For the Victorians it was seabathing; daytrippers in their droves descending on fashionable resorts du jour like Bogner Regis and Torquay to exploit the healing qualities of ocean swimming. The ‘70s saw fleets of open-top buses touring our cities to cash in on the new sightseeing craze. By the 2010s, culinary tourism was the dominant travel trend, fuelled by millennials using food photos to share their holiday experiences on social media. Which begs the question, what are travel’s next trends?
Solo Travel
Controversial statement alert… Going on holiday, like going to the cinema, if you think about it, doesn’t actually require a companion. Both activities are better uninterrupted, so why bring someone along who might, you know, get in the way? Solo travel allows the holidaymaker to truly escape, providing quality time to spend the way it was intended. Sunbathing, reading, spa pampering, savouring the local cuisine; your schedule, your terms. No wonder solo travel is tipped to be one of travel’s next trends.
Our verdict: Watch this space. Kenwood Travel’s region managers always keep an eye out for deals from our hotels with no single occupancy supplement. It’s true that our holidays tend to favour couples or families in terms of how prices are allocated, and more should be done to represent our solo travellers, but we’re working on it.
Holiday on your terms with a solo getaway, one of travel’s next trends
Dark Tourism
We’re not sure if it was the popularity of HBO’s eponymous TV show, or just the ghoulish whims of selfie hunters on Instagram, but visiting Chernobyl is creeping up the tourism bucket list. As one of travel’s next trends, it’s also being driven by Netflix’s Dark Tourist series, and looks likely to continue, with Chernobyl visitors exploring Pripyat town’s abandoned playground and the reactor shell. Dark Tourism isn’t new of course. Korea’s demilitarised zone, the Killing Fields of Cambodia and other global sites of eerily dubious charm are also popular with so-called dark tourists.
Our verdict: Not our cup of tea. It’s not just the moral question (Chernobyl’s selfie takers are facing [quite justified in our book] scrutiny around whether their actions are ethical), but we prefer our holidays with a bit of sun, sea and sand, thanks. Give us a Caribbean beach any day.
Slow Travel
Log off, tune out, kick back. What’s the rush? According to reports on travel’s next trends, holidaymakers in 2020 will be following the slow travel movement to get back to basics and rediscover what getting away is all about. Modern life is busier than ever, and travellers are responding by taking their foot off the gas. Leave rush hour in your rear-view mirror, and take time to lower the tempo on your next escape; slow travel is where it’s at.
Our verdict: This is the kind of travel trend we can get on board with. Classic beach destinations – our speciality – like Thailand, the Mediterranean, Florida Gulf Coast and the Caribbean all inspire a slower approach to holidaymaking. Indian Ocean islands, too, are known for a more ponderous schedule, especially in the peaceful environs of their famous resort spas. Take the 120-minute Couple Bliss Ritual courtesy of USpa at barefoot hideaway Contance Moofushi in the Maldives. Two whole hours of body scrubs, massages and facials. Now that’s time well spent.
Spa days are a great way to practice slow travel
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