2019 is just around the corner, a year in which we spend more money on our holidays for the fourth time in a row. Curious about what the new year will bring us when it comes to travel? Trend strategist Lieke Lamb opens a book together with D-reizen.
We want to be completely unburdened on our holiday because real luxury is:no hassle! We really see the holiday as a moment to actively travel to ourselves, preferably in a special environment:detox in Thailand or yoga among the lions in South Africa. We also see that multigenerational travel is on the rise. The whole family, including grandparents, joins on the trip; a journey that is increasingly financed by grandparents. And where are we going in 2019? The Canary Islands, Spain and Turkey are in 1, 2 and 3 of the Top 10 holiday destinations 2019. Increasingly, however, we also opt for a distant destination:tours through Australia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are especially popular (source:D-reizen Barometer ).
THE TOP 5 TRAVEL TRENDS 2019
Unburden
Real luxury is:no hassle. Help in looking for good options, offers, tailor-made solutions and guidance in handling and possible calamities. The traveler wants to be unburdened. Not having to worry about his journey and being assured of the right attention at the right time. Good tailor-made advice and someone who thinks along and knows the way. Of course we live in an era where you can do everything yourself online, but often this is still complex and needlessly complicated. How luxurious is it then to be able to hand over the arranging to a reliable party where you can be sure that your wishes will be fulfilled as much and as smoothly as possible and that you can enjoy yourself instead of paying attention and arranging. your holiday rest. And to maintain that human touch despite the entire digitization and to be able to go to physical offices with real people.
Digital
In addition to that personal touch, we naturally expect a good digital organization in these times when systems are getting smarter. Likewise in the travel industry. Online profiles can be mapped via smart algorithms and artificial intelligence and customers can therefore be better served. Making proposals when it suits the customer and he is working on it, but also pre-sorting at busy periods or destinations. Everything to make the travel experience as optimal as possible from initial orientation and booking to payment and execution.
Multigenerational travel
Aging is of course a very clear trend that is not over yet. An older generation that is large in number and remains healthy and active for a long time; with matching spending pattern. It is called 'Go ski-ing' – ski as in “Spending the Kids Inheritance”. This generation is still active and letting the money flow. The advantage is that they often do this together with the younger generations. There has therefore been a clear increase in multigenerational travel in recent years. Families consisting of different generations travel together. They expect great diversity in the offer to serve different ages and flexibility in the schedule because members of the family can always join later or can stay shorter. But large groups are looking for a great joint experience!
Health
Why should you only be passive on vacation? At a time when awareness about health, mental and physical, is increasing, the holiday seems to be an excellent time to take an active look at yourself and to travel to yourself. From your eating habits to exercise to conscious relaxation. And preferably in a different environment than at home to really loosen up. Detoxing in Thailand or Yoga among the elephants and lions in South Africa. But besides wellness or digital detox without a phone, think of hotels in Paris where you can ask a guide
to jog with you along the popular spots of the city. During a 'cultural jogging adventure' at full trot along the Louvre!
Local
After seeing a huge explosion of city trips driven by Instagram where the hotspots were shared, we now see a movement towards the lesser-known standard spots. But the search for the more authentic experience and the idyllic secret spots goes even further. The best way to get the authentic experience is not to get involved in a tourist flow as a visitor, but by making contact with the local population, customs and habits. The local cuisine should not be skipped either. Discover new things and taste new flavors. Beyond the standard travel blogs and top attractions, in search of purity, contact and an intensely original experience. No longer the pre-prepared tour through the well-known city to tick off highlights, but 'getting lost' is the new challenge. Discover yourself spontaneously. That may be with the help of the real locals.
(source trends:Lieke Lamb)
