2022 travel trends: Byway reveals where and how we’ll be travelling next year
The emergence of Omicron proved again how quickly travel plans can change. As we look to next year, research shows that late bookings and spontaneous trips are set to continue, with the Scottish Borders, outer Catalonia and off-grid stays likely to be on travellers’ list of desires…
When Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey”, he could’ve been giving a predication of travel in 2022. After 18 months of zero or limited travel, holidaymakers are looking to “rediscover the excitement of the journey,” according to travel start-up Byway.
Research by the UK-based company reveals that ‘slow travel is on the rise’. “We’ve seen a 600% increase in the number of people taking our slow travel holidays since April,” says founder Cat Jones. Data also suggests that travellers are looking to elongate journeys by making multiple stops – the average being “three or more” – while alternative modes of transport including sleeper trains are gaining popularity.
On a practical level, after the pandemic, research suggests that travellers are becoming more spontaneous and booking later due to uncertainty over changing travel restrictions – 50% of customers are booking less than two months before travelling, and 25% less than one month ahead. They’re also preferring low-contact journeys – something that’s difficult when travelling through an airport. But Byway thinks it has the solution. Launched during lockdown, Byway creates “flight free” holidays for travellers in the UK and Europe, using alternative transport such as trains, bikes, buses and ferries to access places off the traditional tourist trails.
As for where people will travel in 2022, Byway suggests that Northumbria and the Scottish border will top UK bucket lists, with destinations such as Edinburgh, Aberlady, Dunbar, Holy Island, Seahouses and Warkworth providing ample opportunity for exploration close to home. In Europe, the outer Catalonia area is expected to attract travellers to Spain and the surrounds, while the French Côte d'Azur and Italian Salento coastline will remain favourites of sun seekers. When it comes to cities, the “vegan capital of the world” Berlin is expected to attract foodies with its growing dining scene.
How we travel is also expected to change in the coming year. Byway predicts that rising numbers of holidaymakers will plan their trips around nature and sustainability. “Our customers are citing the desire for travel experiences that allow them to savour each moment, pausing in a variety of places to connect with local cultures and ecosystems for high quality, authentic and sustainable experiences,” says Jones.
Unique accommodation options such as off-grid stays in yurts, bothies, eco-pods and huts are expected to be more popular than ever, while activities such as cold water therapy will continue to bring travellers closer to nature – Google saw a 118% rise in search popularity for ‘wild swimming’ between 2019 and 2021. Byway predicts that eco-conscious fashionistas will swap traditional high-fashion capitals such as Milan in Italy for vintage hotbeds like Bilbao in Spain, while previously underrated cities such as Lille in France will tempt travellers away from the bustling capital of Paris, and the coastal resort of Alassio is set to make a comeback in the Mediterranean.
With the climate crisis top of everyone’s minds after the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, sustainability remains a key consideration for travellers. “With customers wanting both greater transparency and agency over their travel impact, this is an exciting catalyst for technology and sustainability advancements in 2022,” Byway reveals. With holidaymakers questioning the environmental impact of their travels, we can expect to see increased transparency in terms of carbon labelling and offsetting schemes, as well as the development of more fuel-efficient transport modes – COP26 saw the unveiling of the first hydrogen-powered train prototype.
While it will be years before hydrogen-powered trains become the norm, other technologies are coming to closer fruition, with AI developments already infiltrating the industry and offering travellers improved personalisation through AI-enhanced concierge services.
While the travel industry is still be facing uncertainty as we move into 2022, it’s clear there’s still demand from holidaymakers to explore at a slower, more considered pace.