Some say travel has a bright future – if we can look beyond the stops and stutters of the past and current year. Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) is one of them and, as a leader in personalized small group adventures on roads less traveled for Americans 50+, has these top 6 emerging travel trends to share.
- Purposeful travel –COVID-19 revealed our interconnectedness. Post-pandemic, many travelers want to travel more responsibly and with purpose, engaging with and learning from other cultures and making a positive contribution to the local communities they visit. This personal aspect of travel and the chance to change individual lives will be sought after more than ever by many travelers after missing out on these opportunities in 2020. Through its Grand Circle Foundation, OAT gives travelers the opportunity to visit and provide support directly to local community projects, schools, and women’s collectives.
- Women: solo and sharing –The pent-up demand for the liberating experience of travel will see women traveling on their own, without the worry of accommodating another person’s schedule or interests. The segment of solo women travelers is an area of growth for OAT, representing 50% of travelers, with over 30,000 booked for 2021 and 2022 travel. In 2010, just 27% of travelers were solos. Some solo women travelers are single by choice, some are widowed, while many are married and occasionally travel with spouses. Sometimes they travel totally alone, other times exploring with a friend, or even sharing with a roommate.
- Revenge travel – Bring on the travel. Travelers whose 2020 plans were thwarted are intent on catching up on missed opportunities. Looking ahead, they will travel more than they normally would after being deprived due to the pandemic. Solo travelers, in particular, are forging ahead with plans to travel more. In the recent Solo Traveler survey, presented with the support of O.A.T, nearly 3,000 respondents shared their views regarding solo travel and the Coronavirus. Nearly half (46%) responded that they would travel more, both domestically and internationally. Some travelers over 50 also feel a sense of urgency. Said OAT traveler Laura Dankner, “As a ‘mature’ traveler, we aren’t going to get any younger and I feel that our time to travel in the future may be limited. So as soon as we can travel again, I’m in!”
- Slow travel –COVID-19 lockdowns gave many people a chance to slow down and appreciate life’s small details. Slow travel aims to give travelers a rich understanding of life in their destination. Interactions with local people, including opportunities to learn through frank discussions on timely topics, allow travelers to experience a community on a deeper level.
- Europe-focused –While domestic travel took hold in 2020, U.S. travelers will return to international travel, beginning with Europe. With the glimmer of hope that COVID will be under greater control, people will be more willing to consider international travel, yet somewhat closer to home and less remote. In the Solo Traveler survey, 40% of respondents favored Europe and the UK as a destination following the pandemic.
- Private adventures –Private adventures take small group travel, already popular, to another level. More people will seek to travel together as a family or a close group of friends or relatives – and no one else. Private tours limit exposure to other travelers and public transportation, yet still provide a tour operator’s planning, experience, oversight, and standard health and safety approach.
Because solo travel is gaining favor quickly amid OAT’s demographic, the company has created a complimentary 96-page booklet that shares wisdom and advice from seasoned solo women travelers.The book includes insights on safety for solo travelers; money matters, including global gratuities; etiquette, dining, and culture abroad; packing like a pro; top solo-friendly destinations; and tips for specific regions of the world. The 96-page book is lightweight, designed to fit in a small travel bag or purse for handy reference. Solo women represent 50% of OAT passengers, with more than 31,000 travelers booked for 2021 and 2022.
“I lost my husband a few years ago, and life wasn’t going to stop for me,” said 9-time O.A.T. traveler Inge Brockbank. “Continuing to be active is of the utmost importance. If you don’t challenge your brain, you’re going to rust. I don’t want to rust before my time, so I keep on exploring.”
“Today at Overseas Adventure Travel, more than 50% of our travelers are solo women, and they’re over 60 years of age,” said OAT Vice Chairman Harriet Lewis, who edited the booklet. “There’s a very wide range of women who decide to travel as solos. Sometimes we go totally alone, other times we explore with a friend, share with a roommate, or join a group.
OAT has a free Single Supplement policy on 92% of its 30,000 single spaces, as a way to support solo travelers. The policies extend to pre- and post-trip extensions, and often to its Small Ship Adventures.
The top five OAT adventures selected by solo women include Morocco Sahara Odyssey, Ultimate Africa: Botswana, Zambia & Zimbabwe Safari, Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private Classic River-Yacht, Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes & Timeless Traditions, and Japan’s Cultural Treasures.
For those who prefer groups, these are limited to 8-16 travelers (average of 13) by land and 20-25 (average of 22) by sea.
* Lead Photo by Ilene Perlman
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