It's been a difficult couple of years for the travel industry: every morning we received news of new closures and restrictions , changes in regulations and other security protocols, and it has been difficult to keep up with the accelerated pace of precautions related to the coronavirus . But it seems that, little by little, we are getting closer to normality, a normality accompanied by an accumulated desire to travel like we have never felt before.
And who better to help us navigate this rapidly changing world than our travel experts ? We asked them what travel trends they've seen lately, from the destinations that are in vogue to the types of trips that are in style, and the reasons why they undertake them. This is what the travel specialists at Condé Nast Traveler tell us.
One of the sunny streets of Grottaglie in Puglia, Italy.
Gorilla tours in Uganda are having great success with families and groups of friends.
THE DESTINATIONS
“This year will mark the grand return to italy , especially to less frequented areas such as Umbria, Sicily and Puglia. People want an authentic experience, but prefer to avoid the crowds." —John A. Skelton, John Skelton Travels
“As Australia opens its borders to international travel again, green sustainable tourism destinations such as Tasmanian They will gain popularity very fast. The wild and exuberant nature , the pure air (the cleanest in the world according to the WHO) and the amazing landscapes to walk through offer a very attractive opportunity to get away from the hyperconnected day-to-day life, enjoy its wines and its spectacular cuisine and forget about the rest of the world” . —Stuart Rigg, Southern Crossings
“Slovenia is attracting more and more attention because it still has that air of novelty and wide spaces yet to be discovered. There is a significant variety of outdoor activities to try , few crowds and sensational dining experiences." —Matej Knific, Luxury Slovenia
“I see more and more group tours friends and family alike, and there is a particular interest in gorilla tours in Uganda and in Rwanda , Besides safaris in east africa . The latter has always been a highly appreciated destination for its accessibility , and surely it will be the default place that travelers on this continent look for in 2022”. —Ashley Gerrand, Go2Africa
“Brazil is among the countries with best vaccination figures in the world , and this is giving it a significant boost when it comes to getting back into action as a destination. There is a considerable increase in bookings for beachside houses near Bay and the emerald coast, especially by families and groups of friends , but there is also a demand for more adventurous excursions in the Amazon and Pantanal ”. —Harry Hastings, Plan South America
“More and more companies are offering space-related experiences , from witnessing a rocket launch to formations for potential space tourists in the not too distant future. I think that, with the opening of the first space hotel approaching, this theme is going to be one of the trends during 2022”. —Jody Bear, Bear & Bear Travel
Yacht charters are becoming more and more popular.
“The clearest trend I have seen so far when it comes to travel is a increase in length of stay . Before, many of my clients asked for two weeks to explore a destination, but now they are looking for vacations of a month or even more. As for the places they choose, what I see the most is sardinia, Egypt Y Svalbard . There are also more requests for wellness experiences, or at least for there to be some wellness-related element to the trip, such as a visit to a hot springs during a stay in Italy, meditation and yoga classes in hotels, guided hiking trails , and even adventures as extreme as excursions to the everest base camps ”. —Ariane Henry, Vision Travel
"The trips to remote places They have all come back to stay. Uncrowded, open space destinations continue to draw a lot of travellers." —John Clifford, International Travel Management
“So many people have asked me for trips to explore the Denali . They want to see moose and bears in the wild, ride trails that eagles fly over. It is also a very good place for those who do not want to leave the United States but do not want to encounter crowds either.” —Grace Cular Yee, Pineapple7 Travel
“It seems to me that in 2022, the Mediterranean is going to be the hot spot. Every time we see longer stays, of three weeks or more, and the yacht charters they are in high demand, perhaps because of the ease they give to maintain social distance. Groups, especially families, are quite large, sometimes five to seven people, and go through more countries than usual. We are looking at many package tours to Greece and Italy, Croatia and Greece Y Turkey and Egypt , for instance". —Mina Agnos, Travelive
"The west coast of France , the Ile de Re and the french basque country are attracting the attention of all travelers looking for an alternative to the crowds of the Mediterranean coast. In summer it also usually receives a lot of tourism but it has a very different atmosphere, much more natural and authentic, much less ostentatious than other more popular destinations. —Philip Haslett, Kairos Travel
Port of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, on the Ile de Ré.
