A survey of these themes can help us see into the future of what has become the world's largest industry. Although overshadowed by domestic tourism, international tourism so closely tied with our second theme of globalization is where we begin. Indeed, tourism has become the leading source of foreign exchange in close to 40 percent of all countries. Most analysts agree with the World Tourism Organization that tourism does have a bright future. Growth has led to the global transformation of the industry.
Tourists gojust about everywhere today, and come from just about everywhere as well.
Combined, all the countries and territories in the world that weren't ranked among the top 15 destinations received only 3 percent of total tourists in 1950. Today their share is 38 percent. With globalization has come diversification, most notably in the development of niche tourism. There is ecotourism, sports tourism, spa tourism, ethnic tourism, art tourism, even danger zone tourism the list can be extended almost endlessly. Niche tourism has been given a big boost by the growth of the Internet, which provides an effective and low-cost way to reach people who share an interest but may be scattered around the globe.