The peak of the summer season is now here, with khareef officially opening in Salalah, schools and colleges finally closed, and an unrelenting sun to escape from. For those who can travel, going away can be reinvigorating and inspiring.
But increasingly, trends show that traditional travel to tourist places is now taking a back seat, with unusual experiences and off-beat destinations being the preferred choices.
As the Covid pandemic waned, there was a spurt in tourism which continues unabated. What has changed, however, is the destination and the purpose of travel.
While Europe has long being the preferred tourist destination, it is not really the top choice any more, especially in peak summer when heatwaves and population density makes it less than appealing. This is in addition to locals in cities like Venice and Barcelona actively dissuading tourists from cramming their roads and infrastructure.
According to established travel sites, the preference in travel has now shifted to creating experience. This could be culinary, cultural or even spiritual.
For example, a BBC report suggested that younger travellers were looking for unusual experiences which would buck the trend. These are also termed noctourism and calmcations.
The former focuses on nighttime travel experiences, including star gazing and northern light viewing from the Arctic. But it can also be frequenting late-opening museums and bioluminescent beaches, both of which offer a different perspective of a well-known place, but at a different time.
Another primary purpose of travel is to get away from it all – the noise of urban spaces, the overconsumption of typical tourist sites and the pressure to participate in tourist activities. Solutions for escape include camps that cater to different levels of luxury and offer different facilities. Whether in the snows of Norway or the jungles of Kenya, there are spaces where one could just listen to the voice of nature.
Not everybody wants to travel far in a limited time. And not everybody can afford it. That is why short distance travel has become popular, especially among those who prefer multiple short holidays than one long one. Short holidays are made more possible now with budget airlines and Airbnbs which offer competitive prices. This allows the budget conscious traveller to plan well ahead of time and make use of any offers that are given.
While many resorts and tourist places attract different kinds of tourists, the more family conscious travellers prefer packages which are curated individually. There is a substantial rise in tourism from the Middle East to countries which are culturally familiar, like Malaysia and Indonesia, which offer family friendly atmosphere and cater to food preferences as well.
Much of travel today is about sharing experiences on social media. That is why most hotels and resorts have highly decorated exteriors which act as backdrops for vertical shots on mobile phones.
Of course, there are those who may not like to travel, or are unable to do so for many reasons. That in itself is not a limitation anymore. Books, videos and podcasts more than compensate for the physical journey while keeping in touch with current travel trends.
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