How We Will Travel in 2020

How We Will Travel in 2020

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As we get ready to head into a new decade, we wanted to look at the 2020 travel trends that will shape the way we all vacation and shape the industry as a whole. So what will the main 2020 travel trends be? We decided to delve a little deeper and pick out the most important shifts happening…

  1. Shareability is king: Travellers, partners, and influencers will seek an environment to create shareable moments.
  2. People-based growth: Visitor growth in itself is not a goal. Increasing the value of visitors for all parties is.
  3. The rise of the ‘second city’ traveler: The exploration of lesser known destinations will take a leap forward with awareness campaigns to entice visitors to take the road less travelled.
  4. Ecotourism: The environment has moved from a fringe issue for many to become one of the most important factors in planning a trip.
  5. Slo-Mo is the new #FOMO: Travel in 2020 will be all about taking it slow, 48% of travelers plan to take slower modes of transport to reduce their carbon impact and 61% would prefer to take a longer route to experience more of the journey itself.
  6. Cash Free Travel: A whole new range of cashless solutions means that we might reach the stage where you might not even have to have any local currency whatsoever on a trip abroad.
  7. No pets, no holiday: 2020 looks set to herald a new era in pet-centric vacations. Travellers will put the needs of their beloved pets well before their own when it comes to selecting where to go, where to stay and what to do.
  8. Travel That is Transformative: The idea of making a difference, helping others, but also helping oneself, even when they vacation will guide 2020 travellers. Yoga retreats and art therapy retreats will be big draws.
  9. Personalized service: Everybody – from hotels, airlines and ride sharing companies to Google – knows more about you than ever before. To many this is a creepy invasion of privacy, but the net effect could means a much more fluid and enjoyable travel experience.
  10. Veganism: This also ties in with ecotourism and veganism will continue to manifest itself in 2020 travel trends. Vegan-only trips, retreats and cooking classes will come to the fore even more over the coming years, as the world changes its eating habits.
  11. The Gig Economy: From the moment you click on your app for a cab at the airport you are entering the world of the gig economy. This is the world where individuals are using technology to connect with people traveling and offering a service for a cheaper fee. Services like Uber, AirBnB and Deliveroo or any service that cuts of the middle man will be a key trend.

(sources: Destination Think and Booking.com)