Assessing Public Perception in Tourism and Investment

Europe’s Urban Safety Perception Index: Reading the Data Beyond the Headline Numbeo’s citizen reported crime index, August 2025, ranks European cities by perceived safety. While the dataset itself is presented consistently, the headline framing requires refinement. This is not a measure of actual danger, rather an aggregation of public perception. Cities such as Bradford, Marseille, Coventry, Birmingham appear at the top with scores between 64 and 67, indicating higher perceived crime levels among respondents. Further down, global hubs including Paris, London, Milan, Athens remain present within the 50 to 58 range. The numerical spread itself is relatively narrow, which suggests differences in perception are incremental, not extreme. From a data integrity standpoint, Numbeo operates as a crowdsourced platform. Inputs are self selected, uneven across geographies, influenced by media exposure, personal experience, as well as reporting frequency. Consequently, the index reflects sentiment, not verified incident rates. It is therefore more precise to interpret this graphic as a European urban safety perception index, not a definitive ranking of dangerous cities. This distinction matters for professionals across investment, tourism, urban planning, also policy environments. Let’s break that down. First, perception frequently shapes economic outcomes as strongly as reality. Investor confidence, visitor flows, talent mobility respond to narrative signals as much as statistical evidence. Second, city branding requires active stewardship. A single viral ranking can influence international positioning, regardless of methodological nuance. Third, decision frameworks benefit from triangulation. Perception indices should be assessed alongside official crime data, socioeconomic indicators, longitudinal trends, additionally localized district level insights. Fourth, intra city variation remains critical. Aggregated city scores can obscure highly diverse neighborhood dynamics. As a side note, the graphic itself would benefit from clearer labeling, explicitly stating „perceived crime index, not actual crime rates,” to reduce misinterpretation risk. Final take: Data carries influence, yet context determines its value. Thoughtful analysis enables informed action, whereas surface level readings risk distortion. #UrbanStrategy #DataInterpretation #CityReputation #PublicPolicy #RiskAnalysis #SmartCities Graphic: inspiregram

Tourism’s Uneven Recovery Is Creating New Winners—and Losers While some countries are breaking tourism records, others are quietly losing relevance. Visa policies, border friction, safety perceptions, and connectivity matter more than ever. Destinations that feel unwelcoming, unpredictable, or administratively complex are being bypassed—even if their attractions remain world-class. In at least one major long-haul market, domestic political volatility, aggressive rhetoric, and highly publicized institutional dysfunction have begun to spill over into international travel decisions. Travelers do not need a destination to be dangerous to avoid it; they simply need it to feel unstable, polarized, or inhospitable. Perception, once lost, is extraordinarily difficult to regain. This uneven recovery is not accidental. It reflects policy choices. Governments that invest in infrastructure, digital efficiency, openness, and calm institutional credibility are pulling ahead. Those that rely on legacy appeal while exporting political chaos to the global stage are falling behind. Tourism competitiveness in 2026 is no longer about beaches and monuments—it’s about governance Photo: Mark de Jong on Unsplash

🌍 Unlocking the Power of Consumer Confidence: Insights from 18 Cities and Their Impact on Domestic Travel to Bali 🌍 In the realm of tourism and hospitality, understanding the drivers of travel behavior is paramount. Our latest analysis delves deep into the consumer confidence index from 18 cities across Indonesia, unveiling critical insights on how these indices influence domestic travel to Bali. 📊 Major Findings: Consumer Confidence is Key: Our analysis reveals that the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) from the 18 cities is a strong predictor of domestic travel to Bali, with a significant positive correlation (0.713). When consumers are confident, travel increases. Current Economic Conditions Matter: The Current Economic Condition Index (CECI) also plays a vital role. Favorable perceptions of current economic conditions lead to more travel, as seen in the robust correlation with domestic visitor numbers (0.645) Future Expectations Influence Travel Plans: The Consumer Expectation Index (CEI), reflecting optimism about future economic conditions, is another important factor. Positive expectations correlate with higher travel intent and actual trips (0.655) Actionable Insights for Hoteliers and Tourism Officials 🔍 Target Marketing Efforts: Leverage periods of high consumer confidence to promote travel packages and special offers. When confidence is high, consumers are more likely to spend on travel. 💡 Highlight Economic Stability: Emphasize stable and favorable economic conditions in marketing campaigns. Consumers' positive perceptions of their financial situation directly influence their travel decisions. 📈 Plan for the Future: Develop long-term strategies that align with consumers' optimistic future expectations. Ensure that tourism offerings meet the anticipated demand, driven by positive economic outlooks. Why This Matters In the ever-evolving tourism industry, staying ahead of trends and understanding consumer behavior is crucial. By analyzing data from multiple cities, we can better predict travel patterns and tailor strategies to attract more visitors. 💼 Join the Conversation: How do you leverage consumer confidence data in your tourism strategies? What other factors do you consider when planning for tourism growth? 📎 (Source: Bank Indonesia & PT. Hotel Investasi Strategis) #Tourism #Hospitality #ConsumerInsights #TravelTrends #Bali #Indonesia #EconomicIndicators #ThoughtLeadership

