Let’s wind the clock back 10 years to 2010. A physical person checked us in at the airport, the nutritional value of airline meals was questionable, our hand luggage toiletries weren’t kid size, we all (well, most) used a travel agent and business class was still just a seat, not a mini hotel room.
A whole lot more has changed in a decade of the travel industry, like most industries, and we have constant technological advancements to thank, or maybe not thank, for this. We have a world of instant travel research at our very fingertips 24/7, we can peruse inside the homes of strangers around the world thanks to Airbnb, we now have a dedicated focus to reducing carbon emissions, holiday selfies are life and who isn’t embarking on a cruise holiday these days?
One of the biggest changes in travel trends has certainly been the boom of cruising holidays. Everyone is cruising, and why not? Single travelers love it for the safety of not having to navigate a holiday on their own, they are surrounded by like-minded travelers and most cruise companies offer just-for-singles events and even reduced single supplement pricing. Families love if for the sheer convenience of not having to navigate numerous airports, no hunting for appropriate places to eat and a menu that also caters for little ones and they pretty much all have a kids club and ample activities to keep them entertained while the adults relax. Not to mention on-board casinos, specialty dining, exciting off shore excursions, adults-only areas, themed events, classes in nearly everything and the list continues all with only unpacking once! Even Sir Richard Branson has jumped on the cruising bandwagon and will launch Virgin Voyages in March 2020.
Our digital connection obsession has finally made its way to 35,000 plus feet with in seat USB ports, charger portals and the all-important in-flight WiFi. These inclusions divide us, mainly from a generational basis, as to whether we can survive a plane trip without them. Of course WiFi in the hotel is a must and expectation these days, not like the good old days of internet cafes and Skype. Luggage is also on a whole new technological level. Personally, I have a red fabric zip up suitcase that has travelled thousands and thousands of miles over many years and I must say served me well, however it is now ‘out-of-date’ compared with the current luggage market. Suitcases now come with a USB charging port (very handy I say), Bluetooth enabled locks and a GPS tracking device so you can locate your bag on the corresponding app as you would your Uber meal delivery. While we’re on the topic of Uber, who would have thought it would become the worldwide norm to jump in a stranger’s car, albeit of good standard, and have them find us at our exact location within a matter of minutes and take us to our required destination.
The rise and rise of social media and blogs have made a huge impact on where we travel now. It is estimated that currently over 70% of Instagram is travel related content and the influence on travel and where we travel is extraordinary. However there is also a downside to this extreme exposure, especially for some of those small untouched or off the beaten track places that just can not cope with such a sudden onset of tourists and also at risk is the sustainability of certain iconic or historical sites and even entire destinations as they are swarmed by the next wave of selfie-taking travellers.
As far as destinations go, this past decade has certainly seen a surge in low budget carriers and airfare competition has majorly increased all to the benefit of the traveller, as has ‘free’ hub stopovers subsidised by the airlines. Iceland has fast become an increasingly popular destination over the last 10 years with the Blue Lagoon the most visited attraction in the country, attracting around 4,000 visitors per day. Abu Dhabi was also placed on the world map in 2010, helped by the release of the Sex and the City 2 movie, showcasing the beauty of the people and everything the country had to offer and in 2018, over 10 million people visited the country. Increased travel to Singapore in the last decade comes down to 3 words: Marina Bay Sands. The striking triple towers with the world’s largest infinity pool placed in the Sky Deck along the top became the most Instagrammed hotel in the world in 2017. I was one of those travellers in 2011 and it remains the stand out hotel for me in all my travels worldwide. 10 years ago, Dubrovnik in Croatia may not have been at the top of everyone’s travel list but things quickly changed as people discovered the stunning scenery of this ‘undiscovered’ part of the Mediterranean and the cult following of Game of Thrones. Fast forward to now, it’s on most people’s list and Mediterranean cruise itineraries becoming a major cruise hub of this region . Vietnam, Sri Lanka and the Philipines have also steadily continued to increase in popularity with their incredible people, history, shopping, food and pristine scenery to no doubt keep up for a further 10 years.
So where to and what to expect in 2020? As technology continues to advance and our wants and needs evolve the key findings suggest we will travel not just to sightsee but to connect with the people and places we visit and indulge our growing sense of responsibility and intrigue of the unknown.
With life becoming so fast paced we will seek a slower paced break where Slo-mo will replace our #FOMO (fear of missing out)!
