Traveling has to look different in 2021 to interest younger travelers. They are demanding a new style in traveling and the tour operators must pay attention to this if they are looking to compensate for what this pandemic has brought upon them. Based on a webinar, named “Future of Travel,” Contiki, a tour operator who usually targets travelers between the ages of 18 to 35 is now focusing on sustainability and believes that travel could strongly support the local economy, therefore, it has to be directed properly.
Younger people seem to be more “desperate” to travel and are ready to book trips for 2021. So, with the positive news on the vaccine, there is light at the end of this tunnel. Travel has to look, taste, feel, and sound different. There will be more domestic and nature-focused travel because people seek to dodge cities and crowds.
Asked in a survey, potential travelers said that they would like to “travel better,” as in more conscious and thoughtful travel, in other words, leaving places better than when they have found them.
“To create more than I consume,” is Carmen Huter, a travel photographer, and social media influencer’s slogan. She explained that to back up the local people is the key to a better kind of travel. Huter said that after the pandemic, more travelers would want to leave places in a better way and more product is needed to fulfill this wish
An example of the sort is Norway! Its tourism officials are working with local people who raise reindeer. Travelers could also be after more authentic ways when they feel responsible for a particular destination. This is one of the positive effects of COVID-19, it has made people care more about their environment.
To march toward this direction, mostly young travelers, need to make conscious choices and this means looking for companies, agencies, and tour operators who deliver such targets. This is the best way to create a more equal and educated society.