In this article I’m sharing 5 ways how travel will change in the future. Of course no one can predict what will happen exactly. However, based on research I have found several upcoming trends that point us in the right direction for the future of travel. Above all, I hope this article inspires you to think about what the future of travel will look like for you as well. Take a moment to find out how these developments match with your personal travel preferences.
5 Ways How Travel will change in the Future
Local Travel Increases
The first of 5 ways how travel will change in the future that I want to share in this article is that Local Travel increases. Certainly, this development makes sense when cross-border and international travel has been restricted for a long time. Because when people start travelling again, most of them will start with local trips first, depending on the travel restrictions in place. Subsequently while spending more time at home being unable to travel to far-away destinations, people have also started to appreciate their local surroundings more. Besides that, road trips have become more popular as a safer way of travel and this will be done more regional as well.
People will focus more on the experience instead of the destination
Secondly, one of the upcoming trends in the travel industry is that people are looking for more transformative travel experiences. Because of the pandemic and the lack of travel people spend more time to reflect and to realize what is important in their lives and what travel means to them. As a result, the destination itself is not the most important factor anymore when planning a trip. In other words, it’s about the purpose of a trip and what someone is looking for as an experience. For instance, it is about wellness, reconnecting with family or friends, taking some well deserved me-time etc. In other words, the experience that a trip can offer will determine the destination, not the other way around.
Slow Travel becomes more popular
Thirdly, another way how travel will change in the future is an increase of Slow Travel. To clarify, this means that the focus shifts to quality over quantity. In short, people will be spending more time in one place and really immerse into that specific place instead of trying to see as many places as possible in a short time. For example, it’s about connecting to one place and for example the community and culture, the food, the history etc. In addition, this change of travel in the future is also linked to the increasing popularity of mindfulness and wellness trips. In their core these type of trips are slower ways of travel (and of living) in itself.
Sustainable Travel becomes more important
Fourthly, when the world shut down during the pandemic, one of the positive side effects was that nature was recovering. Certainly the effects were seen everywhere around the world. Consequently, this made people realise what the impact was of our daily commutes and travels everywhere. Therefore in the future, travellers will want more sustainable ways to travel and for example focus on reducing their footprint on the places they travel to. Moreover, travellers will also want to give back more to the communities they travel to. For instance they want to make a positive impact on for example rural villages which depend on tourism and which have economically suffered during the pandemic.
People want support from a Travel Coach
In conclusion, the last of the 5 ways how travel will change in the future, that I want to share in this article is the increasing demand for Travel Coaches. Above all, when preparing and booking their next trip after the pandemic, more travellers will want to make use of the knowledge and industry insights of travel experts, like travel coaches. Certainly, this is linked to the upcoming trend that people will be looking for more transformative travel experiences. Therefore travellers will seek support from travel coaches to guide them before, during and after their trip. In addition, travel becomes more of a privilege which we shouldn’t take for granted. As a result people don’t want to travel anymore just as an escape. Instead they will be looking for more meaningful trips that align with their purpose and personal goals. In this regard a Travel Coach can provide support. If you have been thinking about becoming a Travel Coach yourself, you can find more information here. Feel free to reach out in case you have any questions.
5 Ways How Travel Will Change in the Future
Finally, after reading about these 5 ways how travel will change in the future, it’s time for you to reflect on what travel will mean for you in the future.
Do you feel like you want to focus more on purposeful travel experiences? Taking it slow and immersing yourself into one destination for a longer time? Or giving something back to the communities you travel to? I would love to hear what your ideas are. Share it in the comments or connect with me on Instagram.
In addition to that, you can schedule a free Discovery Call with me. During this call we can deep dive into your travel plans and goals and create a clear action plan and road map for you.
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Veerle Beelen
Certified Life Abroad Coach & Mentor, and Founder of Unpackbyveer.
Veerle's mission is to empower others to move abroad & feel at home wherever they are. Through her online coaching sessions, blog and social media she empowers and inspires others to expand their horizons and create their dream life abroad.
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