Given that there is hardly any aspect of our lives that has not been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, the world of travel will also be forever changed by this unforgettable moment in human history. Innovation in the world of travel will respond faster than ever to market changes when it comes to traveler expectations and behavior. Travelers will strive for a higher level of safety and more sustainable travel offers, and their preferences will also change when it comes to where and with whom they travel.
Booking.com, the leader in the world of travel bookings, used its own data to prepare a survey of more than 20,000 travelers from 28 countries and revealed nine predictions related to travel in the coming years. With more than half of global travelers (53 percent) saying they would not be comfortable traveling until a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19 is found, it could be a long time before we really start traveling and exploring world. Nevertheless, the travel sector will continue to adapt quickly and meet the need to travel when it is safe to do so again.
A desire to travel that never goes away
New restrictions and constant uncertainty have not diminished our desire to travel. The time spent at home has made us yearn for the outside world even more and thus have an increased desire to travel to distant destinations and wish to travel more in the future to make up for lost time in the year 2020.
With this in mind, we can expect travel agencies to get more creative in 2021 and offer new travel plans and recommendations that will spark the imagination of all travelers who missed out on their travels in 2020 and will be looking for an exciting destination for their next trip.
More for our money
Due to the financial "legacy" of the coronavirus, people will be looking for more bang for their buck in the future. We are sure to pay more attention to price when planning a trip and are more likely to look for promotional offers and savings. Such patterns of traveler behavior are expected to last for years to come.
Travelers therefore want travel booking platforms to provide greater transparency regarding cancellation conditions, refund procedures and travel insurance options. In addition, they consider refundable accommodation a must for their next trip, as well as a flexible date they can change at no extra cost.
The tourism world will need to come together to really respond creatively to the challenges and offer more bang for our buck, more choice, more flexibility and transparency and more meaningful experiences for future travellers.
Local travelers
In the new world with the coronavirus, local travel has come to the fore more than ever, as it is a simpler, safer and most often sustainable option. Looking to the future, staying closer to home and local travelers will be at the top of travel plans.
Traveling to nearby destinations saves money and time, so destinations and accommodations will respond by offering more cultural and historical heritage tours to educate and entertain visitors, and try to win over tourists with unique offerings such as guest chefs and personalized cocktails. The world of travel will have to adapt more and more to pets, all of which will lead to a resurgence in the popularity of car travel, where travelers will explore local hidden gems.
In search of an escape from reality
In search of solace during the weeks of isolation, most people looked for travel inspiration, with more than a third of travelers looking for potential tourist destinations even once a week. Given the constant changes in travel restrictions, we can expect destinations and accommodations to look for ever more innovative ways to capitalize on travelers' growing desire to escape reality and connect them with experiences.
Social media isn't the only source of inspiration for world travelers when it comes to dreaming up their next trip. 36 percent of travelers choose to talk to friends and family, and a third of guests look nostalgically at old photos from previous trips to choose their next destination.
Safety comes first
Travelers will be much more cautious about the coronavirus situation in the future and will expect the travel industry to help them prepare for the new normal. Governments, travel agencies and service providers will need to work together to set consistent standards to keep travelers safe, and as expectations rise, some destinations and companies will have to work even harder to earn travelers' trust.
In the short term, the ways of traveling to the desired destination will also change, as more than 30 percent of travelers avoid public transport due to fear of infection with the coronavirus. In the circumstances of the "new normal", passengers will attach increasing importance to health and safety measures. As we are used to traveling without liquids in hand luggage and taking off our shoes to go through airport security checks, travelers will increasingly choose destinations that offer health checks upon arrival at the destination. Destinations with mandatory quarantine will be less popular, as far fewer international guests will travel there (27 percent).
Raising awareness of the impact of travel on the environment
Travelers intend to travel in a more sustainable way in the future, so we expect greater environmental awareness in 2021 and beyond. The coronavirus has increased awareness of the human impact on the environment and the local community. Travelers are so confident that the travel sector will offer more sustainable options, they will opt for alternative destinations to avoid peak season travel and overcrowding. This desire also means they will avoid crowded tourist attractions, suggesting that destinations will have to adapt and introduce new, smarter measures to attract travelers to their country.
The current coronavirus situation has forced people to consider reducing waste and/or recycling plastic when traveling after restrictions are lifted, showing that people are not only focusing on protecting themselves, but also protecting the destination they are visiting .
Work outside the office
Working away from the office has become part of everyday life during the pandemic, which suggests that in the future people will take longer trips where they can combine work and pleasure more effectively. With people no longer condemned to five days in the office and desperate for a change of scenery to work from home, we will see a significant increase in work-coupled holidays, with travelers looking to extend trips to new locations and stay for a week or two longer to work outside the office, or they will arrange a vacation on their business trip. We expect that laptops will be a necessary part of luggage sooner rather than later, and an attractive work corner will be extremely important to travelers when choosing accommodation.
Travel platforms and accommodations will prioritize office equipment and Wi-Fi speeds to attract a new group of digital nomads. In the world of business travel, we will see an increased demand for privacy, cleanliness and longer stays. And while companies will certainly rethink their approach to business travel in the future, workers will continue to make the most of their trips.
Little joys
A lot of time spent at home with loved ones has led to an adjustment of travel priorities and a desire to enjoy more of the natural resources at our disposal. Using recommendations related to small pleasures such as hiking, clean air, nature and relaxation on Booking.com has increased since the start of the pandemic, and research shows that most travelers intend to value simple experiences, such as spending time outdoors with family, when on vacation.
Given the current emphasis on privacy, plenty of space and personal control over cleanliness and hygiene, it is not surprising that travelers will increasingly seek accommodation "closer to home", as most travelers prefer to stay in a holiday home or apartment rather than a hotel (compared to 2019). Almost half of global travelers (46 percent) will prefer to eat inside accommodation rather than in a restaurant, so well-equipped kitchens will be key to renting private accommodation in the future.
Beach holidays will be at the top of the list when it comes to the “new normal”, followed by relaxing trips and city visits.
Spontaneity through technology
Technological innovations will play an important role in rebuilding the confidence of travelers, and we will increasingly have the opportunity to witness technology that will facilitate the adaptation of a new type of traveler. Technology will help us bring back the spontaneity, confidence and simplicity of the past, while helping people to travel in a safer and more responsible way. 64 percent of travelers agree that technology will play an important role in managing travel health risks, and 63 percent of travelers believe that accommodations will need to use the latest technology to help them travel more safely. Additionally, travelers will turn to technology to make last-minute restaurant reservations, expect more self-service devices instead of card and ticket counters, and the like.
