Younger travelers,
Gen Z’ers and Millennials, are driving many of the travel trends forecast for
2024. One company, FTLO Travel—which
caters specifically to solo travelers in their 20s and 30s with slow
travel-style itineraries—has formed an unusually deep understanding of the
evolving preferences of today's young travelers and how they choose to explore
the world.
In fact, its
unique products and proposition have led the brand to grow by more than 500
percent in the last two years. FTLO shared many of the trends for this year that
it’s seeing among younger generations with TravelPulse, with insights based on
its own bookings database and research from credible outside sources.
Digital Detox
Findings from Skyscanner’s
Travel Trends 2024 report indicate a growing interest in
"Analog Travel" among younger travelers, with a notable 31 percent of
18-to-24-year-old Americans opting for non-digital cameras on their journeys. User
searches for “digital detox” are also on the rise, up 80 percent on Pinterest.
Recognizing the
impact of smartphones on travel experiences, FTLO Travel has introduced cell
phone-free departures in 2024. In doing so, it aims to foster deeper
connections among fellow travelers, and a more profound immersion in and appreciation
of local cultures.
Banishing
Loneliness
Loneliness has
become a prevalent issue in the U.S., with the Surgeon General even going as
far as to label it an epidemic. This is particularly true among young adults under
the age of 30, with approximately 25 percent reporting significant
feelings of loneliness, according to a recent Gallup poll. Remote and hybrid work setups have further
exacerbated feelings of isolation, with over half (53 percent) of Americans who
work hybrid hours struggling
to connect with their coworkers, Pew Research Center found.
It’s unsurprising,
then, that Skift's
Megatrends 2024 report predicts a surge in itineraries that facilitate more,
and more authentic and meaningful, connections with both fellow travelers and destination
locals this year. And, while searches
for solo travel are up an astonishing 145 percent, according to Pinterest,
traveling solo does not always mean traveling alone, especially when guests
join a group tour with like-minded participants.
FTLO Travel has discovered
that group travel serves as a highly effective remedy to this plague of loneliness,
facilitating genuine connections among participants. The brand’s post-trip
surveys have conclusively found that the friendships formed during these trips
have significant impacts on people’s lives that often extend well beyond the
trip itself.
Slow,
Responsible Travel
Supporting
Pinterest's prediction of a rise in slow travel, Skift has also forecasted the increased
popularity of unique itineraries that encourage travelers to engage with locals
in their destinations.
FTLO has found
that its most sought-after trip activities include exploring local cuisines and
participating in local cultural experiences. Therefore, with a focus on slow
responsible tourism, FTLO’s trips prioritize free time for participants to immerse
themselves in and explore local communities, and partake in one-of-a-kind adventures.
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