Report: Globalization of Economic Activity: Issues for Tourism

Economic activity is not only becoming more internationalized, but, more significantly, it is becoming increasingly globalized. Globalization is always regarded as the product of the liberalization that has been the hallmark of economic policy throughout the world during the past decade. It has also set in motion forces working to accelerate liberalization. One of the distinguishing features of trade at the end of the twentieth century and at the start of the new millennium has been the expansion of regional trade agreements and the multilateral agreements. The internationalization of services is at the core of today's economic globalization. Tourism has become one of the most important industries in the world, and its economic impacts are vital for many countries. It has long supported the idea of services agreements and has become a major component in the globalization of international trade, particularly with respect to services. There is no doubt that the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) have assisted the growth of international trade in goods and services. However, the success of such instruments relies upon markets behaving in a Ricardian manner, incorporating the fluidity and transparency that form the substance of those markets.