The United States map is taking hit after hit with states that now allow for the sale of recreational marijuana. With this comes a growing segment of the travel industry: Cannabis Tourism.

"When I told a DMO friend I was going to write this as a column, he said he was going to send it to all his partners because it is confusing. Whoever decided to call two different jobs the same name?" —Sally Berry

Once again, the travel and tourism industry faces both new and ongoing challenges. Travel and tourism cannot be separated from the world context in which they operate. Be that context political states of war, or one of health issues or of economic undulations, what occurs throughout the world touches every aspect of tourism. It is for this reason that every once in a while, it is good for travel and tourism professionals to take a step back and to review at least some of the basic fundamentals of their industry.

We are in the midst of a digital transformation. More and more, travelers use the Internet to find travel inspiration and information. They can easily book flights and hotels—now more than ever, thanks to Google. There are apps to hail transportation, book table reservations and more.

Each new year brings an air of hope. When the Trump administration instated the first travel ban in January, however, it looked like 2017 was off to a turbulent start for the travel industry. This year definitely had its rough patches, yet there were good things, too.

With each setback, the travel industry rallied together and proved that the industry isn't just an industry—but a community determined to change the world through remarkable destinations and extraordinary experiences.