Last week I touched on involving communities in our tourism strategies with reference to the opportunity in the Cape Winelands and tourists’ need for an authentic experience. No surprise then that I note “Eating like the locals” as one of Travelstart‘s top tourism trends for 2017.
So I had a look at what those in the tourism industry as well as online platforms forecast for the New Year. Some of the most interesting trends for 2017, in my opinion, include:
- Local Culture – “As more people ditch tourist traps for authentic experiences, Pinterest saw a huge increase (1,450 percent!) in the number of people seeking out hidden gems and ways to travel like a local.” (See the complete Pinterest list)
- Adventure tourism – According to 2luxury2.com: “Couples, including honeymooners, are the most common type of adventure traveler. They are followed by immediate families, friends traveling together, solo travelers and multigenerational family members. The top adventure destinations gaining in popularity are:
Iceland;
Galapagos/Ecuador;
Costa Rica and Chile/Patagonia (tie);
New Zealand;
Peru;
Cuba;
Antarctica;
Arctic/North Pole;
South Africa;
Australia.” - Bleisure Travel – “One of the most interesting, in our opinion, new travel trends of the upcoming season is that of Bleisure, as Fortune Magazine likes to call it. Bleisure is what they have dubbed the official word for Business and Leisure travel, a mix of what you have to do, and what you want to do. Many jobs offer special ‘business trips’, conference trips, or even incentive trips to their employees, many of which are coming with increasingly enjoyable options such as being able to bring your family along, being able to have time to yourself once there, and being able to work for travel payment.” (Read more)
- Green travel – Green travel is about more than visiting the Scottish Highlands or Rain Forests! “With a rising consumer and industry interest in ecotourism, hotels, tour operators and outfitters will incorporate responsible practices and encourage travelers to plan low-impact getaways. Destinations at risk of disappearing will also see a rise in tourist traffic… There’s an urgency to “see places before they are completely changed,” … such as the Arctic and Antarctic as popular destinations affected by climate change. (Read the complete article here)
- Wellness travel – From Stop Smoking to Post Cancer Recovery Retreats. Wellness travel also includes something for Zen Adrenalin junkies and holidays for family-wellness or social group fitness! Read more and get some suggestions where you can go – from Oman to Vietnam to South Africa!
- Travel technology – And gone are those days where you had to rely on your few words in Spanish, your dated map or instinct to reach your destination. “There are so many different travel apps on the market today and such widespread and easy access to smartphones or tablets that it’s easy to see why using travel apps is one of the biggest growing travel trends for 2017. From TripCase to Google Translate, your phone has got you covered in almost all travel needs! New and improved travel apps come especially in handy when you are lost, in need of a map, or in need of G.P.S!” (Read more)