Purchasing power, the driving force behind travel
Purchasing power, sinews of war in 2023?
While it was over 6% in December over one year (unheard of for almost 40 years), inflation should gain ground again this year.
It could even stand at 7% at the start of the year.
A difficult context that forces households to rethink the way they travel.
And for some of them, place will be made in search of good plans.
“Consumers will continue to prioritize travel as a result of reduced spending, but more and more of them will search on flight comparators (…) and use
simple
travel tips to
ensure good value for money, such as being flexible in terms of dates and destination",
commented Naomi Hahn, vice-president of strategy for the Skyscanner flight comparator, at the origin of a study published in early December (1).
According to the same source, in this quest for the right price, affordable destinations could do well, like Zagreb, Algiers or even Florence.
Read also“I didn’t want to wait to be rich to travel”: four good plans to travel the world cheaply
“Revenge travel” or the frenetic need to travel
Already announced as one of the major trends of 2022, “revenge travel” (which can be translated as “revenge tourism”) continues to be talked about.
Appeared following the first deconfinements in Asia, the phenomenon has continued to intensify during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2023, it should take on an additional dimension.
“40% of consumers plan to go on vacation as much in 2023 as in 2022. 1 in 3 even plans to go on vacation more next year”
, Skyscanner reports.
The reopening of many destinations has created new travel options.
Some countries are expected to be full in the coming months, starting with Japan and the United States, which have seen an influx of flight and accommodation bookings.
Faced with an overflow of tourists, attractions have already planned measures to limit the flow, such as the establishment of quotas or even compulsory reservations.
Read alsoTravel: after frustration, frenzy?
Cultural cities, still popular
Sydney Opera.
ERIC MARTIN / Le Figaro Magazine
The success of Paris is the perfect example: the French capital has retained its title of world's leading destination in 2022. If the latest figures have not yet been published, the city of lovers should cross the bar of 33 million visitors. annual.
After being put on hold during the Covid crisis, cultural capitals will therefore continue to seduce and will even have the wind in their sails in 2023, estimate Hotels.com, Abritel and Expedia.fr, which published a joint study in November on future travel trends (2).
“Most of the fastest growing destinations on Expedia are bustling cities rich in culture”
, observes the consortium.
And some should attract all eyes in the coming months, such as Sydney, whose legendary Opera House will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023. Australia's most famous city will also host WorldPride in February.
Read alsoWhat are the most visited monuments in the world?
Cine-tourism, when films or series become sources of inspiration
The phenomenon is not new: we know all the examples of Maya Bay, the famous bay of the film
The Beach
, or Dubrovnik, whose old town housed the filming of
Game of Thrones
.
Two destinations that have seen their number of visitors explode in the years following the release of these works.
2023 should not escape the trend.
Film tourism should take on even more importance, boosted by streaming platforms that are more powerful than ever.
Proof of this is with a study published in 2021 by Netflix and the World Tourism Organization.
At the time, their conclusion was clear: the phenomenon, which had stopped with the pandemic, would resume once the restrictions were lifted.
An omen since confirmed by the survey carried out for Hotels.com, Abritel and Expedia.fr on travel trends in 2023.
"Two-thirds of travelers worldwide have considered booking trips to destinations after seeing them in movies or streaming series, and 39% have already taken the plunge
," revealed the three booking platforms.
"Advice from friends or family, traditionally the most important source of inspiration when deciding on a destination, now only outweighs the influence of streaming services by just 2%."
Read alsoTravel diary in Poland where Lódz makes its cinema
Travel more responsibly
While the effects of global warming are more visible than ever, some are rethinking the way they experience the world.
According to a study by VoyagesPirates (3), a platform that distils good plans, 60% of respondents plan to travel more responsibly.
An approach that manifests itself in the support of local traders once there (for 65% of them), but also by favoring the train rather than the plane (42%) or by leaving less, but for longer (41 %).
The approach is not new: many travelers were already paying great attention to respecting the environment and local traditions in 2022. “
This type of tourism is becoming a priority, especially among
millennials
.
Nearly 71% of young French people want their money to benefit local people, in France and abroad
”, analyzed Pascal Capellari, director of the Excelia school of tourism.
Still, the desire to roam better could come into conflict with the bulimia of travel, the "revenge travel", a phenomenon still relevant in 2023.
Read alsoTrain: these infallible techniques for traveling cheaper
Well-being holidays
Whether physical or mental, well-being is now an essential factor in people's lives.
According to a study carried out by McKinsey, 79% of respondents consider well-being to be a criterion for their free time, even “
an absolute priority
for 42% of them.
A desire that is also found in the way of traveling.
According to the survey commissioned by Hotels.com, Abritel and Expedia.fr, 59% of French people plan a stay under the sign of well-being.
Destinations, such as Bali (in Indonesia), are doing well. But not only.
Several segments of tourism see it as a way to reinvent the customer experience.
Hotels do not hesitate to invest in tools to improve the sleep of their customers, while other places organize retreats for travelers in search of peace.
In its study, Skyscanner goes even further and recommends
“the meditative effects of Shinrin-yoku”
, in other words a “forest bath”.
So, tempted?
Read alsoWell-being, a new pillar of tourism in the face of holidaymakers in search of serenity
A need for nature intact
Since the start of the pandemic, the need for nature seems to be more and more present for holidaymakers.
The latter are looking for
"a certain authenticity in the countryside by renting typical holiday homes in the middle of wide open spaces with landscapes and fields as far as the eye can see"
, note Hotels.com, Abritel and Expedia.fr.
Result: some destinations attract all eyes, such as the western and central states of the United States, which offer
“ranches for rent or large comfortable farms”,
detail the three platforms.
In Australia,
“outback farms surrounded by acres of vineyards and wild vegetation are popular.
On the side of France, several rural departments, in particular near Paris (less than 250 kilometers), have concentrated the demand of Internet users.
Read alsoThe Landes in the fall: five experiences in “slow” mode
The acclaimed solo trip
Go solo on an adventure?
The idea is attracting more and more people.
In November, the flight and hotel comparator Kayak reported on a trend: searches for solo trips during the Christmas holidays had increased by almost 20% on average compared to 2021. Another figure stood out : the explosion of flight searches by possible solo travelers by 275% over the Christmas and New Year period 2022-2023 compared to 2019. Holiday depression or a lasting phenomenon?
For Skyscanner, “me time” will become mainstream this year.
"Nearly a third of travelers are planning a solo trip next year, especially among divorcees and singles who seem the most tempted by the adventure of solo travel"
, reveals the flight comparator in its study published in December.
And this, especially since it is increasingly easy to meet fellow travelers, thanks to applications and discussion platforms.
Read alsoGoing on a trip alone, and why not?
Six tips for getting started
(1) The data comes from a survey by the OnePoll polling institute, commissioned by Skyscanner, which took place in November 2020 and involved 1,000 respondents for France.
(2) The study was conducted on behalf of Expedia Brands by OnePoll, which conducted a survey between September 22 and October 14, 2022 in the United States, South America, Europe and Asia. The online survey was conducted among 24,000 people in 17 countries.
(3) Data is from an online survey of over 6700 users of HolidayPirates Group (which VoyagesPirates belongs to) in the UK, France, Germany and Italy, from 27 to 31 October 2022.
