Airbnb has revealed new travel trends for 2021. The staycation, nearby stays, and regenerative travel are some of the trends listed by the company.

The year of the staycation

Airbnb says that the staycation trend resonates with travellers, pointing to the perennial human need for new experiences, either for short stays or for stays that are a month or more. With access to quiet nooks in busy cities, close to parks and gardens, immersive natural surroundings and wide-open spaces, travellers are looking for respite in accommodations such as condominiums, farm stays, villas, and cottages in places such as:

  •         Bengaluru, Karnataka
  •         Mangalore, Karnataka
  •         Pune, Maharashtra
  •         Guwahati, Assam
  •         Hyderabad, Telangana

Nearby stays, close to metro to see a rise 

According to the study done by Airbnb, travellers continue to search for nearby stays that are a drive away from metro cities. They are searching for destinations such as Gokarna, Shimla, Mussoorie, Kasauli and Alibaug where they can spend time with family and friends. “Guests are increasingly looking at rediscovering the magic in their own backyards. Established destinations, as well as hidden gems near metros, are seeing interest from travellers. Some top spots for nearby stays include:

  •         Gokarna, Karnataka
  •         Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
  •         Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
  •         Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
  •         Alibaug, Maharashtra

Regenerative travel bringing travellers closer to communities

A key trend Airbnb is noting is that as travel picks up again, consumers may prefer immersive and regenerative travel at the heart of communities.

In 2021, living remotely will continue to define travel preferences with the rise with travellers aching for more access to open spaces, fresh air, and wildlife. Destinations that are highly searched for on Airbnb, by both inbound and domestic travellers are:

  •         Karjat, Maharashtra
  •         Panchgani, Maharashtra
  •         Manali, Himachal Pradesh
  •         Mangalore, Karnataka
  •         Mukteshwar, Uttarakhand

India continues to be travel hotspot, globally

With discretionary outbound travel on a slow uptick currently, there are reasons to predict that travel in 2021 will bounce back in India, on both domestic and inbound sectors. Airbnb search data suggests that India remains widely searched-for destination globally, with the following cities and towns featuring on the most searched-for list.

  •         Gokarna, Karnataka
  •         Kasol, Himachal Pradesh
  •         Mangalore, Karnataka
  •         Karjat, Maharashtra
  •         Panchgani, Maharashtra
  •         Igatpuri, Maharashtra
  •         Alibaug, Maharashtra
  •         Haridwar, Uttarakhand

Outbound, Indians are looking for destinations such as  Toronto and London.

Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager – Airbnb India, southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan said, “As we come closer to 2021, transparency, trust and safety will be more critical than ever before, and will continue to set the benchmark for traveller expectations.

“Trends such as travelling closer to cities and working from anywhere will continue to see the interest.  Importantly, this means that travel benefits more and more local communities economically, rather than being concentrated in tourist hotspots. We look forward to a future of travel that is inclusive, sustainable, and regenerative.”

airbnb.co.in