THE REASONS (AND EXPECTATIONS)
“The trends that I see the most have less to do with what is being done in travel or the destinations that are chosen than with the mindset . I see many clients who want to live in the moment and turn those plans for someday into plans for now ”. —Mo Noubani, The Travel Box International
“The pandemic has reminded us how fragile life is, and has also increased the general desire to feel connection to something bigger , so many travelers seek places with religious or spiritual significance to connect with the destination in new ways. The same thing happens with all the people who started looking for their family trees online to entertain themselves during the pandemic and who are now planning trips to the places of origin of their ancestors . Everyone wants their trip to mean more than just taking the family to an all-inclusive resort.” —Sarah Taylor, All Set Concierge
“A lot of people are looking more nature , plus outdoor adventures and more awareness of where your money is going and whether it benefits local communities.” —Sebastian Lapostol, Trufflepig Travel
“Many families with children are realizing that traveling the world can be as educational as the school curriculum and are choosing to seek enriching experiences to change classrooms for trips for short periods. Some take the opportunity to explore different regions or countries in depth, teaching children lessons about conservation and sustainability , to appreciate the customs and thoughts of different cultures and to discover new ecosystems”. —Tom Barber, Original Travel
"The long term planning is becoming widespread, perhaps to avoid missing important moments in life. Decade-changing birthdays and other relevant events can be celebrated again, and that's it. no one wants to miss the opportunity ”. —Cate Caruso, True Place Travels
The excellent vaccination figures in Brazil are recovering tourism in the country.
A village in the Ourika Valley, Morocco.
THE WAYS TO TRAVEL
“While group travel has always been a great way to meet like-minded people and share experiences with new friends, now predominate the independent travel . People want to feel more in control of their trip, and they find it easier if they can adapt to circumstances with flexibility.” —Victoria Dyer, India Beat
“Slow travel, which consists of spending two weeks or more in a single accommodation , immersing itself in the local culture, is gaining ground by leaps and bounds. Travelers of this type choose a base from which to explore, usually a place with all the comforts, and leave with the feeling of having known the region in depth ”. — Richard G. Edwards, Greenspot Travel
“We have seen a change in the wildlife viewing tours . The chance to see animals up close but safely remains one of Africa's biggest draws, and destinations continue to look for ways to further reduce effects on wildlife . Helicopter tours, for example, allow you to observe not only the animals from a respectful distance, but also the landscape in its entirety. The safaris by canoe or on horseback they also prevent the intrusion of exhaust fumes and engine noise.” —Susan Neva, Alluring Africa
“The popularity of type trips cruise small-scale, more private, such as luxury river boats waves vintage boats , has risen like foam for its exclusivity. Traveling in a group in this way, much like renting a yacht or a villa with staff, sharing your own bubble with family and friends will always have its audience, but in the years to come it will be more successful than ever.” —Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel
“One of the most important travel trends is the demand for increasingly personalized getaways that combine several favorite destinations that travelers want to visit again and again. They can be places they know from before and haven't seen in a few years, or regions they really want to go to for the first time. This combination of old and new helps connect the comfortable and known with adventure , and to satisfy their curiosity without neglecting the places they fondly remember”. —Ashley Ganz, Artisans of Leisure
“In 2022, time is appreciated differently : There is more pressure to take advantage of it, to make up for lost time, to spend quality time with friends and family. The consequence of this is that there are more and more elements in itineraries dedicated to saving time, such as private flights, express boarding, travel between destinations by private yacht and the advance planning of experiences and activities . Leaving everything to the last minute is taking a backseat compared to other years”. —Sarah Fazendin, Videre Travel
“Journeys are less encompassing and have become slower, focusing on live more experiences from the same place instead of jumping from one monument to another and from one activity to the next.” —Marcello Baglioni, Agave Travel Creative
This article was published in April 2022 in Condé Nast Traveler.