Where to Next? Spotting the 2019 Travel Trends
Posted on January 16, 2019 • 4 minutes • 642 words
2019 is set to be another record breaking year for the travel industry and as January arrives, we’re all making plans to get away. The start of a new year is also a time to look ahead and make predictions and many of these relate to the latest travel trend. We’ve seen new developments such as the all-inclusive trip lead to the introduction of themed holidays including wine tours and overseas cookery schools. So, what will be the new trend for 2019 and how can Canada in particular accommodate the likely innovations? 
Learning Life Skills
The gap year still plays a big part in the lives of young people but there are signs students are looking to extend that break at the expense of returning to full time education. As a result, 2019 is being earmarked in some places as the year of the Appren-trip. A survey has confirmed
that over half of global travellers have stated that their holidays have taught them at least one important life skill. It could be a new hobby such as cookery or pottery that leads to a potential new career or it could involve a dedicated trip that involves work in schools or deprived areas that teaches vital leadership skills that will stay with the traveller for life. There are a number of cities and remoter areas where Canada can accommodate such a trip. One example can be found in Toronto where the local YWCA organizes an all-encompassing course that teaches pupils how to be a life skills coach but there are many alternatives right across the country. 
Avoiding Creature Comforts
When looking to predict travel trends
, the media doesn’t always get it right. Some time ago it was felt that survival holidays would become popular but with many holidaymakers choosing luxury over deprivation, they haven’t quite taken off as yet. That could all change in 2019 however with an additional rise in this time of programming via the satellite TV channels. They are getting more extreme and this style of trip is tipped to become even more attractive to the dedicated thrill seeker who is looking to finish their vacation with a sense of achievement. Once again, Canada can provide a perfect backdrop to this type of trip with a number of wilderness holidays available in locations such as Alberta or Vancouver Island. 
Keeping it in the Family
Anyone who has watched TV commercials or has paid attention to the pop up ads that appear online could not have failed to notice a new trend. The art of tracing one’s family tree has been with us for a long time but in the modern, digital age, it’s easier than ever before to track down details of our ancestors. Searches such as these can take us into far flung corners of the world and it’s therefore no surprise that a genealogy holiday industry is starting to evolve. There are absolutely no geographical limitations here and Canada can play just as big a part in the industry as anywhere else in the world. As long as you have relatives there, the location will be picked up by a host of companies who are taking advantage of the family tree trends. 2019 could be a year when the travel industry really starts to diversify. There are suggestions that guided road trips will now become more eco-friendly by using electric vehicles for organized tours. There are even hints that virtual reality will start to grab a market share by offering VR users the chance to visit places that would otherwise be out of their reach. While most tourists will want to be there in person, Canada has a big role to play in the travel trends for this year and beyond and it will be fascinating to see how the industry develops over the next twelve months.
