Travel has nearly ground to a halt this year as a result of the Covid-19, with flights canceled, hotels shut, and restrictions on travel 'corridors' changing on a weekly, if not daily, basis. Many of us may have to postpone our holiday plans and embrace the dream of holidaying in dreamy Greece or romantic Venice; enjoying your favourite cocktails along the seasides or booking a rural opting for a forest holiday to get away from it all.
However, things are getting better as we have invented the Covid-vaccine now. Travelling lovers can expect the year 2022 with no more restriction, and the matter is just choosing which destinations from our bucket lists.
From eco travel to escapism, let’s take a look at our go-to list of 2021 travel trends (and beyond), to fulfil all your wanderlust dreams in the next year.
1. GROWING WANDERLUST
Our natural human urge to travel has not been stifled by new rounds of travel bans, limitations, and uncertainties. Travelers expect to take the same number of domestic and international journeys in the year after the city's travel restrictions are relaxed as they did in the year before the pandemic (March 2019 – March 2020).
Our stay at home has made us more desirous of the outside world than ever before. Many of us have developed a stronger desire to see even more of the globe, as well as to travel more in the future to make up for lost time. Many individuals attempt to organize a vacation to make up for a missed event (such as a milestone birthday or wedding), while others will rebook a trip they had planned but didn't get to take.
2. REGENERATIVE TRAVEL
A more eco-conscious attitude is expected to be seen in 2021 and beyond, since Coronavirus has raised people's awareness of their influence on the environment and local communities. Many of us want the travel industry to provide more environmentally friendly travel alternatives, and as a result, passengers may seek out other places in order to avoid visiting during peak season and avoid congested tourist sites. This means that in order to attract potential tourists, venues will need to devise new and innovative crowd control strategies.
To avoid overcrowding, the travel industry has to adapt to this long-term attitude by offering more appealing off-season vacation packages and recommending alternative locations. There are also strong signals for travel agencies to be more honest about how their customers' money is used to help communities recover, paving the door for more regenerative travel.
3. WORKATION
It's safe to say that the conventional 9-to-5 office job is on its way out, with the majority of non-essential workers continuing to work from home, which will have a significant impact on how we utilize our yearly leave in 2021. Expect laptops to become even more of a mainstay in luggage than ever before, and an attractive spot on which to rest them a must-have when choosing where to stay.
Many tourists have already explored arranging a stay so that they may work from a different location, and many more would be prepared to quarantine if they could work remotely. In order to attract this new breed of digital nomads, travel companies and places to stay will emphasize home office facilities and Wi-Fi speed.
4. SIMPLE PLEASURES
The year 2021 has highlighted the significance of appreciating the little and simple pleasures in life, which may explain why so many of us are looking forward to relaxing vacations in 2022. Hiking and relaxing will be important travel trends in the future years, with an increasing number of travelers seeking to prioritize spending time with family and friends in the great outdoors.
Given the increasing focus on privacy, sufficient space, and personal control over cleanliness and hygiene, it's not strange that tourists may prefer accommodation that is "near to home," such as a vacation home or apartment with a well-equipped kitchen rather than a hotel. Relaxing and wellness-related excursions will also be high on the 'new normal' travel agenda.
5. DOMESTIC TRAVEL
Local travel has risen to the fore in a new Coronavirus world because it is easier, safer, and frequently more sustainable. Staying closer to home and being familiarists rather than tourists will remain at the top of this year's travel agendas. Pet-friendly hotel offerings are also on the rise, as we expect the need to accommodate our pet travel companions.
6. ESCAPISM
The vast majority of passengers spend time hunting for holiday inspiration, studying prospective trip destinations as much as once a week, seeking comfort and distraction during periods under lock-down. We can expect destinations and accommodations to come up with even more new and different ways to capitalize on travelers' desire to escape reality and connect them with the experiences that await.
7. TRAVEL SAFETY
People all across the world will have a new perspective on safety when traveling during the pandemic next year. Many travelers may avoid specific destinations based on Covid-19, while others anticipate social estrangement in vacation destinations. Furthermore, some individuals will choose to avoid taking public transportation, which may lead to an increase in the number of persons renting vehicles.
8. MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
Many people have found themselves in severe financial positions as a result of the pandemic. That is why travellers will be more price focussed when it comes to planning trips in future. Many customers want travel booking companies to make cancellation rules, refund processes, and trip insurance choices more transparent. For our next trip, many of us consider refundable accommodations and the ability to alter dates without being charged must-haves.
9. TECH & TRAVEL
Tech innovation will be critical in regaining passengers' trust, and we will see more tech being used to adapt to a new style of traveler. Technology will allow us to reclaim the spontaneity, confidence, and ease of days gone by, while also assisting people in traveling securely and responsibly.
