Each year, we look at forecasted travel industry trends that will greatly impact global tourism and hospitality. With the gravity of the COVID crisis, these insights are much more than travel trends – rather, they are values and principles that will help guide the industry towards a healthier and more sustainable future. Here are the key travel trends we expect to see in 2022.
Let’s have a look at the key travel trends and values that will shape the industry in 2022
1. Tech-empowered travel will be essential
It cannot be understated that the role of technology in travel will continue to grow in importance during 2022 and beyond. From digital vaccine passports to real-time travel notifications, technology solutions will play a pivotal role in keeping the public informed and providing guidance with all travel decisions.
Additionally, contactless technology will continue to bring ease to the travel experience. Contactless check-in and boarding, the ability to order food or services via app, or concierge support through Whatsapp or chat are all solutions that provide extra peace of mind to a traveler.
We also expect to see AR/VR technologies increase in importance, through solutions such as virtual tours of resort suites, aircraft cabins, museums, and attractions. These technologies help travelers research a destination more thoroughly, providing confidence with trip planning.
2. Personalization and guidance, more crucial than ever
In addition to travel requirements, travelers will be seeking expert guidance for every aspect of their trip. While in years past, trip planning may have occurred via review sites or light web browsing, now there’s much more to consider. For instance, how have vaccine distributions progressed in this destination? Are mandates in place for restaurants or theatres? For many travelers, creating daily itineraries is now a much more complex and overwhelming process.
3. Preferred plans and experiences in 2022
As travelers consider trips in 2022, enriching travel experiences are top of mind. Many travelers are looking to reconnect with loved ones, and holidays in the great outdoors provide both rest and socially distanced explorations. Travelers will be seeking out hidden gems, dream destinations, and opportunities for nature-focused activities such as hiking, photography, or kayaking.
And when it comes to accommodations, cleanliness and security are a must. Recent research from the European Travel Commission reveals that over half of respondents considering travel in the next year prefer to stay at hotels or independent resorts rather than short-term rentals and other accommodations.
With this in mind, resorts can engage 2022 travelers by highlighting cleaning protocols, wellness programs, and eco-friendly excursions. Also, hotel brands with off-resort accommodations – like vacation homes or cabins – can feature units that provide extra space and privacy, along with the professional cleaning and customer support one would expect from their favorite resort brand.
4. Sustainability, a continuous travel trend in 2022 and beyond
Sustainability, in the airline industry especially, is and will be a continuous trend in travel. Tourism trends surrounding low-carbon travel – which we’ll examine further below – will continue to evolve, as travelers keep a keen eye on organizations’ environmental initiatives. For example, Google Flights is now presenting carbon emissions estimates for most flight searches – a major step for the industry in providing travelers with sustainability insights.
5. Safety and health-focused measures, still important
Along with prioritizing health and wellness, and longing to connect with nature, travelers will be seeking to invest in brands that share those convictions. For example, a recent study from OAG found that 70% of US travelers surveyed believe vaccine passports should be required for international travel, and 68% are interested in domestic passports, as well.
Research continues to show that travelers feel safer when health-focused measures are in place in dining, retail, and tourist destinations, so this will continue to be a travel trend in 2022. Travel companies should not only highlight their own safety initiatives, but local attractions going the extra mile for public health. This content not only informs the traveler audience but inspires and delights.
6. ‘Back to Business’ Travel
Finally, a look at corporate travel trends. This is a realm of the industry that remains up in the air, and will most likely be one of the last sectors to recover on an international scale. The return to business travel will depend on many factors, including vaccination levels, border openings, and reworked budget structures. As many organizations have discovered efficiency in remote work, extensive corporate travel may not be as high a priority as in pre-pandemic years.
Therefore, we can expect to see more online training and webinars, virtual or hybrid conferences, and emphasis on regional travel, when events begin to resume.
Conclusions
After almost two years of uncertainty, we cannot still be 100% clear on what the future of travel looks like, but we can at least see more light on the horizon. Travel requirements, health and cleaning protocols, safety measures, and sustainability will remain continuous topics in 2022. Travelers will start dreaming again about long-distance travel and dreamed holidays, but there will still be a focus on outdoor plans and socially distanced destinations.
https://blog.smartvel.com/blog/travel-trends-2022
