Armchair travel might be the only way for us to experience the world's most beautiful corners right now but that's not stopping us from thinking ahead to 2021 when the 'new normal' brings a whole host of travel trends.
As the nation patiently awaits the passing of the pandemic and easing of travel restrictions, Britons will be eager as ever to go on holiday when it's safe to do so again.
Our time at home has given us countless hours to dream about our future getaways, while we wonder about what's hot for 2021 and how holidays will change when the coronavirus crisis is over.
That's where our favourite travel experts come in and why we thought we'd speak to a few of them to find out their predictions for 2021 travel trends.
From a big boom in staycations as we look to explore the treasures close to home, to social-distancing escapes in crowd-free places, these are the top travel trends for 2021, according to experts.
The wonders on our doorstep in 2021
As our horizons narrow and international borders are slow to open up, Britain will become the focus for travel like never before.
"We expect this domestic travel trend to continue into next year as we grow to appreciate the wonders on our doorsteps," says Charles Starmer-Smith, Founder of Tripsmiths, who adds that nearly half of current bookings are for UK breaks, such as an exclusive tour of Althorp with Earl Spencer and the Scottish Highlands with BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood.
The UK tourism industry is resilient and experts, including Steve Short, Managing Director of Compass Holidays, believe it has the ability to bounce back.
"There will be an increase in staycations as people choose to remain in the UK rather than fly abroad, which offers a huge opportunity for many UK tourism businesses (once lockdown is lifted)," he says.
With a visual increase in nature and environment emerging from this crisis, these will be benefits people wish to retain on their staycations, from more birds singing to quieter roads and the skies clearing.
Multi-generational escapes
As many families are currently spending time apart, quality time where they’re able to relax and enjoy one another’s company will be much needed and a top travel trend for 2021.
"There’ll be no better way to get that R&R than by having a holiday with all the family once again when it’s safe to do so and it’s likely we’ll see a rise in British travellers going on holiday with not only their immediate families, but also their extended families when we can travel again," says Karen Mullins, Regional Director UK and Ireland at HomeAway.
"We know from our research that British holidaymakers are more likely to go away with multiple generations of the family than any other nation across Europe. This isn’t surprising when you look at the things families most look forward to when travelling together and it's a great way to strengthen the family bond."
Karen adds: "Whilst we know many people will choose to have a staycation when they’re next able to holiday, our research reveals that for those who are looking to head to warmer, sunnier climes abroad, Portugal, Turkey and Spain top the international list of most desired family holiday destinations.”
Big bucket list trips
If you were thinking of taking a dream holiday this year, 2021 is when you'll go even bigger with your once-in-a-lifetime getaway, according to Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director, EMEA at Intrepid Travel.
"In 2021, big bucket list trips are likely to be in high demand, with people wanting to fulfil that trip of a lifetime. Currently the top three destinations our customers are re-booking globally are Peru, Ecuador – mainly driven by the Galapagos – and Antarctica.
"For the UK and Europe specifically, Japan and Peru are popular, along with interest in Vietnam and Spain."
Zina adds that these types of destinations indicate that there is a desire, once this is all over, for people to get back to nature and get those bigger bucket list destinations checked off their lists.
Putting communities first
Sustainable travel has been rising in popularity over the last few years but in 2021, it's set to go mainstream as more travellers think about how their holidays can be beneficial to local communities in post-pandemic times.
"Countries that have been most impacted by the crisis will be enticing tourists to visit them, so they can start to recover and we believe that travellers will actively look for ways to support these communities and cities," says Ryan Pearson, Booking.com's Regional Manager.
Meanwhile, Lysbeth Fox, Founder of Fox Communications, a communications agency specialising in luxury travel, believes that 'carbon negative' will be the buzzword everyone talks about over the next few years.
"I think we’ll all come out of this pandemic wanting to know that we are doing some good for others through travel, giving back to the local community, offsetting our flights, stop impacting our world negatively, but putting a positive step forward through travelling," she says.
New to Original Travel's lexicon is the term 'philantourism' - the act of choosing a holiday or experience in order to support a destination - which will be hot next year.
Tom Barber, Co-Founder of the company, says: "An evolution of voluntourism, but less of a commitment, it is simply a way to support countries that are dependent on tourism and whose economies are suffering from the aftermath of terrorism, natural disasters and now, pandemics.
"Sri Lanka being a prime example, having suffered two of the three within a year."
Social-distancing holidays
The very real impact of the pandemic has forced us to embrace a new normal and it's natural that travellers will seek out environments where we feel more comfortable engaging in adventure.
