Each new season calls for new trends. And because demands and interests keep fluctuating, trends can be overwhelmingly unpredictable. These crowd-pivoting changes are a result of multiple factors. However, one of the major reasons for new trends is new technological advancements, and inevitably, these sensational quests also impact the travel industry.
So, as a travel agent, is there any new trend you need to look out for? Is it even possible to foresee the upcoming trends?
Sure the term ‘trend’ can often be intriguing and terrifying at the same time. But because specific trends like technological advancements and newborn ideas are often proportional to new changes in the world, guessing a new turn in the way of the world can be mildly, but surely, predictable.
So, to answer if there are any foreseeable travel trends for agents to look out for, we would say yes. Keep scrolling to find out some of the latest travel trends in 2023 that travel agencies should start gearing up for.
1. Sustainably Traveling
We have all heard of sustainability as a social goal, but what does it mean in tourism? Sustainable tourism addresses the needs of visitors, industry, the environment, and host communities while considering its current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts. With sustainability being a buzzword and one of the popular foreseeable travel trends, what is the role of travel agencies?
Travel agencies can offer special ‘sustainable packages’ that include eco-friendly hotels and activities like cleaning up the beach. You could also run campaigns urging people to be more environmentally conscious of their choices during trips to help sustain a healthy environment along with a healthy trip.
2. Bleisure Trips
A portmanteau of the words ‘business’ and ‘leisure’, bleisure trips are business trips where the traveler stays back at their destination for a mini-vacation. Between people understanding the importance of mental health and the rise in prioritizing work-life balance, bleisure trips have quickly become a brilliant getaway idea and one of the most likely travel trends for 2023.
Bleisure trips are not only beneficial for travelers but can also be used by travel agencies to attract more customers. Agencies can offer Saturday night stay discounts for business travelers, where travelers can opt-in for some personal time at a lower price.
3. Traveling Based on Exchange Rates
Exchange rates and tourism are inversely proportional, meaning the weaker the exchange rate, the higher the tourism rates. Now, what does this mean for travel agencies? With several countries hitting a low bar on their exchange rates, travel agencies could arrange discounts on different trips wisely to motivate travelers or enjoy the benefits of the demands of tourism.
For example, because the Japanese yen has lately been weakened against the U.S. dollar, Japan has become a go-to destination for Americans. This gives travel agencies a chance to take advantage of the rising demand for vacationing in Japan and bring forth all the best deals they could find for travelers.
4. Working Nomads
Remote work is here to stay. At least for a while. And until then, remote workers will make sure they take as many advantages as possible. Travelers with remote offices have been rapidly checking the boxes on their travel bucket lists. Going around the world, working while at the same time not giving up on their passion for traveling, remote workers have also created a new class of business prospects for travel agencies.
So, the question is how these remote workers could benefit travel agencies. Well, in several ways. One of them being the profits in off-season tourism, and the second being bookings around different countries. Travel agencies could either find packages that include several countries with various hotels, flights, restaurants, etc., all customized to the remote workers’ needs, or offer them discounts for booking bulk trips.
5. Biometric Bookings
An emerging technological development, biometric recognition is an identification recognition system that we all know is already here. It is only a matter of time before everything starts using biometric recognition to get jobs done efficiently. Hotels and airports have already started using this technology for a convenient and hassle-free traveling experience.
Biometrics will soon be incorporated into different sectors of the tourism industry. Because biometric recognition offers highly secured authentication, travel agencies could also take advantage of this technology to provide a better customer experience.
6. Off-Beat Destinations For The Win
Because of overcrowding in main-stream travel destinations, youngsters are currently opting for off-beat places instead. This naturally calls for travel agencies to take a subtle shift in focus while planning their marketing strategies for the upcoming year.
Travel agencies could grab this opportunity to attract customers by advertising special offers for travel products for off-the-beat destinations.
7. Staycation Over Vacation
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly taught us the value of ‘home’, and this is one of the major reasons staycations have won many travelers’ hearts. According to a study, travelers prefer staycations over fancy abroad vacations, primarily due to the sense of comfort and familiarity in their home country.
This is an excellent opportunity for travel agencies to squeeze in offers for domestic transportation. Because staycations are also about comfort, it calls for hotels that offer comfy and homey decor.
8. Demand For Pet-Friendly Travel
Every pet owner dreams of giving their furry little friend the world and, in this case, taking them around the world. But it is only post-COVID that the travel industry has seen a rise in demands for pet-friendly vacations. According to a study, around one in every ten millennials plans to take their furry friend along for the ride.
So, how does this change things for travel agencies? Travel agencies could now be starting to offer ‘pet-friendly’ traveling packages to meet the new demands of these travelers. Because pet-friendly services are a new concept in the travel industry, including these services will undoubtedly boost sales and attract a new set of customers to your travel agency.
9. Solo Travel Finally Gains Attention
Although solo traveling is not a new concept, it sure has become one of the popular travel trends post-lockdown. After almost two years of confinement, Gen Zs are going wild on their adventures. The pleasure of being in their own company while also making new friends on the road has been boldly trending.
According to one of the latest travel data, 35% of Gen Z surveyed think that the ‘safety of solo travelers’ is an essential factor when booking a trip, suggesting solo travel could be a lucrative market for travel agencies to target in 2023.
10. Social Media Is The Real #TrendSetter
Social media has risen to unprecedented popularity in recent years and continues to influence a little more every day. Whether in education, technology, travel, or literally anything, social media has been the herald of new trends.
Social media has also been playing a massive role in trending new travel goals, and 2023 will be the same for social media platforms. Travel agencies could use this excellent tool to find out the latest trend and market their agency accordingly.
Travel Will Always Stay In Trend
Trends are unavoidable aspects that ensure our businesses don’t go out of style. We hope our list of top upcoming travel trends has helped you plan your strategies for the new year. But at the same time, let us also remember that trends come and go, but traveling is here to stay, and we all know it’s true.
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