Tourist Behavior and Shifts in Travel Services

Luong Bui Vu ()
Additional contact information
Luong Bui Vu: Vietnam National University Hanoi, International School (VNUIS), Department of Economics and Management

A chapter in Airlines and Tour Operations, 2026, pp 209-235 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter explores the evolving patterns of tourist behavior and how these shifts are transforming the structure and delivery of global travel services. Drawing from recent studies by the UNWTO (2023), IATA (2024), and Euromonitor International (2024), the chapter examines key drivers of change, including technological adoption, post-pandemic recovery, demographic transitions, and the rising influence of environmental and social values on consumer preferences. Tourists today demand greater flexibility, personalization, digital integration, and sustainable travel options, compelling airlines, tour operators, and destination marketers to innovate their services accordingly. The chapter analyzes how dynamic pricingDynamic pricing, AI-driven personalization, and hybrid business models, including bundled packages and flexible booking policiesFlexible booking policies, are becoming standard practices in response to shifting demand. It also explores the role of hub airports and airline loyalty programsLoyalty programs in aligning services with new travel motivations such as remote work tourism, eco-conscious travel, and wellness tourismWellness tourism. Case studies highlight successful adaptations by airlinesCustomer retention (Airlines) and tour operators, such as the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), biometric boarding, and AI-based demand forecasting tools. Special attention is given to the growing importance of health and safety protocolsHealth and safety protocols, which remain a priority in the post-COVID era, and to the segmentation of tourist markets into distinct groups such as digital nomads, multigenerational families, and senior solo travelers. By understanding these behavioral shifts and technological innovations, industry stakeholders can develop resilient, customer-centric service models that respond to both market opportunities and emerging risks.

Keywords: Tourist behavior trends; Travel decision-making; Post-pandemic travel recovery; Digital travel innovation; Dynamic pricing algorithms; Personalization in tourism; Experiential travel; Sustainable travel preferences; Flexible booking policies; Health and safety protocols; Remote work tourism / digital nomads; Travel market segmentation; Wellness tourism; Family and multi-generational travel; AI in travel services; Mobile booking platforms; Airline loyalty programs; Sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs); Carbon offsetting in travel; Hub airports and connectivity; Demand forecasting in aviation; Environmental and social governance (ESG) in tourism; Travel risk management; Biometric boarding; Customer-centric service models (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-981-95-1830-2_8

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9789819518302

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-95-1830-2_8

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Springer Books from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().