Peak DMC has shared its top predictions on where experiential travel will go in 2020.
- Travellers expect their experiences to be sustainable
Travellers no longer just want to have a great time on holiday; they want to know that their trip is having a positive social, economic and environmental benefit for local communities. Whether you’re an accommodation, transport or tour provider, your customers will expect you to have sustainable business practices. Peak DMC has committed to responsible travel, a key reason why people choose to travel with them.
- Travellers want to get even further off the beaten track
Great experiences don’t happen in overcrowded places. Once travellers to Africa only wanted to visit the most famous sights, like Victoria Falls, but they’re now realising the value of doing something different – and are seeking out less-visited countries, such as Rwanda or Djibouti. The African tourism experience is no longer limited to ticking off the ‘Big 5’ on safari.
- Travellers are increasingly interested in exploring a destination on two feet or two wheels
There’s no better way to feel immersed in your surroundings than on a walking or cycling tour, with nothing between you and the landscape. The rise of activity-based holidays shows no sign of slowing down – with travellers not only looking to reconnect with nature, but to feel challenged, too. For 2020, we’ll see even more travellers forgoing the traditional game drive for experiences that push them out of their comfort zone, whether that’s trekking Ethiopia’s Simien Mountains, or cycling through Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Arusha National Park.
- Travellers are looking to connect with local people
Experiences that allow a respectful and authentic interaction between travellers and host community are becoming more important to facilitate cross-cultural understanding in an increasingly divided world. When asked what the highlight of their stay was, our customers’ favourite memories are always of talking to, and learning from, locals.