Every year, we look at forecasted travel industry trends that usually impact global tourism and hospitality in some way, shape or form. But over the past 18 months of the Covid crisis, these travel insights have changed and become more than just trends for the year. We now look for values and principles that help guide us towards a healthier and more sustainable future. 

A few words come to mind when thinking about the future of post-Covid travel: reset, rebuild, regenerate, transform. So what are some of these changes in how we travel and how will tourists save the future of travel?

“Working on vacation” is the new “working from home”. And while workations as a concept are nothing new, they certainly have become a trend. As more and more companies do not require employees to come to the office fulltime, this provides people with an opportunity to work from wherever they want. Employees are packing their laptops and heading to seaside destinations where they can enjoy a lunch break on the beach. 

These workation trips allow us to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and still get some office tasks done in an eco-conscious and inspiring environment. And, Thailand offers many places for this kind of set-up.

As 2022 approaches and a new normal dawns, we may just be looking at a brighter future as our priorities as travel consumers change. We are now more conscious of the climate crisis and when it comes to travel, the trend “back to nature” is in. Glamping has been trending for a while and with it, less is always more. In most cases, a glamping getaway offers direct access to the great outdoors without sacrificing the comforts of home or the surrounding nature. It also means getting back in touch with the outdoors and experiencing how amazing local biodiversity is.

Border closures have put an end to many international travel plans over the last year or so. While international travel is on hold, it does not mean travelling is cancelled altogether. These recent times have forced many of us to look to our local areas to quench our thirst for travel. Along with finding local adventures, we can support communities that rely heavily on tourists and find the hidden gems of our own countries. Activities such as walking in unexplored corners of our local area, visiting museums and going glamping close to home are among some of the eco-conscious ways of travelling right now. Travelling locally is not only responsible travel but also sustainable travel.

When looking at holiday options and deciding where to book our next getaway, we usually compare the facilities, number of swimming pools, the breakfast buffet and the in-room amenities. With the new generation of eco-conscious travellers, however, people are now weighing up the carbon emissions of each holiday. There is a lot of talk about making travel more sustainable, and Carbon Labelling is a rising trend among travel companies who want to be more responsible. This new metric is used for comparing the eco-credentials of accommodation and flights and how they impact our environment. 

To become more carbon-efficient in the future, it is important that the tourism industry and its consumers reduce their emissions when it comes to accommodation, transportation and food, and to be as transparent as possible in doing so. By flying less, staying longer and changing the way we eat on holiday, we can help make small impacts on the climate crisis and change the face of travel in support of the environment.

Related: Expat Tiew Thai: A Koktail Travel Series