Voyage 2016

Here are the trends that will make a huge impact on the way you travel this year

It’s that time of the year, when people start deciding on their annual breaks. Planning is key, especially if you want to get a good deal. Before you mark your holiday dates on your calendar, take a look at the factors that are going to affect the travel sector as well as your budget... IN SEARCH OF new experiences Travellers are in the mood to try out new things. Adventurous activities are on top of everyone’s list. Everything from waterfall rapelling to river rafting is going to have many takers. According to a survey, globally, 69 per cent travellers plan to try something new in 2016. One in five global travellers said they would try a cruise for the first time next year. Money Matters It’s very likely that many establishments may hike their room rates next year. The reason behind it is mostly overhead costs, while some of it will be to compensate for recent renovations. That apart more establishments will also give more emphasis to their online reputation. Most establishments will be keeping a close eye on those reviews as it has had an impact on their business. Websites will be updated and upgraded. Cruise control 2015 saw the rise of the cruise loving travellers and 2016 will see further growth of this trend. The movie Dil Dhadkne Do that saw a dysfunctional family sorting out their differences during their cruise vacation now has people giving a cruise vacation some serious thought. The last year saw the launch of many cruises and the trend is likely to continue. More destination weddings Many wedding-worthy resorts now offer great packages if you want to have your big day away from your city. Considering the fact that destination weddings last over three-four days, it gives the couple a chance to spend quality time with their near and dear ones. This kind of shaadi also has a relaxed approach as all the ceremonies don’t have to be cramme d in a day. Such dos are only going to get more popular this year. Flexi check-out time Though you may pay more for your hotel stay, you are likely to get some perks like relaxed check out times. According to the New York Times, hotel groups like Peninsula, Patina and Yotel are experimenting with flexible checkout policies. While this trend is yet to come to India, it’s only a matter of time that hotels on desi shores too realise that this policy will earn them many loyal customers and better profits. Need amenities According to Tripadvisor, among the amenities that travellers will look for when they book an accommodation in 2016, air conditioning and WiFi stand out. Globally, 63 per cent of travellers said air conditioning is a must-have when choosing a place to stay. That makes it more of a deal-breaker than breakfast (40 per cent) or a swimming pool (26 per cent). Forty-six per cent said free in-room WiFi is a must-have amenity—meaning that, if an accommodation did not provide it, they would look elsewhere. 26 per cent travellers said that they require an accommodation that has super-fast WiFi; 11 per cent are willing to pay extra for this service. ‘Set-jetting’ tourism ‘Set-Jetting’ literally means visiting the locations of your favourite movie or TV series. This phenomena has seen a big boom in recent times and will be a trend to reckon with in the year to come too. After Games of Thrones brought Croatia into spotlight for its fans, various tours have been organised just to cater to this bunch. Specialised tours which cover the sites in the Old Town of Dubrovnik (and its surroundings) that were used for the scenes in this HBO TV-series are part of such tours. Apart from the King’s Landing, people also get to see some other locations from the series, such as the magical town of Qarth. Prior to GOT, it was the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and The Hobbit series that brought various locations into focus. In London, fans of the series Sherlock vied for tours that covered the places mentioned in the series. Flights will be cheaper, but crowded With fuel prices at an all-time low it’s only natural that the ticket costs will go down. But like 2015, various airlines will come up with their own ways of cramming as many passengers as possible into a flight. Check out this trademark that shows a pyramid kind of formation to fit in more travellers. In November, Emirates set a new world record with its reconfigured Airbus A380 that boasts a record-breaking 615 passenger seats. Spend more on travel Whether it’s the rising cost of living, need to see exotic destination or the opportunity to opt for multiple trips in a year, all of it will lead to travellers spending more than they did last year on their voyages. One in three travellers are planning to spend more on travel in 2016 than they did the previous year. Among those who plan to increase their travel budget, 49 per cent said they will do so “because I or my family deserve it.” Around 31 per cent said they would spend more on travel because “it’s important for my health and well-being.” Solo travel hits the roof The new age traveller is going to get more adventurous. Around 17 per cent will try solo travel for the first time in 2016. Around 15 per cent will try adventure travel for the first time. Solo travelling offers the kind of freedom that is often curbed when you travel with a group or join group tours carried out by tour companies. Boom forevent-based tourism Gone are the days when people would pick a destination that everyone was talking about or was recommended by trusted friend. Today, people travel for various reasons. It could be for a major music festival, or a cultural event. Events like La Tomatina festival or Oktoberfest have become popular like never before. Then there’s sports tourism. To watch their team play a major sports event is these days looked upon as a great opportunity to entice tourists these days. Growth of sharing economy Websites such as Airbnb are likely to see better business. The sharing economy (or collaborative consumption) has made a massive impact and is changing the way we travel. And in 2016, it will see further growth as it helps those with resources maximise their profits. This helps the budget travellers as well, as it helps them book accommodation that suits their pocket. travel trends 2015 lifestyle trends 2015 global travel trends 2015 travel trends 2016 travel trends today travel trends today magazine travel trends 2013 travel trends 2012 luxury travel trends 2013 travel trends 2016 consumer trends 2016 business trends 2016 future fashion trends 2016 food trends 2016 technology trends 2016 trends 2016 social media world trends 2016 interior trends 2016