Like it or not, Covid-19 is still among us, but we shouldn’t let that get in the way of life (and travel). As the world slowly opens up again, here are five travel trends that are emerging:
Travel bubbles
Created to promote regional travel and reboot tourism, countries are forming “travel bubbles” that allow their respective populations to travel freely within its borders—as long as the travellers are Covid-19 free.
According to the SCMP, Hong Kong is planning to form a bubble with Macau, South Korea, Thailand and perhaps mainland China, while the Aussies and Kiwis are buddying up as well. Meanwhile, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have already formed their own “Baltic travel bubble.”
Wellness and adventure travel
With health and wellness top of mind thanks to Covid-19, travellers will be jetting off to quieter and less crowded places. This includes wellness retreats where they can enjoy some alone time, take care of their mental and physical health, and refuel on healthy and nutritious food. Outdoor trips like hiking, trekking, running and/or camping will also be popular after many months of being cooped up.
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Traveling with purpose
According to PR maven Cathy Chon, travel in the post-Covid era will become more purposeful, with an emphasis on slow and sustainable travel. Other than travelling to more remote and private places, we’ll start to see a lot of tourism that doesn’t just benefit the traveller, but also the local economies and local communities.
Going hyperlocal
Since international travel is currently more difficult and seemingly more risky—not to mention mandatory quarantines—there is no better time for people to rediscover their home cities through local tours and staycations.
Whether it’s staying at a luxury hotel, camping on the beach or exploring the other side of town for a day, travellers will be finding innovative new ways to become tourists in their own cities. Road trips are also expected to be big this year, so get those carpool karaoke tracks ready.
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Flexible and last-minute bookings
Things are currently changing at breakneck speed, so the travel industry will have to be flexible by allowing travellers to make changes to their bookings. Also, instead of planning trips far in advance, more people will be making decisions to travel closer to their actual holidays. Spontaneity is the spice of life, after all!
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