacularly from grace under sheer weight of popularity. Take Venice for example. In a recent Heritage Key video interview Lord Norwich warned the City of Bridges is being literally “worn away” by the 20 million-odd tourists that visit every year, and severe measures (fees or restricted numbers) may be needed if it’s to have a future. In Egypt, some of the most famous tombs in the Valley of the Kings may soon be closed to the public to prevent them from being any further damaged by the massive volume of visitors they attract every year.

Might as yet untapped cultural tourism destinations spring up, as traditional ones fade, to take a slice of the cultural tourism pie? If it can overcome its ongoing battle with artefact looters and build an effective tourist infrastructure, it’s said that Bulgaria – which, as the former territory of the ancient Kingdom of Thrace, is covered with historical remains – could potentially become a travel hotspot on a par with Greece or Italy. Likewise Bulgaria's eastern-European neighbours Montenegro and Romania. Are there other examples of emerging destinations out there that might become popular new ports of call for travellers in years to come?

Play by the Rules

This contest is open to everyone. All you need is an interest in the subject and somewhere online to post your entry. By entering this competition you agree to comply with the Ancient World in London Competition Rules, as well as the following rules, which are specific to this contest:

•    Entries can consist of text, images, video or mixed media.
•    All entries must be the contestant’s own work, and any supporting material (e.g. photos or music) must be used with the permission of the copyright owner.
•    All entries should contain a link back to this page.

To submit your entry, simply copy and paste the URL of your blogpost, podcast or page as a comment below. The deadline for submission is midnight, GMT on 26th April 2010. The winner will be announced during the following week. The judges’ decision is, of course, final.

Part of the Ancient World in London Web Event

The Ancient World in London is Heritage Key’s groundbreaking three-month-long interactive online and offline event, introducing HD video, virtual worlds, competitions and live events. It’s sponsored exclusively by Addison Lee, London’s largest minicab service.

Round one’s theme was London’s most influential invaders; round two’s theme was the capital’s most important ancient site. Round three was a debate over the future of the Rosetta Stone, while round four saw bloggers share their thoughts on the viability and value of virtual edutainment. Start penning your response to found five now to be in with a chance of your own future tourism... in beautiful Lycian Turkey.

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