Every place in the world is on notice: Travelers will be headed YOUR way this year. While there might be some dips in travel to popular destinations of the past, the theme for 2018 could best be captured by the popular Monty Python catchphrase, “And now for something completely different.” We’ve noticed and compiled 8 trendy reasons why travelers will be travelling this year.
Standing out from the crowd – while avoiding them altogether – will be the “must-dos,” particularly among millennials. But don’t discount the older generations, and their bucket-lists, who will have money to spend and may want to detach from all that chases their desire for peace, especially impatient travelers. Globetrotters are poised to show some renewed interest in long-forgotten destinations in 2018, and there will also be a desire among the adventurous to attempt to reach the ends of the Earth that have few, if any, footprints.
How will you get away from stress this year? If you believe that the journey is part of the reward, you’ve already made arrangements to use Priority Pass lounges along the way, right? If not, here’s a link for a quick 10% discount.
Where Your Will Meets A Way
The airline industry has recorded a record number of passengers and flights and the trend is upward. That means more crowded skies and planes greeting you this coming year. Of course, a lounge would be a great way to remedy that. As far as where to go, more travelers are looking to get away from the stress and burdens of life back home, and that escape means travelling to destinations not on everyone’s bucket list – yet. Budget airlines are spreading their wings and crossing vast oceans which means younger travelers and all budget-minded adventurers have more options to do something new in 2018.
Boomers Are On The Roll
They’ve been there and done that. The so-called Baby Boomers (generally those born between 1946 and 1964) will have disposable cash to spend and will look to escape their own life stresses, namely health and weather, and for those still actively employed, work. For everyone who discounts the contribution of boomers to the travel economy, there will be eyebrow-raising numbers to contend with.
According to a survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), Baby Boomers expect to take up to five leisure trips this year, and spend nearly US$6,500 on travel. While that is roughly the same amount, or slightly less, than what Millennials are expected to spend this year, an increasing number of Boomers are looking for more rewarding travel, just like Millennials. AARP notes that the percentage of Boomers who are looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway this year jumped to 49% from 38% last year and, unlike Millennials, they are more willing to unplug from technology to enjoy that escape. Take a look at what AARP highlights as the top 5 Boomer trends.
The Young And The Restless, But Also Conscious
For the 18-35 year-old travelers, an experiential journey is what’s trending for 2018. Usually the ones to set the trends before following them, Millennials, and the even younger Generation Z, seek more hands-on and rewarding experiences. According to the website travelagentcentral.com, activity destinations that offer music, food and up-close nature experiences like safaris and sailing are on tap for 2018. Sustainable travel and trips to “endangered” places are attractive places to go for the younger travelers who are increasingly concerned about disappearing natural treasures due to changes in climate. Young travelers are gravitating toward destinations that offer more than a typical backpacker’s European-style getaway and instead provide more immersive natural and urban experiences. Travelagentcentral.com lists Australia and New Zealand, Italy, the UK, Spain, Thailand, Costa Rica, the Philippines, and Peru among the top destinations for 2018.
Traditional city destinations are not off the map entirely since the emergence of discount airline and accommodation sites give budget-conscious young travelers the ability to see many European and Asian cities without breaking the bank.
You Can’t Beat The Experience
“You Can’t Beat The Experience” was actually an old airline slogan for the now-defunct Pan American World Airways, better known as Pan Am, but they still ring true as ever. Travelers in 2018 will look to excite all senses. They will take more thrill-seeking adventures, engage in cultural immersion experiences, and set their sights on extreme regions of the world. It’s no longer satisfactory for people to go to destinations simply to say they’ve been there. It’s all about doing something meaningful while there.
Have you heard the term “voluntourism?” It means just what it sounds like. Adding the experience of humanitarian volunteering while enjoying an adventure is becoming an alluring trend among younger Millennial travelers in 2018. Younger people are very socially conscious and the need to share doesn’t stop at selfies and other pictures. Sharing their knowledge, skills and “helping make the world a better place" is seen as a great way to spend a memorable trip.
The Over-Under On Tourism
Another term you might be hearing more of this year is, “overtourism.” As the name implies, some destinations have become so popular they risk being overrun by visitors. Destinations such as the Galapagos Islands are protected by law from overtourism, but this mostly involves the national park area. Surrounding areas have seen an increase in development of accommodations, restaurants and shops.
Iceland’s recent surge in popularity shows that governments need to take action and work in tandem with tourism and economic entities to ensure the availability of resources, accommodations and infrastructure while protecting the reasons people come to visit in the first place. According to digital media company Skift, tourism is now Iceland’s biggest export with roughly 2.3 million visitors in 2017.
What trends for 2018 show is that some travelers will spread their wings beyond places they would normally consider in order to discover under-appreciated destinations. Using Europe as an example, less traveled destinations such as Belarus, Poland, Cyprus and Moldova are on visitors’ maps this year, according to intrepidtravel.com. For fans of the popular photo sharing site Instagram, the world appears as a blank canvas ready to be filled. Remote regions of the world will be more popular among social media savvy travelers seeking a unique experience and one-of-a-kind shot.
Table for One, Please, But Make Room for More
A more intriguing trend we’re seeing is solo travel. The Toronto Star reported that last year more people went at it alone than ever before — and not just Canadians. According to thestar.com, the newspaper’s website, more women are living alone than men for the first time in the country’s history and that has translated into more searches and inquiries into travelling alone. The report also notes that the trend is global. According to Intrepid Travel which books adventure tours and promotes sustainable itineraries, solo travel accounted for about half of the tour packages booked by that company in 2017.
It’s becoming more popular to go at it alone and there are a few reasons for this.
- Most individual travelers find themselves relaxed and unconstrained when travelling alone.
- Trying to accommodate the schedules and desires of other travelling companions can be challenging.
- It’s also an opportunity to check off “bucket list” items sooner when other considerations aren’t in the mix.
- travelling alone is also seen as a great opportunity to try new things and meet people from all over the world which makes it an attractive option for extroverts.
- People feeling alone and those who simply want things at their own pace.
We Are Family
The family dynamic is changing. While traditional vacations to family-friendly destinations will continue unabated, the mix of family members travelling in 2018 will continue the trend of being a bit more non-traditional. Many single parents will obey their wanderlust and decide to travel with their children, casting aside the stereotypical scene of a mom, a dad and two kids visiting a Disney® >park.
Intrepid Travel reports that the U.K. office for National Statisticscounts roughly two million single-parent families residing in the U.K. In addition, Statistics Canada estimates that 19% of Canadian households consist of single-parent households with children.
For parents who could use a break from catering to their children while on vacation, grandparents are coming to their rescue. More grandparents are travelling alone with their grandchildren and adults with their nieces and nephews. All of these atypical family vacations are becoming more typical and have caught the attention of tour operators around the world.
Small Worlds With Big Possibilities
There will be more trends to watch as 2018 unfolds. For example, some travelers will opt for smaller cruise ships. The growing popularity of river cruises, particularly throughout Europe, opens up new destinations unavailable to the largest ships. Even those cities at sea are opting for more sustainable amenities and destinations, shedding the “party boat” reputation and becoming a true experience in and of itself.
All work and no play is a bizarre concept for many people and those who don’t mind mixing the two will have company in 2018. While older travelers tend to eschew the idea of doing some work while on vacation, younger travelers don’t seem to mind as much. In fact, many see it as an opportunity make a vacation out of a business visit with some creative time management and budgeting.
Links:
https://www.travelagentcentral.com/running-your-business/top-millennial-travel-trends-to-watch-2018