Finding the Goldmine: The Hidden Opportunity in Tourism Data
In the world of investment, it often feels like all the obvious opportunities are taken. We’re all looking for that next smart investment, the next area for growth, but the map looks crowded. The “obvious” winners are saturated, and the undeveloped areas seem to lack potential.
But what if we’ve been looking at the map all wrong?
I’ve been analyzing the tourism landscape, and the data tells a fascinating story. At first glance, it shows exactly what you’d expect.
Take a look at this chart. It plots the “Tourism Index” (think of this as the raw appeal of a town its beaches, history, or natural wonders) against its “Available Hospitality Infrastructure” (the hotels, restaurants etc..).
For the most part, the data points fall into predictable patterns. In the top right, you have the “obvious” winners: towns with high appeal and high infrastructure. They are successful, but they are also saturated markets, expensive to enter. In the bottom left, you have towns with low appeal and no infrastructure. No surprise, and no real opportunity.
This is the world as we see it today. But if you look closer, an exception appears, a powerful imbalance.
Do you see that cluster of red dots? That’s the real story.
These are towns with a world-class Tourism Index, scoring a 9 or 10 out of 10. The market has confirmed that people want to go to these places just as much as the most popular destinations on the chart.
But now, look at their infrastructure score. They aren’t high at all. They’re sitting at the floor.
This is the conflict in our story. This is the gap. We have towns with proven, high-value appeal but virtually no hotels, no quality restaurants, and no services for the tourists who want to be there.
This isn’t a problem. It’s a goldmine.
While everyone else is fighting for scraps in those crowded blue markets, we have a clear, data-driven signal pointing to an untapped market. This is our “what could be.”
Imagine being the first to build a quality hotel in a town that already has a “perfect 10” appeal. You’re not just hoping for demand; you’re meeting it. You’re not just competing; you’re creating the market.
These red dots aren’t just data points; they are invitations. They represent jobs we can create, local economies we can grow, and a smart, strategic investment with a powerful first-mover advantage.
The real opportunity isn’t in the crowded part of the map. It’s here, hidden in plain sight, in the gap between what is and what could be.
