What does 2022 look like for travellers?

It is fair to say that people are thirsty to travel the world again after being forced to stay home for 2 years. Some people managed to travel a bit in 2021 however the destinations and patterns were different, they often sought quiet, exotic and far away wilderness. It seems though that travellers are going back to big cities to seek that kind of experience, however this time it‘s different.

There is a certain change in behaviour we are seeing in travellers, they seem to be living in the moment and aim to be present on their journey. It‘s less about checking off the bucket list but more about taking in the surroundings and appreciating the very moment. Travellers are more conscious about their destinations and seem to be seeking fulfilment and life-changing experiences.

We are optimistic for 2022, with more vaccinations people feel safer to travel. However, according to PENTA, the pandemic has made luxury travel more frequent, as people want to be distanced and have more private travel. Things that were considered a luxury before the pandemic such as private jets, villas, private guides and yachts are now more frequent and becoming normal.

One of the trends we will see more this year is extended stays and "ed-ventures“. Since the pandemic, a lot of employees can work remotely, which means people can extend their stays and work remotely from the holiday destination. It is also highly likely that the youngest family members will be combining their holiday with education, workshops and learning in a fun and creative way. This will also make sure that families across generations travel together as people are craving to spend time together.

Health, safety and self-care have been on top of peoples minds and therefore is wellness something people will travel for. We will see people seeking activities both indoor and outdoor that makes you connect with your inner self. Meditation is becoming a big part of travellers life and so they seek places that are perfect for that. Travellers are more interested in mindfulness and spirituality, this is why we are expecting to see spa and wellness treatments seek more demand and might be hard to get on short notice.

Expedia put together a term called GOAT which stands for „Greatest of All Trips“, which we feel captures the whole idea of travelling in 2022. Travellers will seek to have The trip that will be used to measure all future travel. There is a whole new generation of expectations after the pandemic and also with impact from new technology. This is why it‘s important to focus on customer experience rather than the product itself.

We are optimistic and hopeful that 2022 will be an exceptional travel year and we can‘t wait for take-off!