Comeback of Domestic Sojourns
According to a recent survey by Booking.com on the “Future of Travel”, over half the respondents said that they would prefer to travel to an unseen domestic destination in the next one year. A reason why domestic travel would increase in demand is because “travellers would feel safer, closer to home”.
This want for familiarity in ones surrounding is corresponded by the Government of India’s recent efforts to boost domestic tourism — especially with the Dekho Apna Desh (see your own country) Webinar Series — which periodically focuses on various Indian places via digital programmes.
With international travel restrictions still in place except for bubble flights, it will be a no brainer for travellers to embark upon journeys to domestic locales. Most of the major metros of India are connected via road to a number of hill stations, resorts and beachside towns. For those still cautious of taking a flight, road-trips to nearby hotels and holiday spots would make for a rational choice.
In fact, various state governments have identified tourism development as a major part of their economic recovery. An example of this are the various efforts undertaken by the Maharashtra Government — a partnership with Airbnb (to promote home-stays); Agri-Tourism policy (to facilitate homestay in farms); Beach Shack Policy (to encourage local restaurants on the beach); and the launch of caravan services are just to name a few.
A World of Digitalisation
As we move towards a new era in travel, another major trend that is emerging is that of digitalisation. From airlines, airports, hotels to OTAs (online travel agents), the experience of travel has already evolved to a more e-future.
In aviation, customer interaction and loyalty services, ticketing, identity and security, baggage tracking and other processes would completely become devoid of any human interaction. Bespoke mobile applications at airports would encourage passengers to become more independent during their journeys.
A number of airlines have already inculcated customer touch interfaces, app-managed electronic bag tags and chatbots into their systems. In addition, digital health passports would become an inevitable aspect to travel. CommonPass, a digital application that allows travellers to document their Covid-19 status electronically is already being used around the globe.
At hotels as well, online check-ins, smart-phone applications, QR codes for dining, contactless payments and “smart-room” facilities that reduce the dependency on humans would become relevant. An interesting case in point is Japan’s five-star hotel Henn-na which is the first to be equipped with intelligent robots; over 90 percent of the hotel’s staff are robots!
In a nutshell, the world of travel would be dominated by the Internet of things (IoT) — a network of physical objects or “things” that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet.
An Increase of Flying Private
With social distancing onboard and reduced touch-points becoming essential for flight services, a recent boom in private aviation has become apparent, hinting at what lies ahead.
Delhi-based entrepreneur Kanika Tekriwal, who runs JetSetGo Aviation, a private plane aggregator business, has noticed a substantial increase in queries after flying resumed in 2020.
Reiterating on the growing trend of private aviation, Santosh K Sharma, co-founder and CEO, Foresee Aviation, a professional private jet and helicopter aggregator, said that he has observed a rise of about 30-40 queries per day both in the domestic, as well as the international sector. Optimistic that this number will gradually rise, he says, “Guests flying private for the first time would realise the importance of safe and customised travel.
Speedy, efficient, flexible aviation comes to the fore in these unprecedented times. The ability to fly anywhere at a moment’s notice and get home quickly is proving invaluable.”
Globally as well, a rise in private jet aviation has been noticed; and it is anticipated that this market will continue to see an upward trajectory. While the commercial airline industry has been largely grounded following various international restrictions, private aviation will soar among new customers. It will become predominant across classes and will not just be restricted to a certain set of customers.
Another player, BLADE – that specialises in urban air mobility (on demand air transportation services) — is also promoting its short-haul helicopter services between Mumbai and Pune which starts just at `11,250 — exemplifying that the future could introduce us to relatively economical private aviation.
A Rise in Bubble Living
Taking glamping (a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping) to the next level, bubble hotels have recently found interest among the travel community. Such hotels, with their climate-controlled, luxurious retreats of transparent curved roofs, bring you closer to your environment — literally through a safe and glamorous “bubble” facade. With social distancing norms in place and nature-oriented explorations being the need of the hour, bubble accommodation is expected to become more popular in 2021.
Bubble rooms in premium hotels include all the necessary amenities such an ensuite bathroom, fully stocked minibars, state-of-the-art beds and of course wifi. This ensures that your comfort is not compromised as you vacation close to your natural surroundings.
Would you like to wake up to the sound of elephants serenading you with their morning greetings in nearby pastures? Head to Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Northern Thailand that brings you up close and personal with the wildlife of the region through their bubble rooms.
Watch the Northern Lights brighten up from the comfort of your bubble room in Maisons Bulles in the south of France; or sleep under the stars on a Maldivian beach at the beach bubble tents in Seaside Finolhu Resort Maldives. The array of magnificent bubble hotels around the world spoil for choice, and are only expected to see a rise in demand amongst the wanderlust crew.
