Although the pandemic is not over yet, the global tourism industry expects a brighter future. Now that 2022 is only a few months away, what direction will traveling take? An extensive study more than 24,000 travelers across 31 countries and regions with insights from Booking.com predicts trends in tourism activity in 2022.

Vitamin vacay

Travel will become an essential form of self-care. Photo: Booking.com

After dealing with ever-evolving travel restrictions, people deeply acknowledge the important benefits that travel has on health and wellbeing.

According to the study, travel will become an essential form of self-care, even beyond yoga and mindfulness meditation. In particular, 79% of travelers agree that travel helps their mental and emotional health more than other forms of self-care.

Resetting the out of (home) office

Resetting the out of (home) office is a priority for travelers. Photo: Nomadic Matt

73% of travelers said they would absolutely not mention work while on vacation in the future. With most people claiming to have worked more hours and using less vacation days during the pandemic, the study indicates that more people travel to their well-deserved out of (home) office vacation in 2022.

All the first-time feels

In the past, travelers want to make the most of their time at a destination going to as many places as possible, rather than doing something at one place and slowly enjoy the moment.

Not only the destination but also the journey is also a pleasure. Photo: Finance Monthly

Each ‘first’ of our trips in 2022 will be a moment to savor, 75% of travelers say that they will cherish each and every part of the trip even if it is just the feeling the sun on their skin or seeing a body of water of some kind. About 58% of participants said they look forward to learning new things as well as familiarizing themselves with transport systems when traveling.

In 2020, people look forward to learning new things during their trips. Newsroom Booking Global

Community first

Supporting the local community will become a priority.

Travelers think about how their trip benefits the local community. Photo: Hospitality Net

During the pandemic, people are forced to take advantage of things close to home, thereby becoming more connected to the community by supporting local businesses. Now, travelers are finding ways to promote this spirit even in their travels. 58% of respondents agree that it is something they care about when their trip benefits the local community. Meanwhile 29% is willing to learn more about how their spending during the trip will affect or contribute to the local community.

Swipe right on new places and faces

Travelers not only value the opportunity to rest more than ever, but also make use to fully immerse themselves in new destinations and cultures. Also, 60% of travelers expect to socialize and meet new people during their trip.

And thanks to video calls becoming a part of our daily lives, we hope to see more of these romances continue to blossom even after travelers have returned home. The Quad City Times.

The pandemic has forced us to rearrange our priorities in life and realize that freedom has never been more precious. Now that people are able to travel again, we will not only see them reconnecting with friends and family in 2022, but also actively seeking new relationships.

Travel romance is also likely to pick up again, with 50% of travelers hoping to experience it on their next trip.

Just say yes

People will seize the opportunity to travel to make up for lost vacations. 61% of travelers will be more open to different types of travel.

After a long time without socializing, traveling and having fun, more people feel they need to make up for lost vacations From 42% of last year, the percentage of people said they have such need in 2022 increased to 63%.

With all travel plans on hold due to the pandemic, 2022 will be a "simply go" year, with 72% saying they would say "yes" to every vacation if the budget allows.

Embracing the unpredictable

64% of travelers agree that technology will be more important than ever when traveling.

Many people really look forwards to return to travel in 2022. Photo: Lonely Planet

The year 2022 will see travelers adapt to unforeseen situations, and many travelers rely on technology to adapt. For 63% of travelers, technology plays an important role in managing health risks while traveling, 62% agree that technology helps them reduce anxiety while traveling

Travelers will be interested in a revolutionary service that predicts which countries are safe to travel to (69%), even months in advance, or automatically recommends destinations they could easily travel right now based on current COVID-19 requirements (67%).

Nuno Guerreiro, regional director South Asia Pacific at Booking.com shared that people really look forwards to return to travel, whether it’s abroad, the trip of a lifetime or just saying yes to whatever travel opportunity comes their way. Ultimately, 2022 will be the time to rethink the concept of travel, to expand and to forge new relationships.

Whether it's spending time with family and friends, listening to new languages, or trying new foods, traveling is not the same for everyone. What about you, what does travel look like?

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