Countries around the world have started vaccination programs to raise people's health immunity. However, it doesn’t mean that we can do as we please after getting vaccinated, because every destination country has protocols that must be followed such as wearing masks, presenting a negative test upon arrival and following safety measures.

As more countries are reopening their borders for international travel, here are global trends for the travel and tourism industry that can be expected in 2021.

Local Destinations Will Be Most Desirable

According to the survey conducted by Booking.com regarding the future of Travel, local travel will remain at the forefront in 2021. It is shown globally including in Asian Pacific countries that about 43% of people plan to explore a new destination within their home country and 46% will take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of their home country.

During the pandemic in 2020, we see a rise of domestic photoshoot bookings for SweetEscape in smaller cities such as Bandung, Yogyakarta and Makati. This surging popularity of domestic locations is also seen in 2021 and expected to continue, with domestic spots like Bandung, Yogyakarta, Boracay and Surabaya moving up into SweetEscape’s top photoshoot destinations, while notably Bali becoming the top of mind for domestic photoshoot in Indonesia (42.53%).

Travel to Reconnect With Loved Ones

Family moments will continue to be an important moment to spend in 2021, which has seen a rise in 2020. Based on a recent survey by Wyndham Destinations, 75% of respondents said they were planning to travel for a family reunion in 2021; while in a March survey from American Express Travel indicates that 71% have planned to travel for visiting loved ones they hadn’t been able to see during the pandemic, and 60% said a 2021 family reunion was in the works.

During the year 2020, Family moments became the most sought after to be captured by SweetEscape, accounting for 47.44% of moments captured in that year, which is an increase from 28% in 2019 before the pandemic.This increase is still seen in 2021, going up to 49.58% of moments captured, partly due to the pandemic triggering a bigger realisation on the importance of always cherishing the moments spent with loved ones.

Rise of Staycation Trend

The pandemic in 2020 has led to workplaces around the world implementing Work From Home (WFH) policies. However this continuous working from home has also led to greater cravings of vacation for rest and a change of view. Based on the survey by Booking.com previously mentioned, 51% of people are planning a relaxed trip to get away from it all, and 42% have vacation homes as their preferred destination.

This cravings for staycation is also reflected in the top locations for photoshoots by SweetEscape during 2021. Based on the chart above, Hotels & Resort has become the most popular choice for capturing moments in 2021, rising up as high as 46.59% compared to other locations in the previous years.

Change in Perception of Luxury Travel

The pandemic has also changed the perception in what people see as a luxury travel. Based on the survey by American Express on 2021 Global Travel Trends, the most desirable luxury amenities among global respondents were found to be personalized experiences (82%), high cleanliness standards (81%) and privacy (79%). 80% of global respondents also show willingness to travel to destinations during the off-season to avoid large crowds.

Optimism on the Horizon

As health measures become a major factor in traveling decisions, there is optimism on the rise. Based on a study by Expedia Group, 1 in 2 travelers feel optimism in travelling within the next 12 months, while the other half needs reassurance. In terms of age demographics, younger generations have the most positive outlook (65%) indicated by respondents of Gen Z category.

While keeping in mind these global trends for your next travel plans, let’s continue to stay safe and make memorable moments with loved ones wherever we go. So that you can cherish any moment of your travel, SweetEscape connects you to a network of thousands of professional photographers in cities around the world who are always ready to capture it for you. Let’s #MakeEveryMomentMemorable with SweetEscape!