Travel Trends 2019: Dark Tourism, Bespoke journeys, Instagrammability

Luxury travel is growing faster than it did in the past five years. Over the next decade, the growth rate for this is projected to be at 6.2 per cent. This year will see more people opting for deluxe camps and villas. They will embark on exquisite journeys and traverse in premium trains as well as cruises. Although currency fluctuations in different nations slightly affected the segment, it has made people of developed countries seek extravagant travel at further discounted prices, fuelling the growth.

Many wanderers consider exploring places on foot as the best way to delve into several aspects of the destination they are visiting. This is why many passionate travellers are relying on guided walking tours. Though city walks are the most common form of hikes, they are gradually moving to food as well as cultural trails and photography stroll, among others, according to the specific interest of the vacationer. While heritage walk in South Mumbai is common, gourmet walking tours in France or walking tours at Machu Picchu have a lot to offer as well.

Instead of closed-door celebrations, family members of different generations are holidaying together to celebrate several occasions like birthdays, anniversary and other events. Given the rise in multigenerational travel, there is a sharp increase in demands for group and customised packages. Cruising is also one of the top five leisure options, as it is more relaxed and lesser activity based, especially when there are older family members travelling along.

Some people find it thrilling to visit mysterious places such as Kuldhara village in Rajasthan, which is believed to be haunted. While others may wind up at sites of tragedies such as Cambodian Killing Fields Memorial or the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, some head to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero in New York. Though for most tourists, going to the locations of death and disaster is only a part of things to do, a large number of adventurers in some way are getting attracted to such sites because they wish to review these chapters in history.

Source: Peter Kerkar, Group CEO, Cox & Kings

Less is more. The year is predicted to be all about made-to-measure and bite-sized travel with more curated itineraries squeezed into shorter time frames. With developments in tech that make booking a trip easier than ever, globetrotters are looking to make the most of short getaways. Almost 73 per cent of them plan to take more weekend trips in 2019.

Think keyless room access with your phone, personalised travel tips or a robotic concierge who can communicate with guests in their mother tongue! ‘Ease’ will 
be the gold standard for all tech innovations to judge by in 2019. Over two-thirds (67 per cent) are interested in self-driving transport at the destination, while 63 per cent like the idea of a ‘virtual travel agent’ in their home using voice-activated assistants to answer their excursion queries. One in five wants to see technology such as augmented reality helping them familiarise with a destination before they arrive.

This year will see the rise of a more conscious voyager, who will ask questions around social, political and environmental issues in potential destinations before deciding on where to visit. Almost seven in 10 (69 per cent) Indian travellers take social issues into account when choosing a holiday destination. Around 70 per cent of them choose not to go to a place if they feel it will have a negative effect on the people who live there. Three out of five (62 per cent) plan to attend a Pride festival during their travel in 2019.

NASA will start the construction of its Lunar Space Station in 2019 (launching in 2022) and we’ll continue to see considerable investment in orbital spaceflight. In 2019 and beyond, we will continue to push the extreme limits of where travel will take us. As space technology advances, even the prospect of space tourism won’t seem such a giant leap anymore. Seven in 10 Indian wanderlusters (71 per cent) confirm they are excited about the prospect of space tourism in future, and are open to considering the experience themselves (70 per cent), while three in five journeyers say they would rather stay in accommodation under the sea than in space (60 per cent).

Source: Booking.com, a leader in travel technology

The issue of single-use plastic will continue to be a hot topic. However, in 2019, environmental concerns will lead to greater actions. Millennials and Gen Z troupers will look for sustainable experiences in destinations, while accommodation providers will look to reduce their plastic usage and increase sustainable credentials. An overwhelming majority of Indian explorers (97 per cent) say they are willing to spend some time on activities that offset the environmental impact of their stay.

The world is our oyster. The desire to explore its untouched corners, have rare encounters and create unique memories, continues to grow. More tourists are abandoning the mainstream tourist guides in a bid to curate their own bespoke itinerary that takes them off the beaten track and away from the big cities.

(Pic for representational purpose)

The world is a photoshoot set and everyone’s seeking those Insta-moments — whether it’s a picturesque waterfall setting, the iconic infinity pool shot or a beautiful sunset to capture a special moment.

Self-care is a growing trend. Klook data has revealed that the number of solo drifters increased from 31 per cent in 2017 to 38 per cent in 2018. This pattern sees no signs of slowing down. Whether it’s a soul-seeking endeavour, a weekend of recharging or an impulsive last-minute quest for inspiration, expeditionists want the freedom to go solo whilst feeling connected, secure and confident to take on the world.

Source: Klook, travel activities booking platform