What’s the next big thing in travel?

Experiential Travel

Although the market for travel is recovering, nothing about it is the same. New trends have emerged and are upending the upscale tourism industry. Trends include a surge in experiential travel at the premium end of the market, retreats with a strong emphasis on health and wellbeing, and a desire to spend longer in a location to thoroughly explore its offers.

Many travelers desired to include at least one shopping excursion in their agenda prior to the epidemic, as seen by the swarms of Chinese tourists who were formerly a common sight throughout upscale stores in Paris. Good customers now place a higher value on experiences than on tangible products.

People are prioritizing their time over riches and material possessions, which has caused a shift in thinking. Most travelers these days prefer restful vacations over last-minute bookings and before hectic, action-packed vacations today favor calm, recuperative travel. Six out of ten travelers and eight out of ten in China agree that health and wellness are important considerations when making travel decisions, making wellness a crucial aspect in the planning of these leisurely vacations.

Along with safety worries, Covid-19 is still on travelers’ minds. 57% of people said they would prefer to travel to a place that puts health and safety first. For 59% of them, visiting a place that doesn’t take safeguards is a major turnoff.

What’s New.

Restful Vacations.

Many travelers desired to include at least one shopping excursion in their agenda prior to the epidemic, as seen by the swarms of Chinese tourists who were formerly a common sight throughout upscale stores in Paris. Good customers now place a higher value on experiences than on tangible products.

People are prioritizing their time over riches and material possessions, which has caused a shift in thinking. Most travelers these days prefer restful vacations over last-minute bookings and before hectic, action-packed vacations today favor calm, recuperative travel. Six out of ten travelers and eight out of ten in China agree that health and wellness are important considerations when making travel decisions, making wellness a crucial aspect in the planning of these leisurely vacations. Along with safety worries, Covid-19 is still on travelers’ minds.

57% of people said they would prefer to travel to a place that puts health and safety first. For 59% of them, visiting a place that doesn’t take safeguards is a major turnoff.

What Isn’t.

New Point of View

Visiting the same old places is one of the things that are on the way out. Only 24% of travelers still choose to visit well-known destinations and areas they have already visited, compared to 48% who now prefer to go to new places or engage in new activities. The practice of superficially hopping from one place to another is another trend that is fading.

A greater emphasis is placed on remaining longer in one place (43%) in order to thoroughly experience all of its culture and amenities than is placed on multi-destination excursions (29%). Travelers today have varying views on privacy and exclusivity: 44% still favor private or socially isolating vacations, 30% now favor social travel where they can meet new people, and 38% wish to see well-known tourist spots.

Domestic and regional travel were the most common choices for tourists in the previous year. But more people are now going farther abroad, mostly to visit their friends and family who are still living abroad.

What are the upcoming major influences?

Many articles and speeches have been written about how mass-market vacationers are more willing to spend more to make up for lost time. Luxury Travelers appear to have similar thoughts, as 48% of them plan to spend more money on extravagant vacation than they did before the Covid scandal.

Travel advisors predicts that as people’s taste for luxury increases, travel agents will become more in-demand for their knowledge in organizing these intricate luxury vacations. For many affluent travelers, travel agents are becoming increasingly influential. We can draw from this that the rising bureaucracy and complexity of travel since the pandemic should definitely benefit travel agents. 86% of respondents are planning to utilize a travel agent the same or more than they did pre-pandemic.

Travelers, on the other hand, have higher expectations of travel agencies. Since more than 80% of travelers go to agents for alternative travel advice and information—such as wellness facilities nearby—they are now expected to have a vast array of skills and expertise at their disposal.

Environmentally and sustainably friendly

Additionally, more and more travelers are developing a greener outlook. Travel that is environmentally and sustainably friendly is on the respondents’ agenda in 48%.

For 31% (66% in China), destinations that begin on sustainability activities will most certainly be a hit with them. When making plans, women under the age of 45 are more inclined to consider sustainability than men over the age of 45.

Say Yes to New Adventures