Travel Trendometre 2016 - By Monish Shah

Change is the only constant they say and just as everything is prone to it, so is the way people travel. From being conventional to innovative to exciting, the travel space has seen immense changes in every way. Through the years, with a surge in the number of people, especially youngsters who travel, what people want out of their holidays too has changed. Here’s putting together some key travel trends for 2016 that TraveLibro deems important...

1. Bleisure Travel – This is one trend that is here to stay. An integral part of the millennials’ travel itinerary, this is a perfect blend of combining work with leisure. Thus, when professionals travel around the globe today, they simply don’t want to get to the destination for work, complete it and immediately leave to get back home. So, business travellers add a couple of days to their travel before and/or after their meetings to sightsee or squeeze in any activity.  
2. Experiential Travel – Again, with the younger generation travelling extensively, what they want out of their vacation is markedly different from what their earlier generations wanted. A fast-growing trend, an experiential traveller is someone who wishes to experience the culture of the destination he travels to. It is usually a journey of self-realisation, where travellers take a safari, simply engage in any activity with the locals, be a part of the festivals of the region one has travelled to; basically, experience the ‘local’ way of life while on a tour.     

1. A Surge in River Cruising – Travellers now do not want to unpack repeatedly and rush from one spot to another as is the case with conventional tour packages. River cruising is more relaxed as well as intimate. Besides, a cruise holiday is not that expensive now as there are several operators today that offer economical prices. Also, the number of operators has gone up, thus giving people more options. Today, ships are considered a destination unlike earlier, when they were viewed only as a mode of transport. The operators to, are designing special activities for its customers.
2.  Alternative accommodation options – As hotel tariffs soar, even a budget-traveller would perhaps find it hard to meet the costs of the most cost-effective accommodation. Thus, the popularity of home-stays is on the rise and will continue to do so as travellers now look for a more ‘authentic’ vacation, where they actually live the local lifestyle and explore the destination. A homestay also enhances a person’s personal travel experience as they learn about the culture, the food, the language, and many other things about the region they are travelling to. Not to mention, homestays are much more economical than hotels.   
3. Digital detox travel – Yes, you read it right! Disconnecting completely from technology is living in world without any gadgets, is the hottest new trend in travel. There are holidays specially designed for this detox with certain hotels not even having a television in the guests’ rooms. So, cut the Wi-Fi from your travel plan and reconnect with yourself and the world around you.

With the millennials always looking for something new and open to experimentation, the travel industry has turned more vibrant than ever. Constant and ever-changing demands of travellers, the rise in awareness with the spread of the internet, and travellers designing their own holidays,   the travel trends too keep changing frequently. The above are the top ones that TraveLibro foresees in the forthcoming year.  

About the Author:

Monish Shah is the chairman and managing director of TraveLibro that was founded in 2014. TraveLibro strives to cater to a traveller’s past, present and future travel experiences. This world-class platform not only helps travellers to connect with friends, fellow travellers & travel agents but also provides niche itineraries along with well researched information on must do's, hotels and restaurants for about 1200 destinations.

Prior to TraveLibro, Monish worked as the Vice President of Equity Trading in Global Equities at DB Centre Pvt. Ltd. The idea of TraveLibro germinated while Monish perceived a gap in the travel market when he was researching destinations for his own honeymoon.

Monish holds a Bachelor's Degree in Management Studies from University of Mumbai and has completed a Masters in Science from the ICMA Centre, University of Reading.