Young vacationers plan to strike a post

Canadians are increasingly focusing on the perfect social-media photo opportunity when planning vacations, a survey suggests. Nearly half (45 per cent) of gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, said they choose some holiday spots solely for their social media potential, the polling by online travel agency Flighthub found. And two-thirds (66 per cent) of all Canadians said they scroll social media for inspiration in choosing holiday activities. Baby boomers are least likely to consider selfies when booking a getaway, with just 11 per cent giving any thought to what photos they might post. For gen X (born 1965-1980), it was 31 per cent. Nearly 40 per cent of millennials (born 1981-1996) and gen-zers admitted they try to make their friends envious when picking destinations — but only nine per cent of boomers did so. “These numbers indicate that Canadians are redefining their travel priorities when choosing their next holiday destination,” said Henri Chelhot, chief executive of Flighthub. “While we often associate travel with discovering new cultures, food tasting, sightseeing or creating memorable moments, social media is in fact now fully embedded into what makes the travel experience and constitutes an element that will impact the future of the industry along with consumption habits.” Friends and family are still the main source of holiday inspiration for Canadians overall (67 per cent), but younger generations skewed more toward social media platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok. A vast majority of the 2,000 Canadians polled said they value spontaneity in a vacation, with 90 per cent loving moments of unexpected fun and 72 per cent seeking out novel experiences. As well, 90 per cent said they are likely to visit at least one established tourist attraction.