2020 Travel Trends to Consider

By Bethany, Social Media Strategist | November 4, 2019

A new decade has crept upon us. We’re about to head into 2020, and face a whole new wave of travel trends – many of which are enabled by new technology. We’ve picked out a handful of trends to consider when planning your 2020 marketing strategy.

Cash Free Travel

“Cash me with mobile pay how bout dat?” Mobile pay and online banking is not just growing in the tourism industry, but in many other areas. “Cash-free” traveling is increasing and will continue to grow next year. Your destination’s hotels and attractions will need to be prepared for mobile pay, accepting credit cards and more.

Multi-Generational Holidays

You’ll find even more families traveling with multiple generations represented. It’s a trend that’s been growing in the last few years or so. However, generations are living and working longer, so naturally they will be vacationing with their families more.

Involvement with Local Communities

It’s no doubt that most travelers these days do not want to do the “touristy” attractions, but would prefer authentic local experiences. There is a growing interest, especially with the Millennial and Generation Z audiences, to participate in everyday activities while traveling.

Insta-Tourism

Social Media is not only affecting travel decisions in the awareness phase, but it is also playing more of a role in the planning process. Younger audiences are planning trips for the perfect “Insta-Worthy” photos.

“Micro” Trips

Shorter 2-4 day trips are becoming increasingly popular, and more flexible for working schedules. You’ll find that tourists are in cities for extended weekends and packing more into a compact schedule.

Second City Travel

Small town travel was on the rise last year, and second city travel will be popular in the coming year. Many tourists are choosing to not visit popular cities such as San Francisco, and instead visit nearby, lesser known locales like Oakland. It’s more budget friendly, and less crowded.

Do you feel your destination could be affected by one of these trends? We’d be happy to discuss how to take advantage of any of these!

Sources:

2020 Travel Trend Forecast

2020 Travel Trends Released

The Future of Tour Operators: 5 Predictions for 2020

10 Most Important Travel Trends for 2020

Related Blogs

Celebrating Diversity in Tourism with the NYS Canal Corporation’s “More Voices” Brochure

In a world where travel and tourism constantly evolve, one thing remains timeless-the power of stories. Stories connect us to history, culture, and each other. That’s why we’re thrilled to spotlight the NYS Canal Corporation’s “More Voices” brochure, a remarkable project that has deservedly earned the 2024 Tourism Excellence Award for Overall Marketing. This innovative…

Read More

NYSTIA New York State Tourism Conference 2023 Takeaway: The Great Outdoors

BBG&G had the honor of sharing SEO Best Practices at the NYSTIA New York State Tourism Conference 2023 and hearing from travel and tourism industry leaders. It was inspiring to listen to what’s happening in New York and gain new insights for our clients. We heard about the exciting proposal to turn Lake Ontario into…

Read More

NYSTIA Annual Meeting Takeaways: It’s all about the experience!

It was two days well spent at the New Yorker Hotel in NYC! It was a great time to connect with other leaders in the travel and tourism space. Here are my top two takeaways from the New York State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA) Annual Meeting: We are in the people business. We had the…

Read More

Surprising Asia

Attending the GSW (Global Summit for Women) last month was a rich and rewarding experience, providing the opportunity to meet and converse with women from diverse corners of the world, from Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Korea, to Estonia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Australia; Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal, to Mexico, a handful from the States,…

Read More