Here
we are in the first months of 2008. The Holiday whirlwind
is over and people are starting to ask me about where
to take their next vacation. The trends in travel for
this year are becoming clear. So let me pass along what
I am hearing are the hot spots and kinds of trips people
are likely to be taking in the next months.
Lonely
Planet Forecasts:
The guidebook publisher highlights two big themes in travel
for 2008: traveling to Muslim countries and seeing
endangered wildlife. It recommends visiting "countries
of the crescent" such as Brunei, Mauritania, Tunisia,
Turkey and Uzbekistan to "debunk the myths and
stereotypes" surrounding Islam.
Trips
to see endangered animals include seeing Komodo dragons
in Indonesia, Siamese crocodiles in Vietnam and giant
armadillos in Bolivia. Other far-flung hotspots for the
year ahead include Bhutan, Nicaragua and Papua New Guinea.
City breaks are recommended in Bologna, Miami, Thessaloniki
in Greece and Vienna.
Adventure Travel: Holidays on the edge will get
even edgier in 2008. To stay one step ahead
of the Joneses, try mountain biking in Kyrgyzstan,
skiing in Kashmir, tanning in the Anda-man Islands,
meeting remote tribes in Angola or exploring
Colombia. Check travel advice from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office.
“In
2008, travelers want to be the first, go the farthest,
be entertained, intrigued, and enlightened.”
Singapore
Fling: In September, Singapore will host the first
Formula One grand prix to be held at night, with more
than 80,000 spectators expected to see if Lewis Hamilton
can win. In March, Singapore will beat London with the
world's highest observation wheel, the Singapore Flyer.
Or try an "inner safari" with a ten-day yoga
and meditation course in Kenya!.
Comfort on the Inca Trail:
Lodges with en suite shower rooms and outdoor hot-tubs
have opened along the Inca trekking trail to Machu Picchu
in Peru - meaning no more slumming it as a backpacker.
Continued
emphasis is on Going Green:
From
Eco-Tourism, Lodging and Transportation to changes in
general business practices. In the hierarchy of emotional
needs, number one is our need to link to a higher cause.
And Green is definitely a good world cause.
A
trend that makes me very happy is that many travelers
are returning to Travel Counselors to suggest, plan, book
and handle the details of their trips. The main reason
is that travelers don't have the time or energy to scour
the Internet for the best deals. Many have been burned
when they arrive at their destination to find realty is
not at all what the Internet led them to believe. They
want the personal touch that a disembodied voice in a
call center can not provide.
Travel
for 2008 can be summed up by saying travelers want to
be the first, go the farthest, be entertained, intrigued,
and enlightened. They want the experience to give them
unique bragging rights that their friends have not experienced.
