Globalization refers to the process by which businesses, items and individuals develop international influence and move across borders.
For example, having sushi in the US is a result of globalization. Similarly, eating bananas during wintertime is a result of globalization.
Nowadays, globalization is omnipresent. It can even be hard to distinguish between local products and foreign ones.
The impact of globalization on the food and beverage industries is obvious. Most individuals will have foreign products in their cupboards.
However, the impact of globalization on other industries may not be as apparent.
What are some of the less obvious industries that are being transformed by globalization?
The industries that globalization is transforming
Here are some of the industries that are being shaped and reinvented by globalization.
- Gaming
Globalization has deeply impacted the gaming industry, especially the online gaming industry. It has boosted the growth of this industry in many ways.
As individuals have gotten more used to globalization, they have embraced products from different countries. Many individuals actively seek out products from different cultures to experience something new and unique.
In the gaming industry, this means that gamers actively look for games from different countries. For example, games created by Japanese developers are very popular.
Indeed, a growing number of international players are passionate about Japanese culture. They look for online games either from Japan or inspired by the country’s culture.
They do so because they want to immerse themselves in the island’s culture and learn more about it. Some even use these games to learn Japanese.
Globalization encourages this type of cultural exposure and curiosity.
Thankfully for these players, games that were once out of reach or difficult to come by are now very easy to access online.
In a matter of seconds, they can now access games from all over the world. They can even meet other international players in live multiplayer games and learn about each other’s culture.
This phenomenon is a form as cultural globalization, the exchange of cultural values and traditions.
As mentioned above, gamers now have access to more games and gaming platforms than ever before thanks to globalization and the spread of the internet. However, the customer’s access to so many options has made the gaming industry much more competitive.
As a result, providers have had to improve their services. The quality of online gaming services is now extremely high.
It is the only way for an online gaming provider or developer to survive in this modern gaming industry.
Globalization, and the spread of the internet, has also boosted the economic development of the online gaming industry.
The casino gaming industry, for example, is growing at an incredible pace.
This growth is due to the increasing number of players who have access to online casinos. The more accessible the internet and WIFI become, the more profitable the online gaming industry gets.
If individuals in remote areas can access online casinos via the internet, online casinos have more customers. Typically, online casinos will offer bonuses to attract players to their site.
One might think that globalization favors online gaming but negatively impacts land-based gaming. That is not accurate.
What negatively impacts land-based gaming is the expansion of the internet and people’s reliance on it.
Globalization is not the same as the internet. Internet does facilitate globalization in many ways, but they are two separate things.
Globalization actually benefits land-based gaming venues as it encourages traveling and visiting foreign countries.
- Travel
People are more comfortable traveling to foreign countries and visiting foreign land-based gaming venues because of the effects of globalization.
For example, traveling to Japan does not feel as scary or intimidating when you have been exposed to Japanese culture and language in your own country.
When you try sushi in your hometown, meet Japanese tourists, and watch a Japanese movie, you are interacting with Japanese culture.
If you were to then travel to Japan, the country would feel more familiar and less intimidating because of this previous cultural exposure.
In short, globalization makes traveling feel more comfortable and familiar. It also makes traveling more affordable in many ways.
Customers can now easily compare different airlines’ offers and find cheap flights to foreign countries. Many airline companies have interesting deals with international airports that enable them to offer cheap tickets.
Customers can also find affordable hotels, rent a local’s flat or stay at a friend’s place. They can look for travel tips online from locals or other tourists.
There are many ways in which globalization is making traveling easier and more affordable than ever.
Final thoughts
These are two of the industries that globalization is transforming. Of course, there are many more industries that are being shaped by globalization.
One could eve argue that all industries are, in some way or another, being transformed by globalization.