The world added 80 million international travelers in 2025. They didn’t come to the United States. World Travel & Tourism Council's latest Economic Impact Research makes the position unmistakable. The U.S. is still the largest Travel & Tourism market in the world at $2.63 trillion. And it is losing share. Global Travel & Tourism GDP grew 4.1% last year. North America grew 1.0%. The U.S. grew just 0.9%. International visitor spending in the U.S. fell 4.6% to $176 billion. Meanwhile: Asia-Pacific grew 8.2%. China, now the second-largest travel market globally, grew 9.9%. International spending in China rose 10.5% to $135 billion. Largest and losing share are not mutually exclusive. They are the definition of a crossroads. WTTC names three levers to reverse the trend: — Promote attractiveness — Change perception — Grow international spend That maps directly to how travelers make decisions. Perception: what travelers believe before they consider booking Expectation: what policy, cost, and access signal during consideration Experience: what happens once they arrive Right now, the U.S. is: — Underinvesting in the first — Actively degrading the second — Still expecting the third to carry the sector The World Cup won't fix this. It's a 1.24 million-visitor proof-of-concept. A global stage to test whether the U.S. can compete again. But a decade of lost share won't be won back in a single summer. The real question isn’t whether demand exists. It’s whether we’re ready to compete for it long term. #InboundTravel #USTravel #IPW2026 #InternationalTravel

After Canada, UK, France, Germany, Denmark, and Netherlands issue a US travel warning, Belgium to follow suit. NOW, more than ever, American DMOs and Travel brands need to push positive messaging out en mass. U.S. Travel Association warned that fallout from these advisories and related tensions could “flip expected growth into decline” for inbound tourism, so the U.S. tourism industry is bracing for a downturn. Forecasts have been sharply revised downward - Tourism Economics now projecting a 5.1% drop in international visitors in 2025 instead of an 8.8% increase. Visitor spend expected to drop ~11% (est $64 billion). Fewer international arrivals mean lower occupancy for #hotels, fewer bookings for tours, attractions, restaurants, and shops, especially in major gateway cities like New York, Orlando, and Los Angeles. Airlines report booking drops on transborder routes, and travel agencies in Canada and Europe note rising cancellations and itinerary changes to other destinations. If the perception of the US as “unwelcoming” persists, it could cause a sustained tourism slump with a longer-term impact on demand, so I believe that now more than ever, it's important to push a positive narrative to international markets about American hospitality. There is concern in the tourism industry that America’s brand could be tarnished – undoing years of marketing efforts – if foreign visitors routinely feel unwelcome or unsafe. This would have ripple effects on future events and investments. For example, officials worry that a prolonged decline in international interest could affect major upcoming events like the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 2026 FIFA World Cup (hosted across North America), and even the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This slump might in large part reverse with a political shift (policy U-turns happen quite often). If the US-destinations-focused marketing and comms persist with positive and reassuring messaging, the tourism dip may be temporary. Protracted decline and lack of positive tourism stories coming out of the US would exacerbate the negative effects. In the meantime, competitor destinations are seizing the opportunity: tourism boards in Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, LATAM, and Asia are actively courting would-be U.S. travelers, promoting their own safety, inclusivity, and affordability to capture this diverted demand. #Opinion #Travel #Tourism #UStravel #Trends #Destinations

