Travel Trends 2021: Big Shift In Travel Plans

Undoubtedly, there has been a massive change in the way Indians travel now in the post Covid era. From quick weekend getaways, staycations to road trips, many people are resorting to “revenge travel” in a bid to escape from the monotonous life that the deadly second wave of the coronavirus lockdown brought forth.

Travellers Looking For Revenge Travel

Revenge travel basically refers to the phenomenon wherein people wish to break free from the monotonous routine that has caused the “new normal” to develop in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that this phenomenon also stems from a circumstance that has been described as “lockdown fatigue” or exhaustion that escalates on account of monotony.
In simple words, people are basically exhausted from following the same mundane routine every day, working from home, unable to step out in the fear of contracting the infection. This has led to a sort of fatigue that makes people want to escape to the hills or other tourist destinations.

Keeping this in mind, Indian travellers are crowding to popular travel destinations. According to the data from Airbnb and YouGov survey on anticipated trends for 2021 showed travellers from India are looking for more local experiences and nature travel as a way of fostering personal connections.

There’s no doubt that the COVID-19 has impacted the way people used to make travel plans in more ways than one. Well, COVID has changed the whole scenario of tourism. Tourism has been an important earner for the Indian economy, having contributed 9.20% to the GDP in 2018. That came down to 6.8% in 2019. Yet, the Indian tourism sector remains at the tenth spot in terms of travel and tourism and created 8% of the total employment in 2019.

There are some positive changes too along the line. The pandemic has significantly changed the tourist’s attitudes. Personal sanitation and hygiene is now being given priority. Tourists are also avoiding crowded spots and visiting more isolated places. Travelling patterns have also changed. Nearby places and short travel along with importance to local food are some of the new trends emerging in the sector. This is being understood and accepted by the industry. Restaurants are introducing more locally sourced and fresh dishes, homestays are getting a boost with ‘workation’ becoming the new trend, tourists are going for more local and domestic (and less explored) destinations and walking and cycling clubs are becoming prominent in tourist cities.

At this crucial time, the role of government will be the most crucial to promote sustainable tourism in Indian cities.