Top travel trends to watch out for in 2023

The pandemic's impact on travel wasn't one that can be defined by numbers. Being cooped up indoors for an extended period changed not just how much we travelled, but also how we travel. From a surge in domestic travel, to an increased focus on wellness, we saw many pandemic travel trends mature over the past couple of years.

Eventually, amidst the relaxation of restrictions, international tourism recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. Several popular hotspots in Europe and Southeast Asia were flooded with incoming tourists who indulged in what has been termed as the ‘summer of revenge travel.' As travel optimism reaches its peak, the question begs, what comes after revenge? We spoke to industry experts to delve into what's next for travel in 2023.

Unique accommodations
Alternative accommodation is one of the fastest growing segments across the globe. Leaning into the trend of immersive travel, people are opting for accommodations that enable them to blend in the local culture, and nature. "While tree houses and tiny huts are among the top 10 most booked unique listing types on Airbnb- farm stays take the top spot in India followed by nature eco lodges and huts. In 2021, more than 30,000 nights were booked in farm stays alone in India," shares Amanpreet Bajaj, general manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Airbnb. Safe to say, we can expect to see more eco-friendly, earthly stays springing up to accommodate burnt-out city dwellers.

Community travel
We are increasingly witnessing new travel trends, as people increasingly embrace more flexible lifestyles and explore the unknown. Community-minded travel is where local residents invite travellers to visit their communities and stay with them either at a homestay or a locally run hotel. These stays and experiences are usually hosted and managed by the local communities that helps generate direct economic benefits and help foster more responsible travel that benefits local businesses and jobs.

Bajaj believes a shift towards lesser-known destinations, combined with a rise in hosting-driven entrepreneurship in remote locales has given a tailwind to community-minded travel. An Airbnb-commissioned research found that an overwhelming 79 per cent of Indian travellers want to travel in ways that positively benefit local communities both economically and socially. The research also found that more than two-thirds of the Indian respondents said that it's important to them that they're creating a positive impact for the locals.

What is most significant to note is that more than 60 per cent of people in India are conscious that communities need economic recovery and will factor this into where they travel and how they spend their money. These findings align with the growing popularity of community travel across the country. Its positive economic impact on local communities is building prosperity and enhanced resilience.

Longer stays, and workcations
Since the beginning of the pandemic, travel has been fundamentally different. What started as a largely experimental phase of remote working and increased flexibility has now cemented as a way of life for millions of people. Untethered from their offices to varying degrees, many have been able to embrace a new form of living and travel that's encouraging them to broaden their horizons and think beyond the confines of the traditional holiday escape. Workcations are becoming increasingly common, as many people have turned into digital nomads.

"This heightened focus among both travellers and the local communities on flexibility and fresh opportunities has led to a dispersal of travel beyond traditionally popular tourist destinations," concludes Bajaj.

Family trips and multigenerational bonding
According to Family Travel Trend survey 2022 published by Agoda, four out of five travellers will take a vacation with immediate family in the next 12 months. While travelling with friends proves more popular than travelling with extended family, still, more than half (52 per cent) are keen to catch up with relatives for their vacation.

Krishna Rathi, country director for India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal at Agoda explains, "The survey clearly reveals the desire in many of us to share travel experiences with our loved ones. And we're not just talking about immediate family, as grandparents for example are welcome to tag along too. In India almost half (47 per cent) of the survey respondents expect to go on at least one trip with extended family."

Ditch the comfort zone
This coming year will see travellers exploring novel destinations in search of different cultures. Mr. Santosh Kumar, country manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com shares, "The last few years have taught us that travel should not be taken for granted. After two years of travel restrictions, travellers are feeling overwhelmingly more optimistic about travelling. It is encouraging to see Indian travellers exploring different destinations both within India and abroad with a more positive outlook towards travel."

According to the Travel Predictions 2023 report published by Booking.com, 71 per cent Indian travellers want to experience complete culture shock in 2023 - be it travelling somewhere with completely different cultural experiences and languages, while 63 per cent expressed a desire to explore lesser-known cities. Unsurprisingly, this ‘culture shook' Indian traveller is also partial to throwing caution to the wind, with 46 per cent wanting to buy a one-way ticket in 2023 and follow their instinct wherever it takes them.

Value for money, even if off-season
Indian travellers will continue to prioritise travel but will be more mindful over how to make the most of their travel budget and what takes precedence. 2023 will see financially savvy itinerary curation at its finest, with people planning travel budgets more tightly by taking advantage of deals, and smartly-timed travel and prioritising value for money with discounts and loyalty programs. According to the Travel Predictions 2023 report, 69 per cent of Indian travellers will invest in a vacation as it remains a top priority for them, but being budget conscious is the key.

What is interesting to note is that 69 per cent Indians will look to save money by considering off-season destinations or longer routes on the journey, while 72 per cent will be planning travel more in advance in the hope to secure a better deal.

The era of virtual travel is here
As per the Travel Predictions 2023 report, 70 per cent Indian travellers said that they will be turning to virtual reality to inspire their vacation choices, as travel will enter the ever-evolving 3D virtual space of the Metaverse in 2023. With over 60 per cent Indians keen to embark on a multi-day VR travel experience, the Metaverse will be more than ‘try before you buy'; it will educate people, opening the door for infinite adventure.

Curated and personalised experiences
The trend of personalised experiences continues to go deeper every year as boutique planners provide innovative offerings. "With pandemic led international travel uncertainties subsiding during the second half of 2022, the Indian traveller will seek novel international locations in 2023 to add to their trip plans. In this segment, the Indian millennial traveller is no longer happy with cookie cutter trips and wants a personalised trip plan driven by peer recommendations. 2023 will see this urge for personalised social travel becoming an even bigger phenomenon," says Ashish Sidhra, co-founder of Alike.io, a travel tech platform.

"People want special, customised, unique experiences and they want to have about 2 or 3 of these on a trip," shares Samyukta Ranganathan, founder of Urbanaut, a travel app that lists curated recommendations and authentic bookable experiences. She insists that innovation and coming up with interesting experiences will be the key in 2023. She further adds, "While there are too many one-time events, people are looking for curated events that they wouldn't be able to get otherwise. Our Feast in the Fields in Goa and the Red Fort Night walk in Delhi were among our most popular offerings because of their uniqueness."

Read More: Travelers place wellness among the top travel trends in 2023