The future of aviation may be quite different from anything we expected or anything we know today. The world is changing rapidly and that change brings new challenges. People have other ideas and values and that also reflects in the way they choose their holiday packages. The sector needs to understand these changes and adapt if it wants to survive.
A change in values
The tourist of today is not the same as 20 or even 10 years ago. There has been a shift in values and some people look for more meaningful holidays. So, hunting in Africa may not be a good offering anymore. I honestly think it never was. People care about the fauna, the flora, human rights and more and more they incorporate these values in their holidays. They may no longer pay for a holiday where there’s going to be child exploitation or no respect for human rights. They may no longer see a play where animals are exploited.
They may look for destinations where they can have a wonderful time, discover a new culture and be ethical, respecting the planet and the people of those places.
Care for the climate
Climate change is another reality. And we can no longer deny it, whether we like it or not. We are killing our planet and we really need to do something about it. Some may think that a holiday won’t do much for the planet, but I strongly believe that if we make the right choices we can have our cake and eat it too.
It is known that airlines are adapting to the new challenges and becoming greener. But holiday packages also need to become greener. They need to offer options that respect the environment.
The impositions of covid
The pandemic also brought a wide range of challenges to the tourism industry. From border closures to social distancing and capacity restrictions. In most cases, the sector has been unable to operate. For the tourist, this new reality means that those usually crowded destinations may no longer be attractive and they look for something different.
A possible option
Operators may start combining all of these factors and offering solutions for a more ethical and environmentally friendly holiday. A more natural and less crowded place that still offers a great holiday option. It may just be the future of tourism.