"Holidays which offer opportunities to continue social distancing will trend in 2021," says Tony Daly, Managing Director of Ranch Rider. "While many of us are already keen to book for the year ahead, there's still a desire to explore the outside world safely"
Meanwhile, Vivian McCarthy, Director at Acacia Africa, comments that Covid-19 "won't curb our sense of adventure" and small group travel that takes us to out-of-the-way places to explore the natural world is a top travel trend.
Explaining the benefits of escorted tours, Vivian says: "There are obvious advantages as you are travelling with the same group of people as opposed to independent travel where you would be looking to take public transport - the latter posing a greater risk.
Small group tour specialists will be able, by the very nature of that form of travel, to limit exposure and provide a more standardised approach to safety when it comes to social distancing, such as taking active health measures onboard vehicles, he adds.
Nature will be another focus for travellers in search of crowd-free destinations.
As Lynn Narraway, UK/Ireland Managing Director for Holland America Line, puts it: "After this prolonged period indoors, we predict that travellers will want to visit locations known for amazing natural beauty, with a reinvigorated sense of outdoor adventure - whether that be hiking on top of an Alaskan glacier, relaxing upon the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar, or driving along the sand dunes of the Namib Desert."
Stand-out experiences
One thing to come out of the coronavirus crisis will be travel companies working even harder for holidaymakers.
"Trips will not just need to be financially protected to give you peace of mind, but they will need to deliver on every level and offer something you simply cannot get at home – special access, unique insights, stand-out experiences," says Tripsmiths' Founder, Charles Starmer-Smith.
"Since lockdown came into effect, over 90 per cent of our bookings have been for exclusive departures accompanied by inspirational experts - from experiencing a literary festival on the Danube and Holland’s tulips in bloom with Adam Frost, to discovering the medieval streets of Carcassonne with Kate Mosse and the natural beauty of Corfu with one of the real Durrells as your guide.
"In other words, greater risk and greater effort needs greater rewards."
River cruising over ocean sailings
In the cruising world, a rising interest in river cruises is expected for 2021, whether in Europe, Asia or North Africa.
"The cruise industry is one of travel’s most loyally followed sectors and we know that holidaymakers are desperate to get back on the water when the time is right," says Chris Townson, Managing Director of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection.
"Many ocean cruisers are now turning their attention to river cruising instead, where smaller ships and more time ashore give them more flexibility, seclusion and space."
Colin Downing, Managing Director UK of the Scenic Group, the specialist in both ocean and river cruises, added: "We are optimistic that river cruising will continue to be a ‘must do’ for many people.
He believes small ship cruising will also be a travel trend for 2021, predicting destinations like the Red Sea and the Mediterranean as hotspots for British travellers who will seek intimate, boutique yacht cruising experiences close to home.
Remote island escapes
Travellers looking for disease-free destinations will look to remote islands, with their small populations and limited access, providing an alternative to traditional beach holidays.
"Many Maldivian islands already operate in-house or shared doctors, which will once again reassure holidaymakers – temperature checks may become the new norm for a while," says James Bell, Managing Director of Turquoise Holidays.
"Travellers will no doubt travel for longer (we are all going to have a lot of annual leave banked up at the end of this!) and sole destination holidays will increase rather than multi-centre trips. I also believe that wellness and spa experiences will see an increase in demand."
Hotels with more seclusion
With COVID-19 bringing restrictions on staying in hotels, when they do open up to visitors people will seek wide open spaces as the main luxury when for their hotel breaks.
"We anticipate a heightened demand for hotels that offer more space and seclusion for guests next year," predicts Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection.
He says that in the post-COVID world of travel, the ability to socially distance from other guests is likely to be something that the public will look for when they choose their accommodation, and hoteliers are spending a great deal of time exploring the most practical, safe and luxurious ways to deliver this.
"Properties like Ashford Castle in Ireland, with its 350-acre estate, and Summer Lodge in the heart of Thomas Hardy’s Dorset countryside, with its beautiful gardens, offer plenty of wide open space to explore and to engage in some amazing activities, such as cycling, golf, falconry, clay pigeon shooting and fishing.
"We have seen bookings start to return already for our most secluded accommodations, such as Ashford’s Hideaway Cottage, Summer Lodge’s Ivy Cottage, and The Milestone Hotel’s private Residences in London's Kensington."
Looking for early inspiration for your 2021 holiday? Take a look at Good Housekeeping's escapes departing next year. BROWSE TRIPS
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