With a good part of the year already gone and the festive season approaching, the timing is perfect to uncover which travel trends have driven the tourism industry in 2018. To uncover these trends, we’ll take a look at the latest news shaking up the tourism industry, investigate what experts have to say, and uncover emerging travel preferences among tourists. Here’s a wrap up of some of the travel industry trends that will drive the tourism industry for the remaining part of 2018, and perhaps persist beyond 2019.
Lesser-Known European Frontiers to Experience Tourism Boom
Traditional European tourism destinations such as France, Croatia, and Italy experience a capacity crunch. Especially during the holidays. However, more and more stakeholders in the industry are looking to divert tourists to lesser-known havens in Europe.
These less-traveled destinations will ease the capacity experienced in well-known destinations. You can expect a travel trend that places considerable strain on the transportation network serving lesser-known European destinations such as Belarus which offers a five-day visa-free travel plan.
Focus on Luxury Travel
More and more tourists are looking for a luxury travel experience where holiday packages come with luxurious travel packs in the wilderness. The preference for luxury travel continues to surge with every festive season with the industry not turning over $1 billion in yearly revenue.
Experts predict that 2018 will be the biggest year yet in luxury travel. More and more hosts and tour companies continue to access destinations that offer better luxury accommodations and authentic traveler experience. The rise of luxury tourism comes at the heels of hotels improving on their interior decor. As well as offering affordable accommodation prices and added adventure bundles.
As a result, the 2018 tourist is looking for more than a stay in a hotel when they get to their destination. Travelers are looking to be pampered, spoiled, and serenaded by natural landscapes without losing any of the focus. Luxury tourism is one of the few tourism trends that is expected to persist throughout 2018, spilling over to other subsequent years.
Growing Interest in Wildlife Safaris
Wildlife tourism gained considerable popularity over the course of 2018. Experts point to the extinction of some animal species as a possible cause of increased wildlife tourism. As more animals become scarce, more and more people are opting for a chance to see them in their natural habitat. The wild tiger and some gorilla species are some of the scarce animals that attracted a considerable number of tourists in 2018.
As such, wildlife tourism will have considerable influence in travel trends in the tourism industry in 2018. More and more flights will serve destinations with rare animal species and wildlife, diverting traffic from other traditional tourism attractions such as natural and man-made sites. Continents such as Africa and Asia are set to enjoy considerable migration of tourists in the later part of the year. Projections see the two countries enjoying as much as 80% of all tourist movements in the coming months.
What’s more, the travel preference of the wildlife tourists will also have an impact on transportation in these countries. More infrastructure is required to handle the increased number of tourists in both Africa and Asia.
Winter Will Be the New Travel Peak Season
Winter is set to be the new peak season for travel in the tourism industry. Evidence suggests that more and more tourists are willing to attend winter festivals, debunking the myth that tourists seek temperate climates during winter months.
The tourism industry has long held the belief that tourists normally look for moderate climates during winter. However, the 2018 tourist is looking to attend the various winter festivals that draw as many as millions of visitors each year. The Chinese Harbin Ice Festival, for example, recorded more than a million visitors in 2017. If the trend holds up, it will attract the same number of visitors this year.
As one of the tourism industry trends, the preference for winter tourism means that players in the industry must adapt to the requirements of the new tourist. They must offer amenities that meet the diverse needs of winter tourism including commensurate accommodation, activities, and facilities. All of these must be offered at an attractive price, and the offering must be personalized to the needs of the individual tourist.
Author Bio
Emily Watts is a backpacking enthusiast. She managed to backpack across Australia in a few short weeks. She came back to her hometown of Albany where she shares her experiences with the locals, on top of helping out at the local homeless shelter. Watts freelances as a tutor at samedaypapers.comwhen she is not spending time with her community.