One of the following trends from the year 2018 will be seen in 2019 is travel. Every year, new travel themes and ideas have been introduced, and so has the travel trend. The world’s largest online hotel booking platform “Booking. com” has unveiled the “Eight travel trends in 2019”.
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1. A meaningful Trip
As more people see travel as a new way of self-fulfilling, more people are expected to give it a big meaning in 2019. According to the survey results, 56 percent of the respondents said they learned the skills needed to live their lives through travel.
This is expected to continue in the Z-generation, with a strong tendency to value the skills and practical learning of life that can be gained through travel, and with many companies preferring individuals with diverse external experiences.
2. Easy and convenience Trip
It is predicted that ‘convenience’ will become a major criterion for innovation in travel-related technologies in 2019. Travel services that actually incorporate technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), VR (Virtual Reality), and voice recognition will likely draw attention.
It is predicted that a variety of technologies such as opening rooms with cell phones and robot concierge that can communicate with their native language will become more common.
Travelers have high expectations for more realistic functions such as “real-time baggage tracking (57%) through mobile apps” and “multi-functioning apps providing travel preparation, reservation, and other information (57%).”
3. Desire for the Unknown World
Investments in space flight are expected to continue as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced its plan to start constructing an orbiting space station on the moon in 2019.
Forty percent of the respondents were very excited about the possibility of space travel, and 38 percent said they were willing to consider actually going into space. However, until space travel becomes a reality, interest in places that have not yet been explored on earth is expected.
4. Personalized and customized Travel
In 2019, the way to consume and utilize travel information is likely to change into a short-form content format that reflects the interests and tastes of travelers. As a result, the role of tour guide is expected to be reduced gradually.
34% of survey respondents said they wanted customized travel information services, and 41% said they would expect travel recommendation services based on past travel experiences through state-of-the-art technology such as artificial intelligence.
5. Travel Mindful of Social Problems
Amid the growing global interest in social issues such as human rights, equality and labor, a growing number of people are expected to choose destinations in 2019 in consideration of the social issues of tourist destinations.
Forty-nine percent of the respondents identified local social issues as a very important factor in determining where to travel, and 58 percent said they would not visit if their travel affected the local people.
6. Echo Travel
The issue of environmental pollution is expected to affect the travel industry as disposable plastics are becoming a global problem.
Millennials and the Z-generation, which are sensitive to social issues, are striving to preserve the sustainable environment at tourist sites, and lodging companies are also increasing their direct practice of reducing plastic use.
Up to 86 percent of the respondents said they would like to participate in activities where they can offset their environmental impact, while 37 percent said they would like to participate in activities that collect abandoned plastic or trash on tourist sites.
7. Experiencing Travel
The travel trend that focuses on experience, which was a major trend in 2018, is expected to continue next year.
It is expected that 60 percent of travelers will enjoy and experience every moment, including eating delicious food, staying at their desired accommodation, shopping, and watching sports games that they like, such as saying, “Experiences and activities are more important than having things.”
8. A short but fruitful Trip
More than half (53 percent) of the respondents said they plan to increase weekend trips by 2019. As personal-tailored travel is expected to become a trend, short but savory trips, reflecting each tourist’s tastes and interests, are expected to become popular.
Short trips are expected to become more diverse and personal, thanks to innovations in transportation such as various air routes, various low-cost airlines, simple rental car services and real-time public transportation information services. At the same time, even for short trips, the desire to stay at a home full of charm and individuality and maximize satisfaction is also expected to increase.
