A new study by global travel website Skyscanner has revealed travel predictions for the year ahead.
The main trends revealed by this report show that Spanish travellers do not want their holidays to end on a Monday morning, but many want to work from a location where they can extend their holiday for a few days. In addition, they opt for experiences that allow them to get into nature and bring them wellbeing. A way of resetting themselves.
We will also see more and more people deciding to embark on a solo holiday, planning and booking their holidays via their smartphones and travellers looking after their wallets despite economic uncertainty: spending time away remains a priority.
For travel in 2023, there are many things we want to do differently, and also some developments in the expectations we have about what travel will look like in the more distant future. One in three people expect space holidays to be a reality in the long term, while, within Earth orbit, advances in supersonic technology could redefine short-haul travel.
Top trends
Travel remains a priority: At a time when consumers are looking to keep their wallets in check, our recent survey revealed that 38% of Spanish travellers are planning the same number of trips in 2023 as in 2022, and almost half of them are even planning to take more trips next year. Only 6% plan to go on holiday less. The rising cost of living remains a concern, but 41% of respondents have decided to prioritise holidays over other major spending.
Changes in spending patterns: 86% of Spanish travellers plan to spend the same or more on foreign travel next year, while only 6% plan to spend less. Travellers are increasingly demanding more transparency in ticketing and want access to airfare packages that suit their needs.
Best value destinations for 2023: Skyscanner also reveals the destinations that have seen the biggest price drops since before the pandemic. They are:
1. Agadir, Morocco – a 68% price drop.
2. Hong Kong, China – a price drop of 48% 3.
3. Tokyo, Japan – a price drop of 40%.
Skyscanner’s destinations for 2023: Spanish travellers are increasingly opting for less popular destinations that offer as-yet-unknown and accessible experiences for lower prices. In fact, the use of Skyscanner’s “Anywhere” search option, which shows the best price offers with an open destination, has grown after the pandemic.
Favourite destinations for families
1. Alexandria, Egypt (667% increase in searches)
2. Paphos, Cyprus (336% increase in searches)
3. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (a 159% increase in searches)
Favourite destinations for couples
1. Terceira Lajes, Portugal (a 585% increase in searches)
2. Turin, Italy (158% increase in searches)
3. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (116% increase in searches)
Solo travel is no longer a niche: 78% of travellers are willing to take a solo getaway next year. Divorcees (85%) and singles (80%) are among the most likely to embark on a solo holiday in 2023 and look set to form a new trend of “independent, self-centred” travellers. With the growing number of friendship apps and the rise in popularity of platonic versions of dating apps, there is also the opportunity to find new friends and travel companions.
Sustainability: Environmental awareness continues to increase in travellers’ decision-making: more than one in four (28%) of global respondents say that travel-related sustainability is more important to them now compared to before the pandemic. For more than half (53%) the level of importance remains the same. With price-driven decisions and sustainable travel a priority, 8% are considering new alternative destinations for species conservation or to promote environmental awareness.
Nature as the number 1 trend: Animal watching and hiking are in the top 3 travel activities Spaniards are planning for their holidays in 2023, suggesting that the pandemic’s emphasis on getting out and about and connecting with the local environment has established itself as a key component of travel plans. Interacting with the environment and observing animals has mood-enhancing properties. Skyscanner recommends getting into nature and experiencing the meditative effects of Shinrin-yoku, a new wellness trend that literally means “forest bathing”.
Make your work go further: 1 in 8 respondents plan to work while on holiday in the coming year, citing “I enjoy working while travelling” (31%) and “it means I can spend more time at my destination” (29%) as the main reasons. By comparing the long list of countries that now offer visas for digital nomads with the cost of living index of their major cities, we discovered a selection of smart choices for 2023, all cheaper than Madrid’s cost of living index. Skyscanner’s favourites include**:
Mexico City, Mexico – a 21% cheaper index compared to Madrid 2.
2. Amman, Jordan – 7% cheaper index compared to Madrid
3. Alexandria, Egypt – 59% index cheaper compared to Madrid
Smartphone searches and social media influence: Approximately half of Spanish travellers now use a mobile device to plan or book their next trip, with lunch breaks or while dining rising as their preferred time to do so. While friends and family remain the preferred source of inspiration and influence for Spanish travellers (75%), the second position is held by influencers (41%). In terms of platforms, Instagram is the most popular for travel inspiration.
For those who want to stay ahead of Instagram trends, Skyscanner can reveal that the most popular destination for Instagram users in 2023 is Amman, Jordan (based on the number of hashtags and a 195% increase in searches for this destination on Skyscanner).
The future of travel
In 2023 it will be 150 years since the Wright brothers’ first flight. Much has changed since then, and travellers expect significant advances to take place when this milestone is reached in 30 years’ time:
One in three people surveyed (35%) expect that by then it will be possible to travel among the stars, boarding spacecraft for day trips to the far reaches of space.
Advances in supersonic technology could redefine short-haul travel. Skyscanner’s report reveals that 40% of travellers believe it will be a common flight option in the future.
38% believe that virtual reality holidays will become a common travel option, with experiences so rich in content that they will become increasingly indistinguishable from real life.
This new Skyscanner consumer research also reveals new trends around destinations and the use of “free time”. From solo travel to supersonic travel, working while travelling the world and the influence of social media on holiday choices. Check out this and other findings in the full report: “The year when decisions hinge on price”, here.
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