Switzerland is #1 in global reputation for 2025. But why did the US fall 18 spots this year? The new RepCore® Nations ranking gives us a snapshot of international trust-admiration, respect, and credibility as seen by G7 citizens. Switzerland leads, Canada follows, and the Nordics round out the top five. At the other end, Iraq, Iran, and Russia remain stuck at the bottom. But this year’s steepest shift? The United States plunges from #30 to #48-a drop of 18 places, the largest single-year decline among major economies. What does this signal for leaders and decision-makers? → Investment & trade: Reputation shapes risk perception. A strong national brand opens markets, a declining one raises barriers. → Talent & tourism: Positive sentiment draws global talent and students. A weaker reputation makes it harder to attract top minds and visitors. → Soft power: Credibility is currency. When trust erodes, so does influence in global coalitions and standard-setting. → Policy signals: Sharp moves in the rankings often follow visible changes in governance, stability, or international posture. Other notable movers: Ukraine and Algeria both climb five places, showing that reputation can be rebuilt. Japan rises four spots, while Indonesia and South Korea slip. RepCore® Nations aggregates not only economic data but also the world’s perception of politics, society, and culture. For Luxembourg and other small but connected nations, this ranking is more than image-it’s a real asset in a global competition for investment, talent, and influence. The question is: What surprised you most-and how will your organisation adapt to rising or falling reputation in key markets?

Two 2025 reports, one on soft power and the other on Saudi Arabia’s reputation, indicate that the Kingdom’s overall ranking has slipped a little but it has gained in nation brand value and positive media coverage. Having these measures and indicators help in developing our media and communications strategy globally and across sectors. Saudi Arabia dropped two positions to 20th in the annual Global Soft Power Index. It scored highly in familiarity, business and trade, reputation, international relations, and influence, but not so much in governance, sustainable future, education and science, media and communication, and people and values. Saudi Arabia ranked 15th in the 2025 Nation Brand Value ranking, seeing significant increase. It has demonstrated strong economic performance and has made significant strides in science and technology by making strategic investments under Vision 2030, prioritizing digital transformation and renewable energy. The Global Soft Power Index report highlighted the role of sports and tourism in soft power. We can clearly see that in the Saudi experience being reflected in increased positive media coverage. According to Carma’s 5th Annual Kingdom Reputation Report, sports continued to dominate media coverage and social media conversations on Saudi Arabia in 2024. Meanwhile, the economy and tourism and entertainment were the themes that drove positive coverage. Diplomacy, sports, economy, and tourism were the major drivers of mainstream and social media coverage of Saudi Arabia, regionally and internationally. There was less coverage, whether positive or negative, of culture, environment and oil, and, surprisingly, very little coverage of women’s empowerment and humanitarian efforts. It seems that if the news is not negative it does not receive much attention, but it also means we should do more to publicize the achievements and efforts. The share of Vision 2030 in the overall coverage of Saudi Arabia has consistently increased over the past five years, accounting for 60% in 2024. The survey across five markets found that 51% of the public reported hearing some news about Saudi Arabia, mostly about political affairs, oil, tourism and Hajj. So, there is a difference between what the media focused on and what resonated with the public. Confirming the Global Soft Power Index ranking of Saudi Arabia on familiarity, the reputation survey found that only 33% said they know quite a lot about Saudi Arabia, while 19% said they know nothing, particularly in the UK (24%) and the US (27%). Overall, positive coverage rose in the mainstream media by 25% from 2023 to 2024, while negative content remained stable. But negativity has declined by 55% since 2020. However, on social media platforms, the share of negativity ranged from 37% to 51%. Saudi Arabia has obviously made considerable progress in strengthening its soft power and is reaping the benefits. CARMA #SoftPower #sports #tourism #NationBrand #Vision2030

