The prolonged lockdown, limited social gatherings and host families have forced travel enthusiasts to think beyond and rediscover their love for travel. Here are some popular trends of 2021:
Job
As the offices closed, the WFH gave us the freedom to work from anywhere. Many chose to combine work and leisure as they headed to exotic places. “Work has seen a massive increase among professionals in 2021. With offices and schools closed, clients have moved to vacation homes with their families. Some of our reservations have been extended to six months, ”explains Devendra Parulekar, founder of SaffronStays. While people were working online, surrounded by mountains, or sitting on a scenic beach with their laptops, many found the calming touch of nature to improve their productivity. Hotels and vacation homes designed to create remote workspaces by providing high speed internet service, peaceful workspaces and study areas for children.
Revenge trip
After being locked in their homes for about a year, people flocked to popular tourist destinations and spent more time than usual, as if they were settling scores with the coronavirus for inflicting boredom and monotony on them. There was a deeper urge to explore new destinations and cultures, and to relax with family and friends. Traveling has become more of a need than a desire of people. Sunil Suresh, Marketing Director at goibibo, said: “There has been a 45% month-over-month increase in hotel bookings on our site as people have opted for quick getaways around the world. New Years. ”The trend intensified in the coming months, with travelers opting for longer stays. “When the second wave hit us, the summer travel season was devastated. But things returned to normal at the end of June and travelers were back on the road with a vengeance, ”says Suresh.
Voyager Caravan
Caravan travel became one of the main trends in domestic travel due to the security bubble it offered. “Tourism in general increased in the second half of 2021. In this hike, caravan tourism has also accelerated quite quickly. It has served for social distancing, health and safety while providing a unique travel experience for people, ”said Jigyasu Joshi, co-founder of Carvaa Travelers. Caravan travel has also given travelers a lot of freedom and flexibility in their journey. They will be able to relive the charm of a nomadic lifestyle while having access to modern amenities. People could stop at their leisure, explore scenic spots, camp by a scenic lake or mountain, cook their own meals, and move at their own pace. And families could also take their pets with them and take extra luggage without any restrictions.
Community trip
Community tourism became a popular concept in 2021 as people had a renewed desire to connect with rural communities and learn more about their history, culture, traditions and cuisine. Tourists lived like natives in host families and participated in farming, cooking, milking the cows, taking them for a swim, learning village crafts and telling stories. Community sightseeing tours to remote and unexplored villages in Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh helped people gain authentic insight into culture, rituals and beliefs local. It also helped empower small communities. “In 2021, we noticed that people were becoming more reflective and wanted to use travel to positively contribute to the communities they were visiting,” says Amanpreet Bajaj, Managing Director – Airbnb India, South East Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Contactless travel
Also known as zero-contact, non-contact travel, this trend has become a necessity after containment. From airports to hotels, everyone has imagined contactless services to ensure maximum security. Automatic check-in kiosks, contactless identification at security screening, contactless disinfection of baggage at airports, hotels offering scanned menus for ordering food, and online concierge services have given people the power to confidence needed to travel again. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) was the first airport in India to introduce QR code based technology to provide passengers with a contactless check-in experience. This technology allowed passengers to use their own phones to scan the QR code to self-check in remotely, thereby minimizing contact with the surface.
