G Adventures Taps 10 Travel Trends For 2022

G Adventures has dug into its data to reveal what travellers are looking for as the world opens up again. While there is still some uncertainty in terms of changing requirements for travel in the face of the global pandemic, one thing is clearer than ever – travellers have changed.

In identifying the top 10 travel trends for 2022, G Adventures was assisted by its panel of avid travellers.

Bruce Poon Tip, the founder of G Adventures, says the trends clearly reveal the pandemic has produced a more conscious traveller and has presented operators with a huge opportunity for change.

Said Poon Tip: “The pandemic has woken travellers up and given them a chance to reflect on how they were travelling before. The data tells us people have become more purposeful and intentional about how and why they are travelling and where they are going, and they are recognizing the positive impact travel can have on local communities when decisions are made wisely.”

And he adds: “These trends point towards a seismic shift in travellers’ habits. It only takes a small number of people to make a huge difference, and travellers are finally seeing how smart choices can positively benefit local people, and deliver a richer travel experience at the same time.”

The operator’s top 10 predictions for 2022 travel include:

• Community tourism is the solution to responsible travel — According to G Adventures’ latest panel research, close to a third (28 per cent*) of respondents say they will place more focus on travelling responsibly in 2022. With the increased focus on community and support of locally-owned businesses fostered during the pandemic, it makes sense that this mindset carries over into international travel plans. Travellers are looking for adventures that support community tourism, and trails are a great way for tourists to spread wealth through multiple smaller villages. 
• Travellers care most about supporting local people — The most important factor for Canadians when they travel is that their money benefits local people, at 67%. This trend has been intensified by the impact of the pandemic on those countries who rely on tourism for their economic survival, and came in well ahead of other important considerations such as minimizing one’s carbon footprint and/or reducing plastics consumption (both at 15% globally). 
• ‘Workations’ increase in popularity — As the world shifted to remote working, companies realised office confines were no longer required to ensure productivity. Previously the domain of the digital nomad, ‘workations’ have hit the mainstream. 20% of respondents to G Adventures’ most recent survey say they are able to ‘work from anywhere’ – with that number rising to 46% for those aged 18-34. An increasing number of people plan to combine work with travel in future at 30 per cent, up from 18% in December 2020. 
• Hostels will make a big comeback — The need for social connection amongst young travellers is stronger than ever with 63% of respondents aged 18-34 saying they were likely to try a hostel experience following the pandemic, and 71% of those expressing that meeting people to socialize at the hostel, and possibly travel with, is the most important factor when selecting a hostel. 
• Travellers want to disconnect from their devices — Workationers aside, while travellers want to reconnect with people and places, they are desperate to disconnect from the online world while on holiday. 55% of Canadians want to take time out from their devices and social media, with 23% saying socializing and meeting new people is their top wellbeing priority when booking their next holiday. 
• Travellers will have a bit more cash to splash — With staying in spurring a savings boom, 20% of travel-starved respondents said they had increased their travel budget for their next international holiday, which means their travel dollars are likely to take them on bigger adventures than they might have thought possible before.
• The staycation is over – travellers want to go further afield — The domestic holiday appeal is wearing off as the pandemic rolls on. Only 15% of Canadians said they would prefer to stay closer to home as opposed to heading further afield on their next international holiday, with a third – 32% – saying they were less likely to take a ‘staycation’ in 2022.   
• Lockdown life has led to a desire to be more active – 72% of those surveyed want to be physically active on their next holiday and with 66% of travellers polled saying their physical and mental wellbeing is a top consideration when booking a holiday, taking a hike never sounded more appealing.
• Travellers are prioritizing their wellbeing and mental health — With an overwhelming 94% of travellers saying travel is important to their wellbeing and mental health, travellers are also looking to take their next holiday in a way that not only helps them to reconnect, but optimizes travel as a means of revitalization, too.
• Revenge travel is out, reconnection travel is in — Consumers are hungry for new experiences and connections. Although the term ‘revenge travel’ – the urge to travel to make up for lost time in lockdown – gained popularity over the course of the pandemic, reconnection travel is the top reason for travelling at 41%, with revenge travel – booking a trip to make up for lost time – coming in at just 9%.

Go to www.gadventures.com for more.