New faces and places

2022 will finally be the time to branch out and make new connections.

60% of travelers are looking forward to meeting new people while on vacation.

The pandemic has forced us to focus on what and who are priorities in our lives – and freedom has never been so valued. Now that we are able to get back to travel once again, 2022 will not only see people reconnecting with friends and family, but also seeking new connections with 60% wanting to meet new people while away.

A resurgence of vacation romances is also likely, with 50% hoping for one on their next trip. Thanks to video calls becoming part of everyday life, we expect to see more than a few of these romances continue when travelers return home.

First-time feelings

The anticipation for the journey will be as exciting as the destination.

75% of travelers find that the journey to a destination is more enjoyable when it feels like part of the trip itself.

The journey to a destination is one part of a trip that many often see as a necessity, rather than something to enjoy. However, as trips have been few and far between for the past year and a half, many of us may be looking forward to the journey in 2022 more than ever.

Resetting work boundaries

Vacation time will be strictly work-free.

73% of travelers say vacation time will be strictly work-free in the future.

When the pandemic hit, homes across the globe became our offices, and the novelty of working remotely was realized. However, in 2022 we’ll see a significant rise in people wanting to firmly re-establish a healthy work-life balance, with 73% agreeing that vacation time will be strictly work-free in the future. Planning a trip to switch off from work? Select your trip type below, then copy and paste one of our Out of (Home) Office templates to let your colleagues know you’re logging off!

Travel as self-care

Travel will become an essential form of self-care.

79% of travelers agree that travel helps their mental and emotional wellbeing more than other forms of self-care.

Move over yoga and mindful meditation. Travel is set to become the self-care trend for 2022. Not only do people value the opportunity to switch off more than ever, but they're also using travel to fully immerse themselves in new places and cultures. Whether it's spending time with friends and family, learning languages, or trying new food, travel will look different for everyone – what does it look like for you?

Community first

Authentic connection with the local community will be a priority.

58% of travelers agree it’s important that their trip is beneficial to the destination's local community.

During the pandemic, people were forced to make the most of what they had close to home. People have become more engaged with their communities by supporting local businesses, and now travelers are looking to embrace this same community feeling through their vacations, too. 58% of people agree that it’s important that their trip is beneficial to the local community. 29% are going to do more research into how their tourism spending will affect or improve local communities.

Just say yes!

People will be saying YES to travel, making up for lost vacation time.

61% of travelers are now more open to different types of vacations.

After such a long stretch of sacrificing socializing, traveling, and fun, travelers will embrace a new, more positive way of thinking for 2022. The number of people who feel like they need to make up for lost vacation time has grown from 42% to 63%. With any and all travel plans being put on hold due to the pandemic, 2022 will be the year of simply saying yes, with 72% agreeing they'd say "yes" to any vacation so long as their budget allowed.

Embracing the unpredictable

People will use technology to embrace travel's continued unpredictability.

64% of travelers agree that technology will be more important than ever while on vacation.

After travel was disrupted by the pandemic, 2022 will see travelers embracing the unexpected, with many relying on technology to do so. According to our research, 63% of travelers believe technology is important for controlling health risks when traveling, with 62% agreeing that technology helps to alleviate their travel anxiety.

People (69%) would be interested in an innovative service that could predict which countries will be safe to visit even months in advance, or could automatically suggest destinations that are easy to travel to now based on their country’s and the destination’s current COVID-19 requirements (67%).