Following the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urge to travel left practically everyone grabbing at the opportunity to go on more frequent trips at bigger budgets after being homebound for some time. As people gradually get back to their pre-pandemic lifestyle, travel is now easing back to normal. People are more conscious of their travel plans, giving careful consideration to their budget and scheduling to ensure they get the best deals. With these factors, 2023 will see a lot of travel trends unfolding:
Purchasing power will be the driving force behind travel. Inflation is expected to grow in 2023, forcing households to rethink the way they travel and look for bang-for-buck deals.
The end of ‘Revenge Travel’. We will see more stabilization in 2023. After the reopening of many destinations saw major hikes on flight and accommodation bookings, the market is finally returning to normalcy.
Cultural cities will continue to be top destinations. According to a study on upcoming future travel trends by Hotels.com, Abritel and Expedia, the highest demand growth on Expedia are bustling cities rich in culture like Paris, Milan and New York.
Film tourism will prevail. The old town of Dubrovnik is now known as the location of ‘Game of Thrones’. Likewise, the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines gained popularity due to the film ‘Avengers: Endgame’. These locations saw visitor growth in the past years and 38% of travelers have taken the plunge and booked already this 2023. A further study by Hotels.com, Abritel and Expedia revealed that two-thirds of travelers worldwide thought of booking to destinations after seeing them in films.
Responsible travel. Studies confirm that over 60% of tourists will travel responsibly, reducing their carbon footprint. This includes supporting local merchants, choosing to travel by train rather than plane, and staying longer. Travelers are paying close attention to respecting the environment and local traditions. This type of tourism is becoming popular among millennials.
Wellness vacations. People now see the importance of their physical and mental wellbeing. According to a study, 79% of respondents see wellbeing as synonymous with their free time and is a non-negotiable priority. This is reflected in the way people travel. The tourism industry has seen this opportunity to reinvent the customer experience and are now investing heavily in spas, wellness and detox retreats.
A need for nature. We now see a trend on camping, trekking and glamping trips as old-timers and first-time adventurers want to feel close to nature.
Solo travel. Going solo is fast becoming a travel trend. Flight and hotel comparator Kayak reported that searches for solo travel during the last quarter of 2022 have increased by 20% vs. 2021. “Alone time” will become a popular concept with nearly a third of travelers considering a solo trip next year.
With all these travel trends, Simplenight has seen vast opportunities in the Philippines and is set to launch SigeGo in June.