The post-pandemic world is witnessing the gradual yet definite revival of the tourism industry. Likewise, 2022 has served as a reset for international travel, as countries worldwide have begun welcoming back tourists. However, it is essential to note that the ‘new normal’ we are adjusting to has also seeped into the global tourism sector, embodied through people’s changing perceptions, shifts in travel habits, and shuffling of tourism trends. For instance, cashless tourism and travel credit cards are becoming the norm as more nations embrace the digital revolution in finance. Are you intrigued to dig deeper into the travel trends of 2022 and beyond? If yes, then read ahead.
TRENDS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN THE TOURISM SECTOR THIS SEASON
Trend 1: Leisure Takes Precedent – One way by which people are steering away from the pandemic blues is by focusing on leisure. Needless to say, the pandemic, physical distancing, and lockdown tripartite were brutal for many people, who are now desperate for a holiday. Thus, it is understandable why leisure tourism is expected to see its peak soon.
Trend 2: the Digital Revolution in Tourism - The tourism industry shoul brace itself for a generational and technological shift in travelers, as those within the age bracket of 18 to 34 are likely to be on their next big trip soon. Thus, contactless payments, travel credit cards, etc., will become a staple of international tourism. Cashless traveling has enabled tourism companies to mitigate friction and improve the speed of check-ins and check-outs. In addition, the phenomenon has also encouraged spontaneous purchases. In the post-pandemic world, we can expect to witness the further advancement of cashless tourism, which was already brewing pre-2020.
Trend 3: Marketing Changes in Tourism – We can expect a sweeping change in how tourist destinations, hotels, and other places of interest market themselves. For example, a survey shows that about 40 percent of Millennials pick their holiday destination based on how Instagrammable the pictures will be. In addition, 45 percent of Gen Zs trust influencers’ travel recommendations. So, simply put, the veracity of and value-addition by travel bloggers, YouTubers, and Instagrammers is going to soar further. In addition, we can see a lot more tourism-based marketing focusing on Influencer/Youtuber promotion.
Trend 4: Travel Credit Cards Might Become the Norm – The global economy has taken a slump, and everyone is still recovering. In such a context, international tourists and travel enthusiasts are keen on holding on to any possible recourse of saving money. Therefore, international travel cards are increasing in popularity and ubiquity. For instance, a travel card is immune to currency fluctuations in the Forex market, meaning that if you load USD 2000 into your travel card, its value will remain the same regardless of the changes in the INR-USD exchange rate. In addition, international travel credit cards do not have markup charges, implying that there are no extra swiping charges at PoS abroad. Therefore, it is unsurprising why a large cohort of international tourists is taking travel credits. And it is a phenomenon we will see more of in the future.
So, there we have it, the top four international travel trends of 2022.
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