Travel tales 2015

We track the trends that have made an impact and are likely to shape the future, too

Travelling to a new place isn’t just about signing on for a pre-planned tours anymore. The new-age traveller wants a fulfilling experience. Something that goes beyond a few pictures clicked at popular spots. Internet has changed the way people travel. Whether it’s about getting a good deal on air tickets or finding cheap accommodation, you can do it all sitting in the comfort of your home. Here are the trends that have influenced the way we travel... Digital detox gains momentum Holidaymakers abroad have now come up with the concept of going on a digital detox vacation where you leave behind all your gadgets including your cell phone. The trend has caught on foreign shores and is slowly gaining popularity here too. And looking at the current trend, the demand for vacations where you unplug completely is only likely to grow. With holiday packages becoming more personalised, tour mangers too are encouraging people to leave their gadgets behind and enjoy the nature. Those who offer these kind of holidays also let you indulge in activities like campfires or even star-gazing that has people turning away from their gadgets. Rise and rise of the solo travellers If 2014 that saw the rise of the solo traveller, but it was 2015 that saw them scale further heights. The solo travellers explored not just the usual destinations, but also found their way into the lesser knows destination and brought them into focus. With the young stepping out to explore the culture around the world, it’s obvious that they don’t want their time off to be ruled by time-bound schedules and cursory pitstops at a few places. Looking at the current trend, 2016 is only going to see the solo traveller exploring some more destinations that are waiting to be explored. Selfie stick bans These are some of the places where tourists cannot carry their selfie sticks — all Disney parks, music festival Lollapalooza, the Sistine Chapel (Vatican City), Lake Tahoe (California/Nevada), The Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam), Mecca (Saudi Arabia), The Palace Museum (Beijing), Garoupe Beach (France) Running of the Bulls (Pamplona) and at Rome’s Colosseum among other places. At most of these places selfie sticks were banned because of the fear that they could harm people or artefacts. Apart from this, there have been various incidents where people have harmed themselves while clicking selfies. While eight people have lost their lives because of a shark attack this year, 12 people have died using a selfie stick in the same amount of time. That should be enough to tell us why this popular device is being banned at many tourist spots as well as events. Rise of collaborative consumption We live in a world where a ride-hailing app doesn’t need to actually own any vehicles, and a home-renting service doesn’t own any hotels of their own. The sharing economy (or collaborative consumption) has made a massive impact and is changing the way we travel. And while it may not show at the moment, especially in India, but eventually it will change things for the bigger enterprises too, like hotels who may in the future offer more perks to those checking in. Be it corporate or personal travel, both Uber and Airbnb have had a huge impact on the way people tread across the globe. It has helped those with resources maximise their profits, while it has helped travellers manage the budget aspect of their journey. The tech-savvy traveller now has many reasons to love his/her gadgets. Virtual travel While some look at it armchair travel, others are hoping this will give travellers a glimpse of what they may expect when they take off. More than one company has jumped into the fray to develop devices that will help people reach different destination from the comfort of their homes. A lot of travel companies are using this very technology to encourage people to travel by giving them a glimpse of what they can expect and thereby building anticipation. Recently, a hotel used this very technology and set up a phone booth-like structure to give people a taste of this 4-D sensory experience. Experience-based tourism The new traveller doesn’t just want to go to a place, check out a few things and come back home. Those who now travel across the globe want to come back with memories that go just beyond a few photographs or souvenirs. People now look forward to trying things that won’t need them to spend too long, but at the same time would add to their experience. For example, it’s Belgium you are visiting then spending an afternoon participating a chocolate-making is a great idea. On home front, places like Sikkim, offer you week-long classes to learn to make momos, not to mention the yoga classes in Hrishikesh. They have been around for a while, but many people are now sitting up and taking note of it. It’s a WiFi world In a recent survey, around 67 per cent of guests said free WiFi would make them choose one hotel over another. In fact, free and fast WiFi, has ranked even above clean beds, room service and a quiet night’s sleep. And that’s being recognised in our country too. Tourists visiting the Taj Mahal can now access WiFi service for free for the first 30 minutes. After free usage limit of 30 minutes, a customer can continue using the service on paid basis for which subscription plans are available in various denominations. Guests who require access to WiFi said they use it for looking up directions, checking work emails, and scouting around for travel tips. BOOKING FUNDAS According to many surveys, Tuesday is a good day to book your flights as you are likely to shell out a higher sum if you buy your tickets over the weekend. This and many such theories are floating around to help decode the best way possible to avoid a huge dent in your wallet. With many private players in the fray, the demand is being met with adequate supply. And that is mainly the reason that the tickets for return trip to Delhi can be obtained for around `5,000 if you book at the right time. Besides the Tuesday factor, the current trends indicate that it’s best to book at least seven days prior to your date of travel. Tourists have realised that booking tickets and hotel room at the same time on the net may save you a bundle of cash. Keep an eye out for these deals in 2016.