DESTINATION NEXT

We asked, you answered. A comprehensive survey of Zoomer Nation reveals that, despite the pandemic, wanderlust has not lost its lustre and that the world will be your oyster again

You love to travel. And not just the act of get-up-andgo and soak-up-the-experiences of it. You also love to dream about it, read about it, map your way and plan it, too. You don’t necessarily go it alone, either. You’ll check out sources like the travel pages of Zoomer and everythingzoomer.com, read reviews, compare prices, talk to a travel agent – even (and perhaps, especially!) during a pandemic. This is what we, your fellow globetrotting friends at Zoomer, call the Savvy Traveller.

This autumn, we reached out and asked you to inform us of how your attitudes toward travel may be changing, what with COVID-19. More than 2,700 of you responded and we highlight our key finding here. The clearest message was this: although you may be grounded now, many of you are already slaking that wanderlust with thoughts of where you might go next. And this was even before we got the good news on the vaccines.

But our attitudes have changed. We are realizing the privilege that travel is and that our ability to do it should not be taken for granted. Visiting family and friends right here at home in Canada is top of mind now, even though Europe and the United Kingdom still beckon. Multi-gen and multi-family travel is no longer a “trend.” It’s a travel habit that’s here to stay and a good one at that. Take it from two European journeys, one taken by a Canadian expat living in Berlin with teenagers and the other, a grandmother embarking on a cycling tour around Denmark with the kids and grandkids. Go to every thingzoomer.com/travelclub to read about their experiences.

Human connection is, after all, one of the most beautiful things about travel – and one of the keys to our overall wellness. “I live alone,” wrote one of our survey respondents. “I plan on visiting both my boys in Canada and expect to stay with each at least three weeks. Family is so important during times like these. I believe those who live alone and don’t have family nearby feel the loneliness more.” Whether it be reuniting with family and friends, discovering a hidden gem, rediscovering a local hideout or revelling in a never-before-experienced culture or cuisine, travel brings us closer.

Small world it may be, but when we’re given the green light to go again, we will go big – at home and afar.

THE COVID EFFECT

Forty-three per cent of you had booked a vacation trip outside Canada and had to cancel.

As one respondent wrote: “I cancelled trips to Iceland and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Not sure which one will clear first for travel again.”

And 32 per cent were planning a trip outside Canada and had started to research places and prices but stopped this activity when COVID-19 hit, forcing many travellers to pivot. Thirty-one per cent said: “My next vacation trip will be within Canada because I am eager to travel, and it will be easier and less restrictive than a trip to the U.S.A. or overseas.” The words “visiting family” or “relatives” came up in respondents’ comments more than 100 times – obviously, a major priority.

And where do you want to go when it’s safe to do so?