Predicting the future is impossible. Will things be “back to normal?” Hopefully, it will be even better. Human desire to explore the world will remain undimmed – if not brightened. So, as we continue to rethink travel, here are some trends we may see shaping travel going forward.
Go Big (Near or Far) or Stay Home
We’ve all had more than enough time to fantasize about our next adventure from the comfort of our living room. To make up for lost time, you may gravitate to ‘big idea’ or ‘bucket list’ trips that can vary from a three-hour road trip to an intercontinental flight. Whether it’s a horseback riding tour through Petra, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, scuba diving through Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, or hiking or rafting through the Grand Canyon, you may finally book that once-in-a-lifetime adventure you’ve been dreaming of since you first watched Indiana Jones.
After spending a year mostly cooped up indoors, travellers will be looking for unique experiences in far flung places. If they’re going to fly, they will stay longer, and invest more to make sure that one trip really counts experiences while staying abreast of the destinations latest policies and safety measures regarding COVID-19.
Work From Anywhere Travel
Even once COVID-19 is largely under control, employers and employees have proven that remote work works, and a newfound employee perk is the ability to work from anywhere. If all we need is Wi-Fi and a web cam, why not have a beach or mountain view with our coffee or tea?
Barbados was the first country to strike on this opportunity: their “digital nomad” visa means you can work from paradise for a year. Bermuda, Anguilla, Georgia, Dubai, Estonia swiftly followed, and Aruba and Croatia are in play. In Portugal, Martinhal Resorts is offering a reduced rate for long-term stays aimed at families who want to relocate, and the company Love Home Swap offers people the opportunity to swap houses for an extended period to travel and work from the comfort of someone else’s home.
The Loyalty Shift
COVID-19 has upended the traditional dynamic of traveller loyalty. While before, travellers racked up points to determine the level of service they experienced, health, hygiene and safety is the new currency for earning customer trust. With 40% of tourists saying they favour airlines, airports, and hotels with higher health and safety standards, better service for all isn’t up for negotiation.
Travel companies have been quick to act: Hilton Hotels offers contactless hotel stays; staff at the Marriott now clean with electrostatic sprayers; Accor introduced ALLSAFE for elevated cleanliness protocols and prevention standards; and IHG created a dedicated Cleanliness Council called ‘Commitment to Clean’; while Lufthansa is linking its tickets to COVID-19 tests.
Some are going beyond the call of duty: both Etihad and Emirates have promised that they will take care of any medical and quarantine expenses if travellers test positive for COVID-19 during their trip.
Swipe Right on Tech
More than four in five travellers said technology would increase their confidence to travel in the future. Solutions that enhance transparency, clear communication, and seamless payments and boarding are paramount.
Airlines and airports have been quick to adopt touchless technology and it shows no signs of slowing down. Cathay Pacific offers contactless check-in, biometric gates at boarding, and modified meal service to reduce contact with the crew, while United Airlines has introduced what it says is the first touchless check-in experience of any airline at London Heathrow Airport.
Unsurprisingly, rapid COVID-19 testing is also on the rise. Tampa International Airport announced that all departing and arriving passengers can take a rapid COVID-19 test at the Florida Hub, while Heathrow Airport is preparing to launch a simple COVID-19 saliva screening test that aims to provide an accurate result within 20 seconds.
Our new BFFs: Travel Advisors
If you’ve had to change a trip, or manage a big travel disruption on your own, you probably understand why it’s helpful to have a travel advisor in your corner. COVID-19 served to highlight the critical role of travel advisors – anyone who didn’t have one in 2020 probably regretted it. With a considerable amount of uncertainty and quarantine rules changing weekly, there is great opportunity travel advisors are more important than ever as invaluable and irreplaceable sources of information abound.
As a result, travellers will see travel advisors of all types as fountains of knowledge. Want some great travel inspiration? Check. Looking for the best deals? They have you covered. Need an update on the latest health and safety standards? Done. Looking for the latest news on health policies all over the world, from Timbuktu to Torino? You got it. Need help rebooking after a disruption? They’ll do it before you ask.
In the future, travellers will expect their travel advisor to be like their best friend on a Saturday night: you won’t leave home without them, they’ll find the best place to have fun, and they have your back if anything goes wrong.
Travel with an Impact
Pre-COVID, travellers were already grappling with the environmental and social impact of tourism — both good and bad. The enforced pause created by the COVID-19 situation only gave people more time and space to notice how travel impacts the planet and local communities.
So it’s no surprise that the Faroe Islands announced that it was “closed for maintenance” but open for “voluntourists” last year. Meanwhile, the European Commission declared that 2021 will be the European Year of Rail to promote sustainable travel across the continent and support the delivery of its European Green Deal objectives.
Airlines have also heard the call: Norway committed to flying electric planes for all of its short-haul routes by 2040.
Travellers want to do good: a recent survey found that 68% of travellers want the money they spend on travel to go back into the community. Demand for trips that actually help to regenerate a location will begin start to soar.
