Most of us live better today than the richest man 100 years ago - John D. Rockefeller.
Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it. Better yet, I’ll show you how to live an even richer life.
In the last century, life expectancy jumped from 31 years to 70 years. Yes, people are living 125% longer. That’s huge!
It’s thanks largely to improved healthcare and better food. Just think... 100 years ago, you couldn’t find fresh fruit year-round. Now you have access to apples, bananas and other exotic fruits every day.
Technology is also improving our lives significantly. Regular readers have heard Alexander Green cover this topic many times.
But today, I’d like to focus on just one improved area - and the opportunity it presents individuals and investors.
Timely Travel
In the late 1800s, French author Jules Verne wrote his classic novel Around the World in 80 Days. In it, the protagonists must travel by carriage, rail, steamship, sled and pilot boat.
It took months and a fortune to travel around the world just a century ago. But the times have certainly changed.
Today, you can travel around the world in a day or two. Not only that, but you can also get around faster, more comfortably and at a lower cost.
As a result, the modern travel industry is booming. In fact, some countries rely heavily on it. About 20% of Greece’s GDP comes from tourists.
Today’s chart shows the growth in tourism spending worldwide.
Travel and tourism makes up about 10% of global GDP today. And as you can see, travelers are expected to spend more than $11 trillion by 2025.
That’s an astounding amount of growth in less than a decade. Which presents a great investment opportunity...
Playing the Tourism Trend
One travel company that stands out is TripAdvisor Inc (NASDAQ:TRIP).
The business owns multiple travel brands around the world, with recent acquisitions in the Netherlands, Portugal and Australia.
Revenue grew 19.7% in 2015. And as TripAdvisor extends its global reach, revenue should continue to climb higher over the coming years.
There are many ways to play the tourism trend. Folks who invest wisely should earn more than enough to pay for their own lavish trip.
Remember: We’re all living richer lives today. Easier, cheaper travel is just one of many improvements. (Heck, bathing every day used to be a luxury... now it’s commonplace.)
If you’re looking for long-term growth as an investor, be sure to consider those innovations that are changing your life for the better.