The global multi-day tour sector is entering a new era defined by a widening gap between growth-focused operators investing in technology and a large cohort of small, manual, or lifestyle businesses, according to The State of Multi-Day Tours, 2nd Edition, a new research report from Arival, conducted in partnership with TourRadar, kimkim and Lemax.
The study, based on a survey of 569 operators and nearly 50 executive interviews, shows that while 70% of operators have growth ambitions, roughly one in three are either in maintenance mode or operate with a lifestyle mindset, prioritizing stability and experience quality over scale. This divide is shaping everything from tech adoption to distribution strategy and profitability.