Optimism is the name of the game when it comes to travel in 2023. After a few years of overwhelming uncertainty and instability, travel is set to make a triumphant return, making travellers bolder than ever before. And nothing will be off limits – while some of us will go off the grid in the name of adventure, others will return to old favourites in search of that warm and fuzzy feeling. Elsewhere, evolving technology will make us more savvy planners. Let’s dive in.
Off-Grid Getaways
Following the path less travelled, burnt-out city dwellers will escape reality by going back to the basics on their trips in 2023 – think: staying in cabins, learning survival skills, and dining on campfire cuisine. Chalk it up the upheaval of recent years that saw political unrest and natural disasters accent the global pandemic.
Planning Ahead
Speaking of which – remember when you were terrified to make travel plans in light of flight bans and border closures? Well, those days are behind us. Travellers will (finally) feel comfortable with locking in trips ahead of time as opposed to waiting until the eleventh hour. Translation: book ahead if a particularly popular destination is on your bucket list.
Nostalgia Tourism
After a couple of years in isolation, family reunions and multigenerational trips will also trend in 2023. Travellers – especially millennials – will seek a feeling of familiarity, returning to destinations that they know and love. Heavy on the feel-good factor, simpler trips rooted in railway rides or seaside R&R will also be popular.
Virtual Voyages
‘Try before you buy’ will influence our holiday choices in the year ahead as technology allows us to experiment with different travel experiences, courtesy of the Metaverse’s ever-evolving 3D virtual space. That’s right – your online avatar will be able to visit a destination before you do, perfect for those anxious about the unknown when it comes to travel.
Revenge Travel
A self-explanatory term that began to dominate the travel industry in 2022, revenge travel will continue to trend in 2023. With the pandemic causing havoc on people’s vacations, revenge travel refers to ‘taking revenge’ on coronavirus, with travellers fervently making up for lost time by booking their dream trips – rising inflation be damned.