Vacation Trends

by | Aug 14, 2020 | WWC WorthWhile Reading

Summer is here – but the Coronavirus is still here, too!  Do we take a vacation?  Where do we go?  And, where can we afford to go?  Very relevant questions right now.  Even if you could afford to travel, social distancing and mask usage orders are in place.  So, what do you do?  Go on a Staycation!  This imaginative and cost-effective concept for vacationing in the midst of a pandemic has sky-rocketed in popularity.  The necessity for people to re-think their summer vacation and have fun closer to home is the order of the day.  This is not a bad thing, however, because in the present economic situation, keeping dollars in local economies is very good news to hard hit local businesses.  It also bodes well for obvious health reasons.

 

However, even before the pandemic, there were signs that new vacationing habits were emerging.  This trend shows people in their late 20’s and early 30’s favor domestic travel – not only staying in their own countries, but in their own backyards.  This generational preference could be related back to their passion for social responsibility.  The concept of eco-tourism has been around awhile, but the term usually meant exclusive wildlife trips that involved wealthier travelers.  Now that term might be used to describe travel closer to home in order to save money and support the environment.

 

The staycation has really gained acceptance by families.  It is a means of having a wonderful time cost effectively, as limited entertainment dollars for many are another condition brought on by the pandemic.  Unemployment remains, finances still suffer and businesses are either recovering or even disappearing.  But life goes on and families have to be creative in staying healthy and engaged.  This kind of experience also lends itself well to teaching creativity and the purposeful use of what is at hand (recycling).  It’s encouraging a generation interested in the broadest issues coming to light in our world – those of social responsibility.

 

Individuals of all generations are giving back, but young adults are actually engaged in a “healthy living” lifestyle and passing it along to their children.  There is a growing number of people accepting the idea that a simpler lifestyle leads to cleaner living and a brighter future for generations to come.  Many are finding that staying closer to home has a two-fold purpose – conserving resources and staying healthier.  The pandemic has brought a sense of risk for international travel that was never considered before.

 

Another reason for our changing view of the “vacation” is the simple acceptance of “less is more”.  Younger families are engaging simplicity and conservation.  They are interested in smaller “adventures” throughout the year to capitalize on family time and vacation time.  Frequent stress-reducing activities are more appealing to them due to a fast-pace lifestyle.  Hiking, bike riding, horseback riding, canoeing, kayaking, boating – just to name a few – are steadily gaining in popularity.  This type of vacationing allows everyone to enjoy more frequent activities, spend less money and save more!  You knew we would get around to that – right?

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Source:

https://www.resilience.org/stories/2020-07-01/the-great-staycation