The past year has been the worst year for travelers. Due to the spread of the pandemic, what seemed to be a year filled with travel and fun became a gloomy and lonely time where most people had to stay at home.
If you’ve ever felt cooped up because of the quarantine, you’re not alone. Apparently, millions of others have also felt the same, and their desire to travel has only grown stronger.
Read on to find out what this surge in travel is all about, where it’s from, how it works, what to expect from this type of travel.
- What Is Revenge Tourism?
- Where Did The Term Originate
- Studying Ground Zero
- The Need To Scratch That Travel Itch
- What Will Revenge Tourism Look Like
- Where Would People Want to Go
- The Need To Splurge
What Is Revenge Tourism?
As some might call it, revenge tourism, or revenge travel, is a type of travel that people do after getting fed up with the lockdown due to the pandemic.
As aggressive as it may sound, revenge tourism is not a negative thing. It’s one of the things the tourism industry is looking forward to that might bring back leisure travel with a bang.
Revenge tourism may seem to be an abstract concept today in most parts of the world where the pandemic is still not controlled, with influencers, travelers, and outdoor enthusiasts expressing frustration over their missed opportunities to travel and explore the world.
A Boom In Travel
Experts predict that the post-pandemic era, which might be sooner than we expect, is set to witness a boom in tourism and travel.
It is expected that travelers will book more flights and trips than they usually did pre-pandemic to make up for a year of being isolated, restricted, and forced to stay at home.
Where Did The Term Originate
The term “revenge tourism” follows the “revenge consumerism” phenomenon which happened in China in the 1980s.
This was a period where the people’s consumerism burgeoned after the poverty brought about by the Cultural Revolution.
Early into the months of the pandemic, a Hermes store in Guangzhou, China, earned a whopping $2.7 million in a single day - illustrating consumer behavior during the lockdown.
The concept of revenge tourism follows the same motion - people will tend to travel more because they are stripped of the right and convenience to do so.
Seizing The Day
So as anyone would expect, the term “revenge” indicates an intense comeback into reality after being held back for so long.
Revenge tourism is essentially the world’s way to regain control of their lives and never take the freedom to travel for granted ever again.
It is seizing the day and traveling as much as possible since we can never know if we are just another virus away from being imprisoned once more.
Studying Ground Zero
Travel analysts are studying the recovery of China and its travel and tourism industry to provide clues as to how the world will react post-pandemic.
Domestic travel for both leisure and business purposes has bounced back to around 70% percent of pre-pandemic levels, which is a good sign for the travel industry.
Warming Up
The same trend has also been seen in countries such as America and India, where people have been warming up in booking flights and traveling to places in their country that have not been severely hit by the virus.
The Need To Scratch That Travel Itch
There is no doubt that the travel industry is expecting a boom after a year of hiatus.
Some experts have noted that there has already been a surge in travel bookings, as people are very eager to spend the points, miles, and vouchers that accumulated over the past year.
Since the end of 2020, there has been an increase in family reunion bookings for the 2021-2022 holidays.
It was reported that there was a 17% increase compared to the 2019 holiday season - only showing that people are eager to reconnect with their families after time being apart.
A New Market, A New Reason
Revenge tourism is not just for those accustomed to traveling pre-pandemic, but it also predicts that those who rarely traveled will soon join in the fun and open up their lives to plenty of opportunities and experiences.
These people will join in the travel surge and add up to the numbers, which are looking pretty good for the tourism industry. Due to the pandemic, there will be a shift in the reasons and motivations why people travel.
If people mostly traveled to relax and escape their busy lives, traveling after the pandemic will be focused on leaving the stresses of being confined and escaping the worry and threat of the pandemic.
What Will Revenge Tourism Look Like
It can be pretty hard to tell when the surge will start, especially when the virus is progressing differently in different parts of the world. However, we can expect several things when traveling post-pandemic.
While tourism is now open in China and some other parts of the world, entering a foreign place will require many paperwork and procedures.
New travel requirements will be imposed, and we expect complete and strict implementation and compliance. As being practiced in Hong Kong and South Korea, mandatory testing and quarantining will probably be part of the process.
Domestic travel might ease some of these requirements, so traveling in one’s own country will probably be the trend during the early months of the post-pandemic scare. This can be a great opportunity for people to discover and explore their own countries and patronize their tourism instead of traveling afar.
Preventing Overtourism
Domestic travel will be the trend; cities that are usually overcrowded with tourists and leave no space for the people who live there can take breaths of relief because these cities should be less crowded.
Although this may look like a negative thing from a business point of view, there are many local tourists who do not opt to visit the best places in their country due to over-tourism.
Now can be the best time for those local tourists to embrace their origin and go local with their travel.
Where Would People Want To Go
Experts predict that people will play it safe with their early revenge tourism destinations. While they are craving adventure experiences, they would want to have a much-awaited break where they can breathe in some fresh air without a mask.
And where could people best enjoy the outdoors without a mask? The answer: the beach and sand. Going to the beach is consistent with another trend that’s expected to boom in revenge tourism - the need for outdoor adventures in the interest of staying safe while traveling.
Other places for these types of adventures aside from the beach are national parks, hiking trails, and camping grounds.
People will enjoy their travels much more if they are confident that the virus will not likely be spread outdoors compared to the risk of indoor activities such as casinos, museums, and dining establishments.
Playing Safe
Experts predict that most of the revenge travelers' destinations will most likely be domestic.
For Americans, the safe bets for their next post-pandemic trip will be to Alaska, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Hawaii.
These may be continental destinations, but technically, they are not leaving their country. For those who would want to go international, people will likely go to Mexico and the Caribbean.
The Need To Splurge
People will also feel the need to splurge after not spending on travel for a year. Travelers will tell themselves that they deserve to spend more; that is why airlines can expect an increase in upgrades.
It is no doubt that people will be inclined to treat themselves after a hard year, so this is great news for the travel and tourism sector.
Restaurants, hotels, and other businesses are recovering from the pandemic, and revenge tourism can be a way for the industry to use and strategize its prices to attract more people.
Spending For International Travel
The traveler’s desire to reach foreign land will remain undeterred. So as soon as the global situation is reported to be better and that most countries have vaccinated the majority of their people, people will surely want to travel internationally.
Conclusion
Revenge tourism presents an incredible opportunity for the tourism sector to bounce back after a hard year filled with losses and stagnancy. This can also be a chance for tourists and travelers to explore a different kind of experience and adventure, and a chance to fall in love with the outdoors for those who are not so into traveling.
While revenge tourism will see an increase in travel, remember to travel responsibly and sustainably so that there’s more left to enjoy. As they say, nothing’s sweeter than revenge - so go book that destination you’ve always wanted and have the time of your life!
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