The Power of Travel: Tourism Trends Shaping Today and Tomorrow

More than two years since travel and tourism were brought to a screeching halt by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is rebounding and more and more destinations around the globe are reopening to travelers with fewer restrictions and requirements in place. The pandemic certainly changed the way people travel and shook up their priorities when it comes to getting away. The past two years have also had an impact on where travelers want to go, whether it's an emphasis on domestic destinations or added urgency to take the vacation of a lifetime to a bucket-list place abroad. In celebration of May's National Travel and Tourism Week-and this year's theme of the Future of Travel-let's take a look at the most significant trends shaping the industry nearly halfway through 2022.

The COVID-prompted shutdown in early 2020 made remote work the norm for many. And while offices have reopened and business travel is recovering, many are still doing a bulk of their work if not all of it from the home office or wherever they choose to be with a Wi-Fi signal. That has led to more digital nomads and the emergence of trends like bleisure travel (a mix of business and leisure) and "workcations." According to a recent survey of American workers conducted by Passport Photo Online, the majority of Americans (67 percent) recently took a workcation to "recharge their mental and emotional batteries" and a whopping 94 percent plan to go on a workcation again in 2022 and beyond.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, higher gas prices, Russia's war in Ukraine and other issues facing the world, Americans are ready to avenge their canceled trips, fueling the growing trend of revenge travel. According to the U.S. Travel Association, 85 percent are expecting to travel this summer while 48 percent plan to take two weeks or more off. "Not only are we seeing more cruise and tour bookings than this time last year, but members are spending more money on their trips. While some of this is the excitement of getting back to traveling, there are those who have more money to spend after traveling less in recent years," Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA - The Auto Club Group, said in February. "Additionally, we're beginning to see customers apply travel vouchers they may have received after postponing a previous trip, due to the pandemic."

Europe is reemerging as a favorite destination among Americans in 2022 as recent data from Allianz Partners found that travel to the continent from the U.S. could climb by as much as 600 percent from last year. What's more, roughly three-quarters of Americans venturing to Europe will spend at least seven days traveling.

The pandemic brought on so much more for travelers to consider when planning and booking their trips and therefore travel advisors have never been more valuable. These travel experts and advocates have always been able to save their clients time, stress and money but the flood of travel advisories, COVID-related entry restrictions and other obstacles have only made travel advisors more vital and powerful in 2022.

A new survey of 1,000 American adults conducted for Hilton by Wakefield Research found that more than half of pet owners (55 percent) are planning to travel with their furry friends this summer. Interestingly, 58 percent indicated that they would prefer to travel with their pet rather than a friend or family member.

That same Hilton survey conducted by Wakefield Research found that almost all travelers (98 percent) are prioritizing wellness activities or wellness-centric travel in 2022. Wellness can come in many forms, however. The study shows that many Americans feel mentally refreshed on vacation after connecting with the local culture (41 percent) or simply shutting their phone off to unplug (33 percent). Women are more likely to prioritize reconnecting with family and friends (46 percent) while men are likely to focus on healthy eating (34 percent), the study also found.

According to that same survey, 85 percent of American adults are in agreement that booking at an all-inclusive resort is the best way to reduce the stress of planning travel. Plus, more than one-third (37 percent) of respondents said that they feel mentally refreshed on vacation when they don't have to worry about leaving their resort during their stay. All-inclusive resorts are booming.

More and more travelers are prioritizing sustainability as the years pass by. The Vacationer recently polled more than 1,000 American adults and found that 87.32 percent agree that sustainable travel is important. What's more, more than four-fifths of U.S. adults 81.57 percent said that they plan to make more sustainable or eco-friendly decisions when planning travel. That figure is up from just three-fourths in 2021 (74.85 percent).

From high-speed rail travel to supersonic jets and the Hyperloop, mobility is only poised to improve in the future. Additional investment in existing infrastructure such as airports, roads and passenger rail service along with the rollout of autonomous vehicles should also make it easier, faster and safer for travelers to reach their favorite destinations.

Improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have been top of mind for many companies and businesses of late, including those in the travel sphere. The industry is well-suited to lead the way and its efforts are poised to shape the future of travel. "Travel is uniquely positioned to uplift DEI initiatives to power a future that values all cultures, embraces new perspectives and reflects the faces and ideas of our global society," U.S. Travel says. "America is one of the most diverse countries in the world-the future of travel reflects and incorporates the diverse people, places and POVs that make our country, destinations and communities so unique."