Although our passports may be gathering dust, we are still in love with exploring. Instead of simply pining for faraway destinations, Aussies have been busy planning domestic holidays. And let’s face it, there are plenty of amazing destinations sprinkled all over this beautiful country.
But it turns out that, as a result of the pandemic, we’re doing it differently. Travel has been forced to evolve – likely forever.
So, what does the future of travel look like?
Accommodation booking platform Booking.com surveyed more than 20,000 travellers across 28 countries to find out.
Here are five predictions for the future of travel:
Hello Bleisure
Now that working remotely has become more commonplace, people will be looking to combine business and pleasure when they take a break.
According to the survey, more than a third (34%) of Australian travellers has already considered booking somewhere to stay in order to work from a different destination. Meanwhile, two in five (43%) would be willing to quarantine if they could work remotely. Half of Aussie travellers said they would extend a business trip to have some leisure time.
Forget pools and hot tubs, accommodation options will be showcasing their home office facilities in this new status quo.
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Do Some Good
We’ve all had a lot of time to think over the last few months, with the way we travel a popular topic of contemplation. And the emerging trend? People want to have a more positive impact when they travel.
In fact, the study showed 41% of Australian travellers want to travel more sustainably in the future. Two thirds (62%) expect the travel industry to offer more sustainable travel options.
Overtourism was highlighted as a big concern, with travellers willing to visit alternative destinations to avoid peak season (52%) and overcrowding (50%). The majority of Aussie travellers want their travel choices to support the destination’s recovery efforts and to benefit the local community.
On top of that, more than half (52%) will consider reducing waste and/or recycling their plastic when they travel again.
Tech Revolution
Tech is going to play a major role in helping to rebuild traveller confidence. In fact, six in ten Aussie travellers think technology will play an important part in controlling health risks when travelling.
In turn, travel is going to have to evolve to meet these demands.
Three in five (61%) travellers say that accommodation providers must harness the latest tech to make them feel safe. Almost half (46%) want tech options for making last-minute restaurant bookings. About the same amount again (48%) want more self-service machines instead of ticket desks.
Bang for Buck
Times have been tough or at least tougher for many during the pandemic. That’s why one of the knock-on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic is going be a more price-conscious traveller.
The survey found that 63% of Australian travellers will take pricing into greater consideration when it searching for and planning a holiday. Great deals are going to be more popular than ever with 53% more likely to seek out promotions and savings.
But value for consumers won’t simply be about how much a holiday costs but also what they get for their money. We’re talking clear cancellation, refund and travel insurance policies.
Check out the amazing deals on offer from PokitPal’s travel partners (with Cashback on top!) by clicking here.
Staying Safe
Travel precautions are going to be a major new priority for Aussie travellers as they factor Covid-19 into their travel plans.
Nearly three in four Australian travellers (74%) plan to take more precautions as a result of the pandemic. For example, 65% will avoid certain destinations while 72% expect tourist attractions to adapt to allow for social distancing.
When it comes to selecting accommodation, 65% will only book somewhere if it’s clear what health and hygiene policies are in place.
Have you got your face mask sorted yet? If not, check out our helpful face mask round-up by clicking here.