Need for Wellness Vacations
For context — wellness tourism essentially refers to travel to a different country or region in order to get physiological and mental tranquillity through the native therapies of that region. It’s safe to say that the pandemic has taken a toll on our mental health. Being cooped in our houses hasn’t done much for our overall wellbeing. Recognising this, travellers will choose to embark upon wellness vacations much more in the future.
And the “Global Wellness Tourism Market 2020-2024” reaffirms this — “The wellness tourism market is poised to grow by US$315 billion during 2020-2024 progressing at a compound annual growth rate of 7 per cent during the forecast period.” While the USA (29 per cent) and China (10 per cent) account for a majority of the global wellness tourism market, India is expected to catch up.
A number of spa destinations have recently amped up their offers and packages to attract guests. Niraamya Wellness Retreats, located in Kovalam and Kumarakom, boasts “integrative and functional medicine programmes” in the heart of Kerala.
Speaking of something new, the recently opened Viveda Wellness Retreat in Nashik promises to be a “wellness centre infused with Indian values of hospitality and helps you practise healthy living with ancient knowledge of wellness and health”. Atmantan Wellness Resort Pune, Ananda In The Himalayas, Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa are also a few more Indian wellness resorts to take note of.
The Art of Slow Travel
Whether we liked it or not, the pandemic forced us to pull the brakes on our lives and slow down. It’s literally made us “wake up and smell the coffee”. And this will reflect on the travel choices we make in this year as well. A demand for slower, more extended trips will be observed. “In 2021, we will pivot towards intentional travel. People will actively seek out slow travel: journeys of discovery, making true #traveldeeper.
The intention of travel will shift towards inner journeys, not just a vacation of outward explorations. Holidays which heal will be sought after. The traveller, being in a constant state of motion in the past few years, just wants to be. He wants to revitalise his mind, body and soul without the constant state of rush. Remote locations will be sought after as well as quiet, single destination getaways,” says Neeti Mehra, Founder, BeejLiving – a journal on slow living, and a sustainability consultant.
Travellers will look for more impactful and meaningful vacations after the pandemic. As work from home (WFH) would continue for a large number of people, workations that intermingle the art of slow travel would be chosen.
Mehra adds, “The journey now will be one of transformation, as people build intimate connections with the destinations they travel to. Travel will stretch out as WFH continues, with people adopting places as a home away from home.”
More Sustainable and Eco Trips
As per Booking.com’s “Future of Travel study”, “41 per cent of Australian travellers are wanting to travel more sustainably in the future. We expect to see a more eco-conscious mindset, as Covid-19 has increased consumer’s awareness about responsible choices”.
An extended lockdown mode has taught us to appreciate our planet much more than we did before. This reality check will encourage a sustained and eco-friendly way of travelling. The focus would be on making a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste, minimising carbon footprints; and thereby contributing to a shared world economy.
Online booking platforms like BookDifferent.com that specialise in curating green trips will captivate more travellers as well. The platform has devised its own “staygreencheck” label that certifies accommodations for their eco-friendliness. Responsible destinations such as the Yilan Coast in Taiwan and Douglas Shire in Australia that are listed on the website will see traction.
Hotels that promote planet healing and sustainability are predicted to capture the interest of the travel community. From using renewable energy, recycling solid waste, to conserving water, banishing single-use plastic and reducing their carbon footprint. A number of hotel groups are on the green track already.
ITC Hotels known for its “responsible luxury” has set an example for the industry. Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has also pledged to eliminate all single-use plastic, across its portfolio of 33 luxury hotels, by the end of March 2021. The Peninsula Hotels too has followed suit where its amenities have been replaced by more ecologically minded alternatives.
The Return of Hotels
The hospitality industry has been one of the worst hit due to the pandemic. However, the industry is already en route to its recovery, with travellers checking into hotels in India for those much needed getaways. Hotels are poised as safe havens for travellers to rest and rejuvenate from the mundanity of their lives. With work from home still being a reality in most parts of the world, hotels have become workation hubs for a lot of us.
Realising this trend, hotels will focus more on making a stay into a complete experience for its guests. From curating innovative gastronomical indulgences, bespoke outdoor activities to in-house masterclasses from cookery to mixology; hotels will turn into complete destinations offering customers the feel of a vacation within the premise of the property itself.
The hospitality industry contributed approximately 10 per cent to the country’s economy in 2019. Having said that, industry gurus have estimated different time periods for the absolute recovery of this travel-oriented industry in 2021.
Meanwhile, the industry is deploying every technique in its books to ensure hotel stays are safe, and are welcoming guests maintaining social distancing and other Covid-19 protocols. As hotels’ restaurants welcome back guests, buffets have been replaced by à la carte dining via QR coded menus, and restaurant spaces are equipped with heightened filtration systems along with six-feet distancing between every table.
