Food is among new travel trends that popped up in various recent seminars and trend-seeking meetings.
Increasingly, areas around the world are promoting their potential for “foodies.” California’s Napa Valley, as one example, has promoted itself for decades as a popular wine destination.
That’s an obvious trend but some others have been identified that are not so obvious with windows of opportunity. For example:
—“More than half of adventure travelers are women in the age group of 41 and 60,” says the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA). The stereotype is that men climb mountains, kayak and surf but women are increasingly seeking out those pursuits.
—Volunteerism as part of a vacation has grown by almost one-third in the last year, according to various surveys. This is true particularly for younger travelers under the age of 20.
—“Girlfriend Getaways” are catching on everywhere.
—Last minute bookings have been increasing for years as more travelers act out impulsively. This trend has been reinforced by providers who are stressing cheaper last minute deals.
—Travelers everywhere are looking for exclusive experiences in destinations that are unique as well as experiences that give them an “inside” perspective on local culture.
—In a world full of stresses, travelers are looking to “truly get away.” Said Pamela Lassers of Abercrombie & Kent:” "Clients stressed out by checking [their] phone and e-mail are searching for places completely off the grid—no phones, no fax, no Internet”
—Extreme adventures such as dogsledding or skiing to the South Pole or trips to endangered destinations such as the Himalayas are gaining in popularity.
—Charity travel. Travelers pay for a trip and then donate to charity.
—Some families are turning away from theme parks to nature-based cultural, education and learning excursions.
—Other tourists, and particularly families, are focusing on themed vacations. Yoga is a recent preferred theme. Yoga has also increasingly been combined with seemingly unrelated theme such as snowboarding, wine tasting and surfing.
—Expedition cruising where lecturers provide information about Antarctica, the Galapagos or Alaska, for example. These are generally smaller cruises but they are growing more popular.
By David Wilkening
