There’s clearly a lot of things that have changed in the world of travel over the last year or so. The world has been turned upside down, but our desire to travel and see the world hasn’t diminished. But what has changed and what are the trends that are going to end up defining travel in 2021 as our priorities and outlooks shift like never before? That’s what we’re going to explore today, so read on to find out more.
Driving Beats Flying
It’s clear that people are more interested now in driving to their destination, and that’s not surprising. Covid means that we want to be safe and ideally want to stay away from people we’re not traveling with. Being locked up on a plane for many hours is not seen as ideal during our current times.
The Chance to Connect Matters More Than Ever
However, we do want to connect with other people. The people we love and are close to have been kept at a distance for much of the last year. Once travel numbers start to pick up in 2021, many people are keen to see the people they haven’t had the chance to connect with since early 2020 or earlier.
Traveling to a Safe Home is Now a Major Luxury
Traveling to a home that’s going to be safe and private is now a major priority for travelers and is seen as a key luxury. That’s why Airbnb listings are expected to be even more popular as they offer the privacy and lack of direct contact with other people that most people will still be keen to avoid throughout 2021, even as we emerge out of the pandemic.
Outdoor Adventures
More people are looking for outdoor experiences. As tourist and indoor attractions become a little less popular, it makes sense that people are instead turning to the kinds of activities that allow them to embrace the great outdoors. Not only are these activities often a lot of fun but they allow for physical distancing and lower Covid risks all around.
More Demand for Domestic
International travel has suffered from travel bans and a lack of interest from consumers in air travel. As we mentioned above, people are more willing to travel a couple of hours by car than to take a plane ride. That results in more demand for domestic vacations over the option of traveling to far away int international destinations. That’s a good thing for US-based accommodation providers.
Sustainability
A trend that’s been growing in the world of travel over the last few years is sustainability. And that growth only looks set to continue apace in 2021. People are concerned with their environmental impact, and whether they’re traveling to New York or Sydney, they want to do so in a way that’s as sustainable and environmentally responsible as it can be. That’s something that travel providers and companies are also looking to place a greater focus on too.