FIVE WAYS the pandemic will change travel for the better
In the past four months, the tourism industry has suffered extreme damage. Life as we know it has been upended, we’ve been affected on a deep, psychological level many of us never before imagined. Now that global lockdowns are beginning to lift, we’re tentatively thinking of future adventures, where we’ll go, and how we’ll get there.
The urge to travel will endure. But have our priorities shifted? What is really important to us now? Fundamental changes in consumer behaviour and essential considerations, some that have never been discussed until now, are shaping the way we live, and the way we’ll travel, probably for good. Add to this many emerging trends and burgeoning shifts pre-pandemic that have been accelerated, fast-tracked into instant reality and we have a landscape much changed from before.
I hope it’s not overly optimistic to predict that the way we’ll travel will change for the better, in the long term. Already people have become more conscious of their impact on the world around them, as nature has flourished during lockdown, and we’ve had more time to appreciate the sanctity of our natural world and our previous freedom to explore. After a time of reframing and reflection, could we be heading towards a better, more responsible way of travelling, and as such, hold the travel industry to higher standards than ever before? I recently wrote an article for travel trends forecaster and digital magazine Globetrender on this - click the link below for the full article.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL AS STANDARD
Sustainable travel will no longer be a buzzword or a niche type of travel, but a key consideration of the consumer. We’ll fly less, but make each trip count more, and put greater importance on travel brands and hotels that place the protection of our environment and local communities front and centre of their operations. Following the almost overnight disappearance of tourism in many countries, we have an increased awareness of how much local spending helps communities reliant on tourism – perhaps we’ll think more about how we spend our money on holiday and how we can have a positive effect for the local small business owner – the family-run hotel, the local mountain guide, the independent restaurant owners and craftspeople.
RECOGNITION THAT TRAVEL IS A PRIVILEGE
We’ve been struck by the realisation of what a privilege the ability to travel and explore the world really is. The freedom to roam is something many took for granted but what greater luxury is there after being in lockdown? Consumers will now place greater importance on their travels, becoming more selective when researching and booking their trips. There will be a focus on quality over quantity, we’ll travel less but better, and in-the-know travel curators who can lead us to the most amazing one-of-a-kind places to stay, or help create the most memorable authentic experience, stand to be in greater demand to help us make our travels the best they can be.
GREATER CONNECTION TO NATURE
Hiking, camping, remote rural retreats, woodland cabins, cycling and trail-running holidays all look set to grow in popularity as outdoor adventures beckon following months of staying at home, particularly among city dwellers seeking time in green space. Re-wilding projects, rural hotels and home rentals offering the chance to enjoy and reconnect with the natural world will blossom.
DISCOVERING THE WORLD ON OUR DOORSTEP
Domestic travel and an interest in exploring our home countries looks set to be the first area for tourism growth this summer but what if this is more than a temporary shift? Our leisure time could involve more home-turf travel as we begin to discover the beauty of our own national parks, our coastlines and towns in between fewer, longer international trips.
SLOWER TRAVEL
That idea of travelling less but better will mean a shift to longer, more immersive trips, more time spent in a destination and exploring your immediate surroundings slowly, by foot, bicycle or by car. House and villa rentals, as well as small hotels offering property buy-outs and self-contained, serviced properties, will see greater demand as typical length of stay grows and we look for self-contained places to stay and destinations to discover for weeks, rather than for days.
https://globetrender.com/2020/07/01/pandemic-travel-better-future-trends/