Group Tour Magazine - February 2023 - 14

Thailand
Greece
on one trip, " Allen says. " For example, 59%
prefer to visit multiple cities within the same
country. " Hub-and-spoke-style tours give
group travelers a home base while retaining
the flexibility to experience several nearby
destinations or attractions.
" We are seeing an increase in interest in
single-country tours, probably due to the
previous challenge of managing different
countries' COVID-19 policies, " Kassis says.
Regardless of where travelers venture, they
Ireland
that they have been dreaming about taking
for years while the COVID-19 pandemic kept
many people at home. "
Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) provides
personalized adventures for travelers
over the age of 50. Popular destinations for
this demographic in 2023 include Egypt,
Iceland, Morocco, Ireland, and Italy-especially
Sicily, explains Ann Shannon, vice
president of customer and public relations
for OAT. " Egypt is ever-popular, as many
people have it on their list of places they
simply must see, " she says.
A TALE OF TWO MARKETS
The current travel landscape is different
across generations. Millennials anticipate
going on more trips, while baby boomers
plan to spend more, seeking out exciting
locales and premium packages.
" There continues to be huge demand for
short six- to nine-day tours, and we're seeing
a massive increase in interest in the longer
bucket-list tours of 14 to 22 days, " Kassis
observes. " Perhaps you're working, you're
younger, and you're looking for a travel experience
that's a bit more affordable with a
shorter time commitment. Then you have
a different demographic with more time to
invest in the big, life-changing trips of up to
a month long. "
Additionally, travelers prefer a multidestination
itinerary. " The primary reason is that
they want to experience as much as possible
seek unique opportunities. " Interactions
with local people are important, " Shannon
says. " OAT has always included local interactions
in its adventures, along with opportunities
to learn through frank discussions on
timely topics. Travelers want to experience a
community on a deeper level. "
With documentaries like " The Last Tourist, "
travelers have evolving expectations on
responsible tourism. Savvy travelers want
to know about sustainability. Some " 63%
of millennials indicate that a travel service
provider's focus on sustainability affects
their travel decision-making, " Allen says.
" There is an opportunity for travel providers
to educate consumers. "
International travel is outperforming
pre-pandemic metrics. Industry players can
respond to immediate opportunities for
personalized experiences while planning
strategically for a future focused on authentic
connections and sustainable practices.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT SEBASTIAN PICHLER/EF GO AHEAD TOURS, JESSICA WARDWELL/EF GO AHEAD TOURS (2)

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Group Tour Magazine - February 2023

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