With summer just a couple of short months away, travel and tourism experts are already preparing for what’s expected to be a very busy and profitable season. But what trends are they expecting to see?
Anticipating Summer 2018 Travel Trends
The first day of summer might not be until June 21, but as soon as the weather warms up and school lets out, most families are already thinking about travel plans. And with the economy sizzling, expectations will be sky high.
Here are a few of the top trends experts are projecting:
1. These are the Hot Destinations
Each year, there seem to be a handful of hot destinations that people visit. It’s not always clear why certain cities get attention, but it has to do with a mixture of advertising, cultural events, and shifts in perception. This summer, some specific domestic and foreign destinations are taking the lead.
“For outdoor enthusiasts, Denver is an ideal spot to base yourself as you go out and explore the nearby mountains and scenic hiking trails,” travel critic Jason Lemon writes. “The picturesque city also offers loads of cultural destinations, such as the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Art Museum, a great botanical garden and a top-notch zoo.”
Internationally, Barcelona will be a hot ticket. But you don’t have to travel so far to enjoy beautiful weather. “Those looking to live it up on the beach during their summer vacation should definitely consider flying south to the Caribbean,” Lemon suggests. “Ocho Rios in Jamaica is the hottest beach destination of 2018 and if you start planning now, you can experience it for yourself.”
Other hot destinations include Los Angeles, New Mexico, and South Korea.
2. Tiny Home Vacation Rentals
For a while, tiny houses were all the rage on HGTV, Pinterest, and social media. And while most homeowners are never going to downsize to a 250-square-foot living space, a lot of homeowners are curious to see what it’s all about. This has given rise to the trend of tiny home vacation rentals.
From Georgia and Tennessee to Colorado and Washington, these little vacation rentals are popping up everywhere. Because of their simplicity and low cost, they’re attracting a wide swath of travelers.
3. Luxury RV Travel
Travel is one of the few things that people are willing to spend large amounts of money on without feeling guilty. People also want to be comfortable when they travel. This combination of factors is giving rise to the popularity of luxury RV travel.
Today’s luxury RV’s have everything travelers could want – from comfortable bedrooms to top-notch kitchens. They give people the chance to take comfortable road trips and see a lot of places within a short period of time. Expect to see more of that this summer.
4. Rise of “Bleisure” Trips
With more and more people working “flexible” jobs, the line between traveling for business and pleasure has become blurred.
As Malay Mail Online explains, “These so-called ‘bleisure’ travellers, mainly aged 18 to 34, are free to book a beach escape on a whim or tag a few extra days onto a business trip to do some sightseeing – so long as their tech needs are met.”
In order to accommodate to this audience, many travel destinations are doing their best to enhance WiFi access and business amenities.
Summer is Almost Here
Summer is right around the corner. With so much optimism surrounding the economy, it’s hard to imagine this travel season will be anything short of exciting and profitable. But projections are nothing more than education predictions.
Time will tell which trends come to fruition and which ones are nothing more than hype.
