Travel Trends that Shaped Tourism

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For the longest time, traveling opened tremendous opportunities for the development of our society, the reason why it became a significant activity of the people. It influences the economic, social, and environmental aspects of a place. But the world is continuously shifting and evolving every day. As a result, people’s demands and needs in traveling have gone through many changes, making the travel industry vulnerable to rapid shifting in traveling which they need to be ready for and adjust to the changing world.

It reminds me of what Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, had said about changes. He stated that change is the only constant in life. Meaning our world and humans are constantly changing (McCann, 2020). For the past decades, this phenomenon shifted the external and internal operations of the travel industry, forcing the industry to rapidly adapt to these transitions to keep up with the highly competitive market and changing environment. It had caused a tremendous impact on travel motivations and how the industry work. Hence, it opened new marketing strategies to meet tourists’ demands and expectations.

Photo by: René Boyvin

The word trend is all about what interests people. That is why travel marketers, operators, and establishments always make sure that they associate their products and services with the wants and needs of their customers to sustain their business and keep up with the rapid changes in travel trends.

At present, the trends in traveling shifted to be more inclusive and health and safety centers. Many tourists nowadays feel anxious when traveling due to the fear of getting the Covid-19 virus, the reason why they become more and more hesitant to travel. This fear of traveling makes the industry crumble for a long time. However, as the world slowly recovers from the pandemic, traveling is once again starting to operate.

Trends in the Past and the Future that Shaped Tourism.

In 2017, millennial travel became popular among Asian countries. According to WiT (2019), millennials on this date take an average of three (3) trips per year. This activity helped the travel marketers to study the current and potential preferences or what influences them to travel. For instance, Singapore millennials stated the significance of cultural authenticity in their travel while others were highly influenced by photos posted on social media platforms.

Another significant travel trend that emerges in the year 2019 is experiential tourism. It is a type of tourism where people want to have a meaningful and engaging travel experience. Tourists choose to stay with local families rather than staying in hotels when visiting new places. It allows them to interact more closely with the people and learn about their way of life and obtain a deeper connection with the destination.

And in the year 2020, domestic traveling became the trend. It was the year when the pandemic started. Due to travel restrictions, local people focused on having leisure activities or visiting domestic destinations mainly to visit their friends and family. Another trend that boomed this year was the vacation rental properties offered by Vacation Rentals By Owner (Vrbo). Open-air and private places or destinations became a trend among millennials and families because they can have privacy and security by renting the whole site for occasions like family gatherings, celebrations, remote work vacations, or relaxation.

According to Travel Market Report, data from Intrepid Travel shows that more than 50% of their clients are traveling alone. More and more reports from different travel companies show the same increase in independent traveling. It only indicates that in the next years, tourists will prefer and become more comfortable to travel alone.

And lastly, the trend of travel tech. Technology has become more and more in demand in the travel industry since the pandemic started. Companies launched new and innovative technologies and tools that promote health and security safety to the guest. Travel will become technology base making devices like smartphones and the internet more significant to the future of the travel industry.

The emerging trends in the market shaped the present and the future of the travel industry. It verified that the industry is eager to combat the rapid changes in technology, people’s interest, and the environment. They don’t just follow the trends but they innovate things to create a better experience and service to the people.

Published Friday, June 17, 2022

AUTHOR

Anneza Donca