A vast number of trends and conditions shape the choices made by tourists, no matter where they hail from, and with the right analytical methods those factors can be turned into useful data. This program examines what many in the hospitality and tourism industry call the "global forces taxonomy," which can be thought of as a hierarchy or a stratified array of factors affecting international tourism. Categories are organized into three layers: the outer layer (geographical, environmental, and climatic), the middle (demographic and socio-cultural), and the inner (political, economic, and technological). Each layer poses numerous challenges and opportunities which industry experts discuss in the video. The result is an excellent learning resource for anyone planning a career in tourism or related fields.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on September 29, 2013. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

Global Forces Taxonomy (3:03) -- The Outer Layer: Geographical, Environmental, and Climatic Factors (4:53) -- The Middle Layer: Demographic and Socio-Cultural Factors (5:30) -- The Inner Layer: Political, Economic, and Technological Factors (6:08) -- Credits: Factors Affecting Global Tourism (1:00).