TRENDS AGE GROUPS DESTINATIONS is the season to be jolly, Club 18-30 brand in October Holidays’ product manager John Morocco to trekking to Everest ’Tand while we’ve still got pointed to a glaring trend – Parker. “Older millennials who Base Camp, a far cry from the all the Christmas cheer to look youngsters are shunning package backpacked around Thailand’s fly-and-flop that defined the ’90s forward to, 2019 is scarily close holidays and clubbing trips to go popular tourist hotspots like and ’noughties. – which means it’s time to start off the beaten track. Phuket and Koh Samui in their thinking about what’s hot for “We’re seeing an increase in early 20s are now choosing ADVENTURE HONEYMOONS next year. We’ve scoured the younger passengers booking non- lesser-known islands such as Koh That craving for adventure is industry to help you do just that, traditional youth destinations, Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi,” he being reflected in millennial so read on for the key trends to choosing places such as Chania says. honeymoon choices The road look out for among millennials, and Kefalonia over the likes of Tour operators are adapting to too, according to Lloyd mature travellers and families Ayia Napa and Faliraki,” says Carl the changing tides, with Contiki Boutcher, director for Sunvil over the year ahead. Catterall, head of marketing and introducing new tours to Africa – Latin America. “We’re seeing communications for Olympic opening safaris up to the market a shift towards honeymoons w MILLENNIALS Holidays. – and Intrepid Travel launching its that combine luxurious lodges EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN It’s a trend reaching farther 18-29 brand, offering adventurous with adrenaline-packed ahead The closure of Thomas Cook’s afield too, according to Premier trips ranging from surfing in activities such as ziplining, Laura French looks at the key trends for 2019 @laurafrench121 PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK PICTURE: 46 travelweekly.co.uk 20 December 2018 20 December 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 47 DESTINATIONS AGE GROUPS TRENDS stand-up paddleboarding and rafting,” he says. “With more and more newlyweds taking For a digital detox, a minimoon (short post-wedding holiday) followed later by Ibis Hotels’ ‘social a maximoon (when time and media sitters’ take funds permit), couples want more charge of clients’ from their big trip.” Instagram accounts In terms of destinations for 2019, Kuoni says the Maldives and Mauritius top the list, followed by Mexico, Tanzania and Saint Lucia. RIGHT: Just You tour in South Africa WELLNESS BREAKS Wellness has been booming BELOW: over the past few years, and Colombo, Sri Lanka it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Generation Y is leading the way, with Abta’s 2018 consumer 2018 Solo Holidays Report found PERSONALISED TOURS RAIL TRIPS survey finding that 11% of that 17% of UK adults had taken Solo is not the only touring trend Rail touring is set to surge, respondents in the 18-34 bracket trips alone in the past five years, to look out for in the year ahead according to Rachel McMurdo, planned to take a wellness trip in representing an increase on the – demand for flexible, tailor-made Travel 2 assistant product the next 12 months. five years to 2017, and leading itineraries is soaring, according to manager for Oceania. “It’s a G Adventures has responded the trend is the over-75s market, Lee Evanson, UK central regions real boom area for couples by introducing a new range of according to Abta. sales manager for Trafalgar’s Wellness itineraries for 2019, Operators are catering to the Costsaver brand, whose tours offering healthy eating, yoga demand. Titan Travel and Wendy provide the basic ‘building sessions and various other Wu Tours both introduced solo blocks’ and let clients customise Cruise activities on tours across the trips this year, offering rooms the rest. Cosmos has launched River cruise looks set to world – think purification baths in without single supplements, Cosmos Lite for 2019, offering continue booming in 2019, Bali, prayer ceremonies in Nepal while Leger Holidays is bare bones trips that exclude according to Leger Holidays and ashram stays in India. And expanding its Single Traveller excursions, while Just You has and Shearings Holidays. The resorts are adapting too – for tours for the year ahead. introduced ‘Make Your Own Way’ latter has doubled its allocation those wanting a digital detox, Ibis “2018 has seen significant options for those customers for A-Rosa trips for the year Hotels has just introduced ‘social growth in solo touring, which wanting to arrange their own ahead and will offer seven more media sitters’ at its Geneva and will only grow more in 2019 and transport rather than booking the itineraries. Zurich locations to take charge of beyond,” says John Warr, global normal flight-inclusive packages. Beyond river, adventure clients’ Instagram accounts. sales director for Wendy Wu. Small group trips are also is the theme of the moment, In terms of destination, India, on the rise among the mature according to Andy Harmer, w MATURE TRAVELLERS Uganda and Madagascar are market, with APT introducing Clia UK & Ireland director. SOLO TRAVEL leading the pack for Titan, while two new Luxury Small Group “Northern Europe and the Solo travel is the phrase on Ecuador and the Galapagos take journeys in New Zealand for Caribbean are the most everyone’s lips right now. Mintel’s the crown for Just You. 2019, while Great Rail Journeys popular destinations for both will add eight new Small Group millennials and families, while tours next year. mature cruise customers are And it’s not just in the setting sail in increasingly touring market – river cruise is adventurous destinations such seeing similar trends. Demand as Asia. They’re also leading the for smaller ships is growing, way when it comes to taking according to Titan, and desire exploration cruises,” he says. for more flexible itineraries is being seen by Avalon Waterways, which has enhanced its Avalon Choice programme for 2019 to cater for it. In terms of destination, Leger Holidays says Iceland, wider Scandinavia and Sri Lanka are the ones to watch for 2019, while Cosmos points to Italy, Ireland PICTURES: LEGER HOLIDAYS; MARK BADER and the US. 48 travelweekly.co.uk 20 December 2018 DESTINATIONS AGE GROUPS TRENDS LEFT: Rocky Mountaineer, Family trends Canada Multigenerational travel: “We’ve Long-haul: Thomas Cook Airlines noticed more extended family says long-haul family trips were trips,” says Zoe Towers, head of up 64% year on year in July, with product at Jet2holidays. Activities Orlando, New York, Cancun, Los Abroad says multigenerational Angeles and Las Vegas the top trips increased 300% year on year five spots. in 2018, while Caribtours says it’s European resurgence: Closer seeing larger families opting for to home, Turkey (pictured), the villas within resorts. Balearics, Bulgaria, Croatia and the Responsible travel: Eco-friendly Canaries are set to take the family PICTURE: BRAND CANADA/ROCKY MOUNTAINEER travel is growing, according to crown in 2019 for Jet2holidays. Dyan McKie, family product Thomas Cook, meanwhile, points manager for Intrepid: “Parents to Tunisia, where it will offer 27 and mature travellers and has had 30% in the past two years. “Many are keen to educate their kids on hotels and 17 weekly flights next a strong couple of years, which clients around retirement age how to be a responsible traveller.” year (up from 11 this summer). we expect to continue,” she says. are looking for ‘holidays of a Newmarket Holidays says its lifetime’ to far-flung places, rail trips – including the Rocky and a growing number are Mountaineer and Scottish choosing plane and train Highland Railways – have been combinations,” says general selling especially well, while manager Maria Cook. Ffestiniog Travel says long-haul Sweeping scenery, heritage- is seeing the biggest growth rich carriages and hassle-free in the sector, with bookings up travel – we can see the appeal. PICTURE: NEJDETDUZEN/JET2HOLIDAYS 50 travelweekly.co.uk 20 December 2018.