Global City Index 2024 - The World’s Most Comprehensive Research Study on Perceptions of City Brands Prepared by Brand Finance, the “Global City Index 2024” provides an in-depth analysis of how #cities are perceived globally, offering valuable insights into the factors that drive their brand strength and influence. This comprehensive research examines city brands through the lenses of #economic, #cultural, and #reputational attributes, assessing their ability to attract #investment, #talent, and #tourism. Key Insights 1. Top City Brands: The report ranks the world’s leading cities based on factors such as global influence, innovation, livability, and overall city reputation. Leading cities like New York, London, and Tokyo continue to maintain strong positions, but emerging cities are increasingly becoming contenders in global rankings, driven by rapid development and modernization. 2. Perception Drivers: The study identifies key factors that shape city perceptions, including infrastructure quality, sustainability efforts, technological innovation, and public safety. Cities that prioritize these aspects are more likely to be perceived as attractive places to live, work, and invest. 3. Economic Influence and Global Investment: Economic performance remains a core factor in shaping the perception of #city brands. Cities with strong #financialsectors, #business hubs, and high #economicoutput are more likely to attract #internationalinvestment. The report emphasizes the importance of cities diversifying their economies to remain competitive on the global stage. 4. Cultural and Social Factors: Cultural vibrancy and social inclusivity also play a significant role in shaping city brand perceptions. Cities that foster diverse, inclusive communities and cultural heritage are better positioned to attract tourists and talent. The report notes that cities with thriving cultural scenes are increasingly seen as desirable places to live and visit. 5. Future Outlook: The report predicts that cities will continue to evolve in response to global challenges, such as #climatechange and geopolitical shifts. The cities that successfully adapt to these challenges while fostering innovation and maintaining a positive global image will emerge as the dominant city brands of the future. Conclusion The “Global City Index 2024” by Brand Finance underscores the growing importance of city brands in the #globaleconomy. Cities that #invest in #infrastructure, #sustainability, and cultural appeal will continue to strengthen their global standing. As the world becomes more interconnected, the ability of cities to attract talent, investment, and tourism will be critical to their long-term success. The full report offers deeper insights into the methodologies behind the rankings and the evolving dynamics of #globalcitybrands.

🗣️ Engaging with residents to ascertain their perspectives on tourism isn’t a tokenistic gesture. Responding to residents' concerns can help maintain their support for tourism, contributing to destination sustainability and reducing the likelihood of reaching the dreaded ‘antagonism’ stage of Doxey’s irritation index. ⚠️ We must also remain mindful that overtourism is not merely confined to prominent urban destinations. For example, I am part of a committee for a small rural heritage site. Until recently, this site was a relatively quiet haven for locals, but thanks to an (unwanted!) viral Facebook post, it suddenly became an overnight tourist attraction. This shows how we may unwittingly contribute to overtourism when we somewhat innocently share ‘hidden gems’ on social media. While the site’s rural location is decidedly less ‘glamorous’ than the destinations which frequently receive overtourism media attention, the emotions experienced by residents (frustration, anger) beside this rural site were likely the same as those who experience overtourism in more urban destinations. Fortunately, the situation was resolved by introducing context-specific measures. 💡 García-Buades et al. (2022) examined residents’ perceptions of overtourism in Alcúdia. Over 65% of residents considered the destination overcrowded and ‘invaded’, suggesting that the social carrying capacity has been exceeded. 👇 Practical implications outlined in the study to help local governments alleviate overtourism included: 1️⃣ Improving destination management: ✅ Assessing residents’ perceptions and listening to complaints can prompt the local government to manage specific activities, such as waste collection and management, noise disturbance, traffic control, etc.  ✅ Implementing regional interventions to preserve the destination’s attractiveness (e.g. regulations for spatial planning to limit the adverse effects of land consumption). 2️⃣ Reducing tourism quantity: ✅ Island and local government decisions regarding licenses for new tourist accommodation (e.g., hotels, holiday homes) can affect the number of tourists. ✅ Expanding the tourist season beyond the summer months (high season). Public-private collaboration can help to progress this. 3️⃣ Improving the quality of tourists: ✅ Enforcing local laws to limit nightlife and noise or restrictions on drinking (e.g. ‘happy hours’) can make a destination less attractive for ‘party tourism’.  ✅ Developing and promoting tourism products related to outdoor activities and ecological tourism may attract more ‘good’ tourists (e.g., respectful and with high purchasing power). 👇 This article outlines how anti-tourism demonstrations will take place in the Canary Islands this month.