G Adventures has dug into its data to reveal what travellers are looking for as the world opens up again.
The company said in a statement: one thing is clearer than ever – the traveller has changed.
Assisted by its panel of avid travellers, G Adventures has identified the top 10 trends for travelling in 2022, with insights into how people want to travel and where they want to go.
These patterns have been coupled with new trip highlights launched for travel this year by the adventure operator and community tourism pioneer, as well as newsworthy reasons for people to visit.
Bruce Poon Tip, Founder of G Adventures, says the trends clearly reveal the pandemic has produced a more conscious traveller and have presented the operators with a huge opportunity for change.
“The pandemic has woken travellers up and given them a chance to reflect on how they were travelling before. The data tells us they have become more purposeful and intentional about how and why they are travelling, where they are going, and are recognizing the positive impact travel can have on local communities when they make decisions wisely.
“These trends point towards a seismic shift in travellers’ habits. It only takes a small number of people to make a huge change and people are finally seeing how smart travel choices can not only make a huge difference to local people but also deliver a richer travel experience,” says Poon Tip.
G Adventures’ top 10 predictions for 2022 travel are as follows:
- THE TREND: Community tourism is the solution to responsible travel
According to G Adventures’ latest panel research, a third (33 per cent*) of UK respondents say they will place more focus on travelling responsibly in 2022. With the increased focus on community and support of locally-owned businesses fostered during the pandemic, it makes sense that this mindset carries over into international travel plans. Travellers are looking for adventures that support community tourism, and trails are a great way for tourists to spread wealth through multiple smaller villages.
- THE TREND: Travellers care most about supporting local people
The most important factor for people when they travel is that their money benefits local people, at 68 per cent for UK respondents. This trend has been intensified by the impact of the pandemic on those countries who rely on tourism for their economic survival and came in well ahead of other important considerations such as minimizing one’s carbon footprint and / or reducing plastics consumption (both at 15 per cent globally).
- THE TREND: ‘Workations’ increase in popularity
As the world shifted to remote working, companies realised office confines were no longer required to ensure productivity. Previously the domain of the digital nomad, ‘workations’ have hit the mainstream. 24 per cent of UK respondents to G Adventures’ most recent survey say they are able to ‘work from anywhere’ – with that number rising to 46 per cent for those aged 18-34. An increasing number of people plan to combine work with travel in future at 33 per cent, up from 16 per cent in December 2020.
- THE TREND: Hostels will make a big comeback
The need for social connection amongst young travellers is stronger than ever with 64 per cent of UK respondents aged 18-34 saying they were likely to try a hostel experience following the pandemic, and 50 per cent of those expressing that meeting people to socialize at the hostel, and possibly travel with, is the most important factor when selecting a hostel.
- THE TREND: Travellers want to disconnect from their devices
Workationers aside, while travellers want to reconnect with people and places, they are desperate to disconnect from the online world while on holiday.53 per cent of UK respondents want to take time out from their devices and social media, with 32 per cent saying socializing and meeting new people is their top wellbeing priority when booking their next holiday.
- THE TREND: Travellers will have a bit more cash to splash
With staying in spurring a savings boom, 17 per cent of travel-starved UK respondents said they had increased their travel budget for their next international holiday, which means their travel dollars are likely to take them on bigger adventures than they might have thought possible before.
- THE TREND: The staycation is over – travellers want to go further afield
The domestic holiday appeal is wearing off as the pandemic rolls on. Only 18 per cent of respondents said they would prefer to stay closer to home as opposed to heading further afield on their next international holiday, with close to a third – 30 percent – saying they were less likely to take a ‘staycation’ in 2022.
- THE TREND: Lockdown life has led to a desire to be more active
69 per cent of those surveyed in the UK want to be physically active on their next holiday and with 60 per cent of travellers polled saying their physical and mental wellbeing is a top consideration when booking a holiday, taking a hike never sounded more appealing.
- THE TREND: Travellers are prioritizing their wellbeing and mental health
With an overwhelming 94 per cent of UK travellers saying travel is important to their wellbeing and mental health, travellers are also looking to take their next holiday in a way that not only helps them to reconnect but optimizes travel as a means of revitalization, too.
- THE TREND: Revenge travel is out, reconnection travel is in
Consumers are hungry for new experiences and connections. Although the term ‘revenge travel’ – the urge to travel to make up for lost time in lockdown – gained popularity over the course of the pandemic, reconnection travel is the top reason for UK-based travellers at 45 per cent, with revenge travel – booking a trip to make up for lost time – coming in at just 15 per cent.
For more information on G Adventures, please visit www.gadventures.com.
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