There’s no question that COVID-19 has changed how we travel. But once travel restrictions are no longer a frustrating necessity, which changes will stick around? We’ve spotted plenty of positive shifts in the travel industry and in what travellers are looking for. Here are just a few of the things we think we’ll be doing when we travel again...
Embracing slow travel
It seems that the pandemic’s enforced pause on long-haul travel has made many of us stop and think about our environmental and social impact. Demand for sustainable travel was increasing even before COVID-19: between 2015 and 2020, for example, TUI Group reported an 84% rise in customers picking “greener and fairer” holiday packages.
Slow travel is just one way we’ll see this continuing focus on sustainability shaping how we travel. Of course, it makes perfect sense as the antidote to life on lockdown. What could be more freeing than setting off in a camper van, heading wherever you feel like and stopping when you want to? Or watching the landscape scroll past at the speed of a train or bicycle?
There’s nothing like being stuck at home to make you appreciate the journey, as well as the destination.
Slow travel is just one way we’ll see this continuing focus on sustainability shaping how we travel. Of course, it makes perfect sense as the antidote to life on lockdown. What could be more freeing than setting off in a camper van, heading wherever you feel like and stopping when you want to? Or watching the landscape scroll past at the speed of a train or bicycle?
There’s nothing like being stuck at home to make you appreciate the journey, as well as the destination.
Unforgettable Journeys
View BookTaking a workcation
Many of us have worked from home during the pandemic. So when travel opens up, it makes perfect sense to ask – couldn’t I work from somewhere else?
With so many more industries now having reliable remote working policies, and so many employees unenthusiastic about returning to draining daily commutes, the workcation’s time might have finally come.
It helps that more and more destinations have been introducing remote working visas – Estonia, Bermuda, Dubai, Portugal, Costa Rica, Mauritius… the list goes on. Whether you want to set up your laptop in a Scandinavian city, on a Caribbean beach or on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, the option is now there.
As an added bonus, workcations are a perfect fit for the ‘travel less, stay longer’ aspect of sustainable travel. They allow you to really experience the daily life of a destination, finding your own favourite spots and exploring nearby attractions at a relaxing pace – rather than trying to fit everything into one frantic week.
With so many more industries now having reliable remote working policies, and so many employees unenthusiastic about returning to draining daily commutes, the workcation’s time might have finally come.
It helps that more and more destinations have been introducing remote working visas – Estonia, Bermuda, Dubai, Portugal, Costa Rica, Mauritius… the list goes on. Whether you want to set up your laptop in a Scandinavian city, on a Caribbean beach or on a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean, the option is now there.
As an added bonus, workcations are a perfect fit for the ‘travel less, stay longer’ aspect of sustainable travel. They allow you to really experience the daily life of a destination, finding your own favourite spots and exploring nearby attractions at a relaxing pace – rather than trying to fit everything into one frantic week.
Where To Go When
View BookHeading off the beaten track
Even as travel returns to normal, many people will feel nervous about staying in very crowded places. Luckily, the world is full of beautiful destinations where you can find some peace and quiet. This doesn’t necessarily mean striking out for the middle of nowhere – though wilderness hiking and camping are great things to do.
For some people, it might be as simple as skipping the capital in favour of staying in a country’s second city. Most visitors to Iceland base themselves in Reykjavík, but Akureyri blends cultural attractions with whale-watching, horse-riding and dramatic northern landscapes, and is far less visited than the capital.
Heading off the beaten track could also look like choosing a destination which is a little harder to reach, or just less well-known than its neighbours. Think La Gomera, rather than Tenerife; Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, rather than Okinawa; the north rim of the Grand Canyon, not the south.
Overtourism was already a big problem in some places pre-COVID. By choosing less-visited destinations when we start travelling again, we can minimise the negative and maximise the positive impact of our visit. And of course, in a time when you’ve scrolled past hundreds of photos of cerulean cenotes, chic cafés and super-luxe safaris online, there’s nothing better than discovering something truly unexpected.
For some people, it might be as simple as skipping the capital in favour of staying in a country’s second city. Most visitors to Iceland base themselves in Reykjavík, but Akureyri blends cultural attractions with whale-watching, horse-riding and dramatic northern landscapes, and is far less visited than the capital.
Heading off the beaten track could also look like choosing a destination which is a little harder to reach, or just less well-known than its neighbours. Think La Gomera, rather than Tenerife; Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, rather than Okinawa; the north rim of the Grand Canyon, not the south.
Overtourism was already a big problem in some places pre-COVID. By choosing less-visited destinations when we start travelling again, we can minimise the negative and maximise the positive impact of our visit. And of course, in a time when you’ve scrolled past hundreds of photos of cerulean cenotes, chic cafés and super-luxe safaris online, there’s nothing better than discovering something truly unexpected.
Outdoor Europe
View BookStaying closer to home
Many of us have found a new appreciation for the beautiful places on our doorstep during the pandemic. As we’re able to travel a little more widely, but with international trips still uncertain, it seems only logical to continue exploring domestically.
Staycations will remain popular post-pandemic, as so many of us have been unable to see loved ones. When finally going to visit the friends and family you’ve missed for months, why stick to a day trip? Stay for a little while longer, and you can enjoy a change of scenery too.
Taking more domestic or short-haul trips also helps lower the environmental impact of your holidays. After all, there’s usually no need to fly – you can stick to trains, buses, cars, bikes and ferries.
Staycations will remain popular post-pandemic, as so many of us have been unable to see loved ones. When finally going to visit the friends and family you’ve missed for months, why stick to a day trip? Stay for a little while longer, and you can enjoy a change of scenery too.
Taking more domestic or short-haul trips also helps lower the environmental impact of your holidays. After all, there’s usually no need to fly – you can stick to trains, buses, cars, bikes and ferries.
DK Great Britain
View BookTravelling together
Travelling isn’t only about seeing new places. It’s also about sharing those experiences with the people you care about. And with human connection sometimes hard to come by during the pandemic, we’re expecting to see a lot of family holidays and friend group trips soon.
Renting an apartment or villa for a group usually works out much cheaper than travelling as an individual or couple, too. Cost is likely to be a big factor for many people, if their income suffered during the pandemic. And compared to staying in a hotel, with its many communal spaces, sharing a self-catering property may also feel less stressful. It gives you more control over how many people you come into contact with, and lets you decide whether to eat at a restaurant or cook at home.
Of course, though group travel will be popular, some of us will want the exact opposite. For anyone who’s been through multiple lockdowns with the same family members or roommates, a solo trip might be just what the doctor ordered...
Renting an apartment or villa for a group usually works out much cheaper than travelling as an individual or couple, too. Cost is likely to be a big factor for many people, if their income suffered during the pandemic. And compared to staying in a hotel, with its many communal spaces, sharing a self-catering property may also feel less stressful. It gives you more control over how many people you come into contact with, and lets you decide whether to eat at a restaurant or cook at home.
Of course, though group travel will be popular, some of us will want the exact opposite. For anyone who’s been through multiple lockdowns with the same family members or roommates, a solo trip might be just what the doctor ordered...
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