Key Holiday Trends of 2021

Every year travel trends come and go, however, 2021 is set to be one of tourism’s most significant years to date. As the world slowly recovers from COVID-19 and borders gradually start to open, we expect travel to look a little different than it did pre-pandemic. It is important to now look ahead and plan for the future, following the rules of the ‘new normal’. At RCI we believe the below are the emerging trip types and trends for 2021. 

Domestic travel with preference for staycations: For travellers, domestic travel will be key as safety and cleanliness will continue to be top priorities due to COVID-19. As per our latest travel trends. The preference for nearby places with private spaces have increased. Top trends among RCI members include places that are offbeat and in sync with nature, such as tree houses, cottages, farmhouses among others.

Rise in Experiential Travel: Experiential travel isn’t particularly new. There’s been growing demand around culinary travel, cultural exploration, and activity-based travel experiences for a few years now. But the demand for experiential travel shows no signs of slowing down in 2021. Adventurers will continue to hunt for truly local and authentic experiences, whether that’s the best food places in Punjab, the hidden beaches of Goa, or textile weaving classes in Rajasthan. 

Road trips to be favoured: With state borders opened, travellers have started exploring their own backyard. If you reside in India, there are plenty of adventures waiting to be had. Travellers are choosing road trips over flights as they choose a safer-perceived way to vacation, the phenomenon is expected to last till mid-2021. With states easing restrictions and waiving off covid test requirements, people have increasingly started taking road trips on weekends, workcation and staycations. We can say that this trend will only continue to see an upward trajectory in the coming months.

Work from Anywhere: Remote working from anywhere will continue to blur the lines between working and traveling in 2021. The work from home notion has created a huge demand in the market for dedicated workstations to simplify the work process without any hindrance from internal factors. We anticipate that as the offices remain shut for a long time, work from resort will be the next emerging trend. 

Micro Trips: Let's face it, not everyone in the world has the time, money, or know-how to plan an extended vacation. That's why 2020 is the year to embrace Micro Trips, short yet experience-dense mini-vacations. Micro Trips are more work/vacation time-friendly, more budget-friendly, and more schedule-friendly, yet they provide the same cultural and mental benefits as longer vacations do. Though you may only be gone for 2-4 days, you will still benefit from stress relief, creative boosts, and cultural expansion as people.