Q&A: How will technology transform tourism?

Virtual reality will change travel and tourism for the better, says Gerald Lawless, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group. He talked to us as part of an interview series for the Summit on the Global Agenda.

What will be the big global trends and technological disruptions shaping travel and tourism in the next five years?

I think the disruptive online companies such as Airbnb and Uber will continue to proliferate and I am sure that they will have lots of competition in the near future. What would be very interesting to see is if the hotel industry can come up with its own concepts in order to take on the likes of Airbnb on a competitive basis. Not all technological disruptions will be detrimental to our business and I certainly see that the ongoing development with fossil-free fuels and perhaps even cheaper fuels, especially through hydrogen, will have a big impact on the cost of travel over the coming years, hopefully in a positive sense.

What more should the industry be doing to help build inclusive, sustainable growth?

It is the responsibility of the industry to develop sustainable growth. To do so, we must be aware of the fact that as a tourism industry we are encouraging people to travel, we are encouraging people to see the beautiful sights of the world. In doing so, we could also be accused of endangering these sights. Therefore it is imperative that we understand our role in the ecological cycle and we should do everything possible to enhance and preserve this heritage, from monuments to cities such as Venice. In doing so, we will continue to preserve the very product that we are promoting.

What innovation in your industry has impressed you most in the past 12 months?

The virtual reality tours of locations and hotels, particularly using Oculus devices. Ultimately we can see these devices becoming very small and rare but they give the guest the opportunity to have an almost complete experience before they visit a location. Many say that this will discourage people from travelling but I believe the opposite is the case. The planning of travel is almost as pleasurable as actually doing it and I am sure that this will encourage more and more people to travel in the future. I also believe that it is a great opportunity for the industry to be able to promote their products through these virtual reality start-ups.

What is your outlook for the tourism industry here in the United Arab Emirates?

I am very optimistic with regards to the tourism industry here in the UAE. We are already close to 20 million visitors a year and I am sure that it will continue to grow. The support and encouragement from the authorities within the UAE is an example for other countries. For many years now in this country and particularly in Dubai, the government has understood the value of travel and tourism to the greater economy. Therefore, with the encouragement of the government and the participation of the private sector I believe that the UAE and, in particular, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, will develop their products to encourage a broader range of tourism, especially with the addition of Theme Parks.

The UAE has also become one of the major aviation hubs of the world. Therefore airlift to Dubai through Emirates and to Abu Dhabi through Etihad will ensure the successful expansion of our tourism industry in the UAE.

What are you hoping to achieve this week in Abu Dhabi?

By participating this week in the Summit on the Global Agenda in Abu Dhabi, I hope to continue to underscore my commitment to the process of the World Economic Forum. I believe that through the Global Agenda Councils we can get a voice for our industry within the wider economy to ensure that it is appropriately recognised for its value to society and to global economic success.

Author: Gerald Lawless, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group. Member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Future of Travel and Tourism. He is participating at the Summit on the Global Agenda 2015, which takes place in Abu Dhabi from 25-27 October.

Image: An illustration picture shows an apartment on Airbnb displayed on a smartphone in front of a general view of the Ile Saint-Louis on the Seine river in Paris, France, August 9, 2015. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann