Intrepid Shares Its 2019 Travel Trends

Travel can sometimes be influenced by political and social issues and that's exactly what Intrepid Travel is seeing for the travel industry in 2019.

Intrepid Travel has released its annual travel trends predictions for 2019, gathered from booking data of more than 350,000 global travelers.

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From this data, Darshika Jones, Intrepid's Regional Director for North America, had this to say:

“The inspiring thing about this year’s travel trends is that they’re aligning with greater themes we’re hearing about in the news and seeing in political and social agendas. The clear reflection is that travelers are seeking real-life experiences to unify and empower not only themselves, but the local communities they visit."

She added, “The data we’ve seen over the past year is a clear indication that people are seeking experiences that truly change the way they see the world: increasing departures by 800 percent on Intrepid Travel’s newly-launched Women’s Expeditions; our Indigenous tourism tours providing for local business and peoples; and millennials actively seeking cultural immersion over luxurious holidays. What this tells us is that, in a time of much uncertainty, travel is a powerful tool for connection and understanding, rather than a self-indulgent escape.”

Here are the five trends that Intrepid Travel predicts for 2019:

1. Travel empowers identities

Coming in at number one is a travel trend that focuses on empowering identities. The tour company is finding that people are traveling in ways that directly relate to or empowers an identity they have.

Intrepid Travel has been a pioneer in gender equality in the tour realm and their newly-developed women-only expeditions in Morocco, Iran and Jordan have encouraged female empowerment through female tour guides and activities that showcase the traditions of local women in each destination and the Middle East.

Intrepid has found that trip departures for these tours have increased by 800 percent, and they’ll have 24 departures in 2019, highlighting how the female empowerment trend will be a popular one in 2019.

2. Culinary travel defies restrictions

In 2019, Intrepid Travel predicts that the travel industry will continue to become more inclusive of different culinary choices, especially for vegans and vegetarians. Intrepid Travel saw a 51 percent growth in food-themed trips in North American in 2018, and more than four countries underwent a 100 percent growth.

Taking note of how airlines and destinations are offering more vegan food options, Intrepid launched Vegan Food Adventures tours in India, Italy and Thailand for 2019. They’ve completely sold out in India and are nearly sold out in Thailand and Italy, proving this trend will be a popular one this year.

3. Millennials popularize conscious travel, more than any other generation

Intrepid conducted a 2019 study with OnePoll and found that 58 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds “would spend more on their travel if they knew their money was going into the local communities they're visiting, compared to just 32 percent of travelers aged 51+.”

With Millennials expected to surpass Baby Boomers this year as America’s largest adult generation, Intrepid believes that Millennials will put more focus on responsible tourism and are committed to immersing themselves in what a destination offers. This is why Intrepid launched a range of trips for 18 to 29s which includes 80 trips focused on sustainable and experiential travel experiences.

4. The extended layover spikes ‘short break’ tours

Airlines have begun to capitalize on layovers at airports with stopover deals that entice travelers to stay overnight in a city to explore and hop on a plane to their destination the next day. Intrepid Travel predicts extended layovers and short-break tours will be an increasingly popular experience in 2019. That’s why Intrepid Travel now offers a three-day short break tour called Taste of Istanbul to provide insight into Turkish cuisine for those on a stopover in Istanbul.

The tour company is also capitalizing on the Emirates’ stopover program in Dubai by launching a Dubai Discovery tour, a three-day short break tour that focuses on the city and integration into the country's unique experiences.

5. Indigenous tourism to enrich communities

Perhaps the most exciting trend Intrepid Travel predicts for 2019 is a growth in popularity of Indigenous tourism. Taking their cue from Canada’s Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada which released its five-year plan to accelerate the growth of Indigenous tourism in Canada, Intrepid Travel has seen some excitement in their community-based tours that seek to empower Indigenous communities and help travelers learn about a new culture and First Nations Peoples.

Intrepid ‘s New Zealand North Island Discovery focuses on the First Nations peoples in Aotearoa and supports a local Maori family. The Russia Expedition: Footsteps of the Reindeer Herders is now a full-range capacity tour after significant growth in 2018. Lastly, their Australia Expedition—Journey into East Arnhem Land offers travelers exclusive access to East Arnhem Land, an area still inhabited by the Yolngu First Nations People.