Summer Travel Insights From Contiki

So, where are Gen-Z and Millennials headed this summer? Well, Contiki has some answers to that question.

The tour company notes that according to booking data and new sentiment research of the demographic, the findings highlight that travellers are opting for far-flung destinations, with a shift towards late-season travel and a focus on in-depth exploration of a singular place.

Melissa Da Silva, President, North America, TTC Tour Brands, notes that: “Our booking trends show that the vast majority of 18-35 year old travellers are all about slowing things down and adventuring further.  From Japan to Thailand, Asia is rising on the charts, and while there’s still a place for the iconic Eurotrip of packing in as many cities as possible into one trip, Canadian travellers are escaping the hustle and bustle and prioritizing single-country tours that offer a more in-depth experience into a singular place.”

Da Silva continues: “This demographic is not only focused on checking off destinations on their bucket lists, but embracing the local culture and way of life– think sipping a Freddo espresso on a side street in Mykonos for one, two, three hours – quite the antithesis of the fast-paced cities most Canadians are accustomed to. They are seeking vacations where you can leave your watch (or iPhone equivalent) at home.”

In Canada, single-country tours dominate Contiki’s Top 10 best-selling list for August and September, with top destinations and trips including:

• JAPAN: Contiki travellers’ interest for Japan is up 192% since 2019, following the country’s long-awaited re-opening. Contiki’s most popular Japan departure is Japan in a Week with an 8-day tour through the country’s biggest cities, Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
• THAILAND: Home to the highly-anticipated next season of White Lotus, Thailand is trending and the Thai Island Hopper West tour is a top selling trip for 2023 – jumping up to the 3rd place in the Top 10 trips for August and September.
• ICELAND: A bucket-list destination for many, Iceland’s Fire and Ice tour is another top-seller, up 176% in bookings compared to 2019.
• GREECE: A consistent best-seller, the Greek Island Hopping tour is even more popular post-pandemic with a 43% increase in bookings from 2019.

And a recent survey conducted by Contiki and OnePoll, found that solo travel continues to rise as 41% of respondents said they’ve travelled solo or would travel solo in the future to meet new people.

The same survey also revealed that 60% of travellers that have joined a touring group said they had a more memorable experience with new people.