Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
4 trends to look out for in 2024
THE year is drawing to an end and we look forward to the 2024 travel period. With a new season, there are also trends to look out for. Kruger Gate Hotel CEO Anton Gillis lists four that could inspire you to book a getaway. One big happy family holiday Multigenerational family trips cropped up as a travel trend nine years ago when boomers started bringing their families along on their post-retirement adventures. However, as travel took a back seat globally due to the Covid pandemic, it fell out of fashion but is on the rise again.
“As travel rebounds from the pandemic, families are particularly eager to reconnect and make lasting memories with one another again,” said Gillis.
He said that it was vital to keep in mind that the holiday would need to appeal to at least three generations.
“One of the best multigenerational holidays families can book is a safari. Parents, little ones, elders and teens should find that a chance to unwind in nature, disconnect from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and marvel at breathtaking wildlife.”
perfect set-jetting
Picture locations
TV shows and movies can influence society's culture. They are pegged to become even more influential next year. In the early 2000s, New Zealand tourism campaigns featured picturesque imagery transporting Lord of the Rings fans to fictional Middle-Earth, resulting in a 50% increase in tourist arrivals. The International Journal of Tourism Research found that Thrones, the fanbase of HBO's Game of Thrones series, visited Dubrovnik, Croatia, with upwards of 240 000 arrivals between 2012 and 2015.
“Recently, the South Korean series Crash Landing on You has brought an influx of fans to the tiny Swiss village of Iseltwald, highlighting the rise in the set-jetting trend even in remote regions. With a population of 400, the upcoming tourist hot spot has seen 1 000 visitors for every villager since last year,” said Gillis.
A taste of culture
“Travel motivated by trying specific foods has even become its own kind of travel show, with hosts like actor Philip Rosenthal taking viewers to destinations specifically to savour local gastronomic specialities.”
Gillis said that in 2019, the international food tourism industry was valued at $1.116.7 billion and was projected to grow to more than $1.796.5bn by 2027.
Find serenity in slow travel
Whirlwind, jam-packed holidays may become a thing of the past as the slow travel trend emerges as a rising trend in tourism.
“Slow travel sees tourists relishing longer leisurely trips, where they become immersed in local culture, taking in the beauty of the community
through authentic experiences instead of hopping from one swamped tourist hot spot to the other,” Gillis said.
“Travellers are thus electing to take tranquil routes and stay in accommodation that nurtures their quest for mindfulness and serenity.
“South Africa is a perfect destination for slow travellers to visit. With
mesmerising, slower-paced locations like the Wild Coast region of the Eastern Cape, the Drakensberg mountains or our very own World Wonder, the Kruger National Park, our international visitors, or even local holidaymakers, can experience a culturally enriched journey in an unhurried, rejuvenating manner.”