The travel industry continues to transform in front of our eyes.
2019 is already proving to be another year of fascinating trends, with digital at the forefront of change driven by a generation of tech-savvy travellers the likes of which we have never seen before.
But what are the five key travel trends emerging in 2019?
1. Social first
There’s no getting away from it: social media plays an increasingly influential role in where we go on holiday. Platforms such as Instagram are key in inspiring our choice of destination, with young people in particular concerned about how their holiday snaps will be received when they appear online. A survey found that more than 40% of travellers between the ages of 18 and 33 claim that their top priority when choosing a holiday destination is how ‘Instagrammable’ the photos would be. This is a pretty extraordinary revelation, but it makes sense when you consider that snaps showing off exotic destinations, beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters are sure to stop our friends and family in their tracks. In 2019, this element is certainly influencing the travel industry.
2. On our own
We are getting braver and less dependent on our friends and family when we pack our bags and head for the airport. 2019 is expected to see a further increase in solo travellers. Numbers have increased steadily over the past five years, with women at the forefront of that boom – a leading survey claims that one in three women are planning to travel on their own in the future (up from 14% five years’ ago).
3. Go in search of experiences
Another trend we are seeing in 2019 is a movement away from materialistic concerns towards more memorable experiential breaks. Travellers are looking for something remarkable in 2019. They want richer experiences, more unique moments and a holiday unlike anything they have done before. They are looking for experiences that money simply can’t buy, and so they are travelling to a broader range of destinations in search of things to do off the beaten track.
4. Conscious travel
The environment is a growing consideration for travellers in 2019. With more focus than ever before on moving away from single-use plastics and towards more sustainable products, travellers are keen to play their part. We can expect to see even more conscious travellers this year; travellers who are keen to volunteer when they reach their destination and give something back to the world to offset the carbon footprint from their flights. We may also see holidaymakers move towards brands and companies that are making an effort to be more sustainable themselves.
5. Digital grows and grows
The latest media revolution is well underway. The smartphone boom is, of course, heavily influencing travel; with 48% of US smartphone users saying they are happy to plan and then book their holidays on their mobile device. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. All of this is being driven by millennials who expect to travel more than any generation before them. They are the ones using travel apps, storing all their documents on their devices and depending on their device more than any generation before them. That desire to travel is also reflected in their career choices; with 30% of millennial workers willing to accept lower salaries in exchange for more business trips.
