Industry experts predict we'll be travelling very differently after border restrictions are lifted post-Covid—and they're not talking about face masks
After nearly one full year of global travel restrictions, thwarted holidays, and cancelled flights, it's no surprise that eager travellers have kept busy scouring the web for 2021 opportunities and adventures. Travel industry experts, packagers, agents, and online aggregators are optimistic—and predict that when the world is on the move once again, we'll all be travelling in very different ways. From value systems to experiences and even destinations, here are five major shifts to look out for when you're planning your first post-pandemic longhaul trip this year.
1. Younger travellers
On the heels of a pandemic that posed the greatest threat to seniors and baby boomers, the average age of travellers has dropped precipitously across all categories. Travel insurance comparison site Squaremouth recently released data indicating that, while in 2019, the average age of travellers was 50, by the end of 2020, the average age of travellers had dropped to 38. "Of their total travel share, Squaremouth reports growth in every group under 60, while every age group over 60 saw a decline from last year," the report indicated. As age and generational demographics of travellers shift to Gen X, it's likely that other consumer travel trends—such as experiences on offer, popular destinations, preferred accommodations, and amenities—will follow suit.
Related: Essentials to pack for hotel quarantine in Hong Kong