Exercise 1: Research and list down at least five (5) previous travel trends for the past five (5) years and at least three (3) possible travel trends for the next five (5) years.

·          Road Trips Not Too Far from Home

With several aircraft fleets grounded and foreign travel restrictions in place, all over the world are taking to open road to travel locally while minimizing encounters with outsiders. Not to mention that an excess of energy is driving down gas prices and attracting more tourists to take the road. Many people, particularly families, are drawn to nature, and several private and municipal campsites have witnessed a surge in visits in recent months.

·         Rise of Smart Accommodations 

During Covid-19, technology is solidifying its role in travel. To properly comply with social distancing requirements, certain hotels and short-term rentals are going to mobile check-in and other services. To minimize eliminate touch points and possible employee contacts, several large hotel operators have adopted contactless technology such as mobile key entry and room temperature controls in units.         

·        More adventure travel

Excitement boosting activities are on the rise, thanks to two new generations eager to test their boundaries. For the last several years, adventure travel has become more intense and popular as tourists have been more willing to engage in risky exploration or travel that may need particular skills and physical effort.

·        History and Culture travel

is a style of travel that stresses experiencing life as a temporary guest inside a foreign culture rather than through the outside. Cultural travelers leave their native surroundings behind, carrying nothing but oneself and a desire to be a part of culture they visit. Cultural travel is more than just forms of tourism or discovery; it entails a change in lifestyle and learning about the history of the places they visit. Walking tours remain one of the most popular activities for anybody visiting a new place. 

·         Cross Device Advertising

Considerably in 2017, we lived in a multi-screen environment, which is even more prevalent now and may even trend more mobile given how far technology has progressed. As we saw before, cellphones are quickly becoming the instrument of choice for searching for and, in some cases, booking vacations. However, in many regions, people are not primarily mobile, therefore multi-device marketing is still important particularly since, as demonstrated in our Path to Purchase research at the time, consumers often investigate many destinations, and the booking experience is anything from linear.

 

Three (3) possible travel trends for the next five (5) years:

·         Electronic cash

Travel technology has always included contactless payment, but the COVID issue has heightened the importance of this trend. Accepting contactless payments shows your clients that you care about their safety by reducing the amount of shared surfaces they need to touch. In the following five (5) years, I believe this tendency will evolve into modifications like crediting payments from earlier transactions or refunds that can be turned into e-cash. Aside from the hygienic advantages, employing contactless payments may give passengers with better convenience and speed. This may also help your travel firm optimize income by promoting impulsive purchases.

·        Health-conscious travel 

 This travel trend is rising, and many travel businesses can provide a health travel experience for passengers. Since the epidemic, I've witnessed a rise in health awareness. Vitamins, health suggestions, and illness prevention tactics are being shared on all social media platforms, and consumers are stockpiling health items. How much more if individuals are outdoors and traveling following this pandemic? After a few lockdowns and quarantines, the increasing trend of health and wellness is not unexpected.

·       Voice Control Technology

Travel firms can offer touch-free areas in the near future, reducing the danger of infections. This travel trend may aid the hospitality business by using voice-controlled technology in hotel rooms. With smart speakers or voice-activated devices, visitors will be able to regulate their room's temperature and more. The same technology may readily be extended to other aspects of travel, adding levels of safety and ease.

 

Create a 300-word essay presenting your ideas about previous and possible travel trends.

Travel Trends are still continuing to evolve, and the rate of change is currently quicker than it ever has been, as new technologies and demographic changes modify expectations and traditional procedures. The Pandemic, which has touched practically every element of travel, has exacerbated the situation. Of course, companies that stay current on travel trends and embrace the new methods of conducting business will gain exceedingly. The travel trends of the last five (5) years will continue to be a trend in the future, but with new solutions or developments. More adventure travel will always be the ideal option for travelers looking to do something interesting, particularly millennials, and it's growing more popular these days as we desire to tour the other places and encourage others with our ambitions. Local experience travel and history and culture trips are also highly recommended, as they will immerse visitors in their journey and provide opportunity for places to exhibit what they have to offer to the rest of the places that might to going. I believe that travel trends are just developments of prior travel trends that have only achieved their peak because influencers have shared them on their blogs or other social media. If travel influencers can feature at their vlogs, also in their social media accounts to show all over world about electronic cash, voice control technology, and health-conscious travel as future travel trends, I am confident that travel companies will take note and develop or innovate projects to make it a reality, which will undoubtedly benefit the travel industry. Keeping up with travel trends is advantageous, and they may be applied again in the future by any company in the travel sector., whether it is in the hotel, transportation, or entertainment sectors. Customers expect the businesses they indorse to offer the latest innovations.

References:

Top travel trends of the past five years. (2021, May 14). Expedia Group Media Solutions. https://advertising.expedia.com/blog/travel-trends/top-travel-trends-past-five-years/

(n.d.). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2020/09/22/four-travel-and-hospitality-trends-emerging-from-the-pandemic/?sh=1e506bc75a75