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A glimpse into the 4 travel trends that are set to shape 2024
The holiday season is approaching, and as you ponder destinations to add to your travel wishlist, here are some choices to think about.
Kruger Gate Hotel Guided Group Safari. Picture: Supplied
Travel is always changing, and each year, tourists from around the world look for new adventures based on the latest travel trends.
Whether you’re thinking about going on a vacation far away or staying closer to home in South Africa, let’s talk about four travel trends that might inspire you to plan a trip.
Top travel trends for an inspirational holiday
Anton Gillis, the CEO of Kruger Gate Hotel, shares his predictions about travel trends, including things like visiting famous movie locations and taking it slow when you travel.
Multi-generational trips
“About nine years ago, many families started going on trips together with different generations, like grandparents, parents, and kids.
“But when the pandemic happened, this kind of vacation became less common. Now, it’s becoming popular again.
Gillis says as travel rebounds from the pandemic, families are particularly eager to reconnect and make lasting memories with one another again. He adds multi-generational trips have become one of the bigger travel trends of the year and are set to be even more favoured in 2024.
“A Kruger National Park experience makes for an ideal multi-generational getaway destination as if you would like to skip out on a long game drive, you could book yourself in for a spa experience and enjoy the park’s untouched nature from Kruger Gate Hotel’s viewing deck, and still meet up with the whole family for dinner.
Picture perfect set-jetting locations
TV shows and movies can really influence the society culture, from what people like to wear to where they want to go on vacation.
The trend of “set-jetting,” where people visit places they’ve seen on TV or in movies, is on the rise.
For example, New Zealand used Lord of the Rings scenes in their ads and saw a big boost in tourism. Game of Thrones fans did the same in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 2012 to 2015.
Recently, a South Korean show called Crash Landing on You attracted fans to a tiny Swiss village, Iseltwald.
Despite having only 400 residents, the village saw 1,000 visitors for each local resident just since last year. This shows that “set-jetting” is growing, even in lesser-known and remote places.
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A taste of culture
Many travellers now see trying local food as a great way to explore a new place, almost like a special kind of travel adventure.
Some TV shows, like the ones hosted by actor Philip Rosenthal, even focus on going to different places just to taste their unique foods.
In 2019, the global food tourism industry was worth a whopping $1,116.7 billion. Experts think it will grow even bigger, reaching more than $1,796.5 billion by 2027.
Recently, a video on TikTok went viral, showing a food tour in Rome where they explored the best gelato. It received 19.1 million views and 2.8 million likes. This just goes to show how much people love discovering the delicious details of different foods from around the world.
Find serenity in slow travel
Vacations where people rush around and do lots of things might not be as popular anymore. Instead, more people are starting to like slow travel, which means taking it easy and enjoying a place for a longer time.
“Slow travel sees tourists relishing longer leisurely trips, where they become immersed in local culture, taking in the beauty of the community through authentic experiences instead of hopping from one swamped tourist hotspot to the other.
“Travellers are thus electing to take tranquil routes and stay in accommodation that nurtures their quest for mindfulness and serenity,” said Gills.
In a survey by Hidden Scotland 83% said they liked slow travel, while 74% said they enjoyed the idea of living like a local when they visit a new place. Lastly, 78% said they found the journey itself as enjoyable as reaching their holiday destination.
“South Africa is a perfect destination for slow travellers to visit. With mesmerising, slower-paced locations like the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape, the Drakensberg mountains or our very own World Wonder, the Kruger National Park our international visitors, or even local holidaymakers, can experience a culturally enriched journey in an unhurried, rejuvenating manner,” concluded Gills.
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