MEET THE NEW NORMAL
While a question mark hangs over the amount of time we’re required to quarantine during and after trips abroad (at the time of going to press, it was 14 days when returning to the UK), a logical alternative is the staycation.
A boom in close-to-home holidays like glamping, treehouses, seaside boltholes and boutique hotels is a sure thing, with the World Travel & Tourism Council predicting tourism will return to domestic markets first, followed later by trips to neighbouring countries.
Online travel booking sites such as Canopy & Stars, which sells quirky outdoor getaways in the UK and Europe, confirm this as a likely next step.
Spokesperson Emily Enright says, “We’ve seen a significant rise in people searching for UK breaks. There are many more bookings for later in the year and into 2021, so there is certainly optimism among travellers.”
And where are the most popular locations? According to Enright, Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Devon and Yorkshire come top of the most-searched-for list.
When we do start travelling abroad, it’s likely to be to places that make us feel safe and happy, and even though we were in isolation for so
long, most
people are unlikely to rush back to busy, built-up spaces.
Justin Francis, CEO and co-founder of sustainable holiday company Responsible Travel, says, “I think the majority, not the minority, will crave space, nature and a slower pace. We expect to see a surge in cycling, walking and kayaking tours – self-guided and small-group activities.
“People still want to get away. Interest in Scandinavian and Arctic destinations, particularly Iceland and Norway, but also Sweden and Finland, has risen – as has interest in ‘bucket list’ experiences, like seeing the Northern Lights.”
Self-drive holidays will likely experience a rise thanks to their perfect mix of freedom and isolation. Being in control of your environment and able to adapt your plans on the go is a big bonus – so hello camper-vanning in France.
Reunion travel is also going to be big, as we all rush to spend time with those we’ve missed, or reorganise celebration trips we’ve curtailed – think hen and stag dos, landmark birthdays, weddings and honeymoons.
According to tour operator Original Travel, 80% of early-lockdown enquiries were from couples who have had to cancel their wedding and want to make up for it with
Norway: climbing up travellers’ Most Wanted lists
a “bigger and better” honeymoon in 2021. And the company also predicts a rise in last-minute babymoons later in the year if there’s a lockdown baby boom (well, we had to do something while we were stuck indoors, right?). Self-catering holidays have never been more desirable. Alex Loftus, commercial director for Easyjet Holidays, says, “We’re seeing a rise in customers booking self-catering apartments and villas located on sandy beaches where families and groups of friends can come together for a safe, private holiday after being apart for so long.”
Holidaymakers are likely to seek out solitude
According to Loftus, Turkey – and Dalaman in particular – takes the top spot for bookings, followed by the Canary Islands, Balearics, Portugal and Cyprus, with many customers looking to return to resorts they’re familiar with.