Putting travel back on the map (and the calendar) here are the top 12 wellness travel trends to watch out for in 2021
Embracing the future of wellness travel, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists has forecasted the biggest travel trends when it comes to health and mindfulness.
With 2021 set to be the year when travellers push for a return to normality and with more people choosing longer, even season-length health and fitness escapes, the pandemic has undoubtedly changed how we travel.
From private jets adventures to fitness-packed staycations, here’s what the wellness experts have predicted for the year ahead.
1 Healthy Hibernation Holidays
The winter months are going to see a boom in people taking long stay healthy hibernation holidays to enjoy a double dose of summer.
Destinations with lower Covid-19 risk and Covid-safe certified wellness resorts are going to be the most popular. Destinations such as St Lucia, Mauritius, Vietnam, Maldives, and Thailand provide safer environments for long winter stay wellness escape.
2 Staycation Wellness Boom
Put away the passport – 2021 is going to see a massive rise in the number of travellers looking for domestic wellness breaks. Due to a continued hampering of consumer confidence in foreign travel, people are searching for holidays to improve their health and fitness without always having to go overseas.
With a 22% increase already on bookings for the same point last year – whether it’s a healthy break to de-stress or an active holiday to boost physical well-being in the scenic beauty of the British countryside; wellness staycations are proving to be the perfect opportunity to kickstart, or maintain a healthy lifestyle and boost our immunity, all from the comfort of our own country.
3 Immunity Booster Retreats
Our immunity is more important than ever. Until a vaccine is available, our immune systems will need to adapt unaided to Covid-19. We all want a long and healthy life, to be free of disease and to limit health conditions.
As a relaxing and reliable solution to the prominent health concerns of today, holidays designed to boost the immune system are becoming increasingly popular. Immune boosting retreats are offered in many locations for a secluded, social distancing friendly getaway to focus on personal well-being.
Weight loss programmes, fitness classes, specialised treatments and sunnier climates are all on the list for top immunity-boosting experiences.
4 Working Remotely on Holiday to Stay Healthy
With the rise of remote work and the ongoing restrictions of Covid-19, many are leaving their home offices for the chance of working from a picturesque wellness holiday destination. After all, who doesn’t love the idea of morning meetings by the pool? Technology has facilitated many workers to perform their job effectively from anywhere there is phone signal and a strong Wi-Fi connection.
5 Self-Care Now an Essential Part of Travel
Many had to learn the art of self-care during lockdown, whether that’s healthy eating or regular exercise, and now have a desire to turn that wellness project into a lifestyle. Wellness retreats are rare opportunities for devotion to personal care through yoga, guided meditation, spa therapies and other wellness treatments and activities.
This type of self-care travel can be tailored for any location and made bespoke for any group. Healthy holidays with intent purpose of fostering personal betterment are going to grow in relevancy through 2021, and long into the next decade. After all, it is unlikely that being unhealthy is going to become popular any time soon.
6 Social Distance Wellness Trips to Far Flung Destinations
A greater number of holiday makers are choosing socially distance wellness trips to destinations further afield than previous years. The greater the health risk of travel and the greater the effort, means people are more inclined to book one big holiday. Instead of choosing European city breaks, holiday goers are favouring longer healthy getaways that are further away but less risky and more secluded.
Social distance holidays are popular with families, couples and solo travellers, as they provide quiet time away to strengthen relationships and focus on personal well-being.
Social distance is well accommodated by many luxury hotels, providing they are in low risk Covid-19 spots; Mauritius, the Maldives, St Lucia, island nations with low populations and plenty of space. Private villa resorts at these locations provide healthy retreats that are ideal for two weeks or more of self-isolating in a beautiful, remote location.
7 Mindful and Sustainable Travel
2021 will see a huge rise in the relevance that sustainability takes in the travel plans of consumers as they become more mindful than ever.
The visible easing of CO2 emissions during lockdown, once again, reignited discussions on the pollution caused by worldwide tourism. Consumers saw the dramatic effect emissions were having on the planet and resolved to be more mindful about the environmental impact of their actions.
8 Multi-Generational Active Trips
Multi-generational active trips will be more common in 2021 as people look to continue the time they have shared with their immediate family in lockdown. These holidays will be motivated by those eager to reconnect with the extended family members who they have been separated from.
One of the silver linings of lockdown was the chance to spend more time with the immediate family, sharing healthy activities like cycling, walking, and running. Many will be looking to continue this healthy streak with more extended family on a multi-generational active trip.
9 Stress and Anxiety Reduction for Tailor-made Holidays
Tailor-made holidays for relaxation and recovery are becoming a necessity to ease the mental effects of months spent in lockdown. 2020 has been detrimental for our collective mental state, the equivalent of 19 million adults* in the UK reported high levels of anxiety and stress over lockdown.
2021 will be an opportunity to release the pent-up anxiety of isolation with wellness holidays and stress management retreats. Tailored to the requirements of the individual, they offer an immersive experience of private fitness training, health screenings and luxury healing spa treatments with an educational programme.
Holidays have always been an effective way of coping with pressure but in 2021, they are going to be the means of coping with post lockdown induced stress.
*Figures from the ONS.
10 Private Jet Boom for Bespoke Wellness Travel
The decline of the commercial airline industry (2020 was the worst financial year in aviation history) has created a vacuum that is being filled by a boom in private jet travel. From front door to hotel lobby, clients can skip the queues and uncertainty of airline travel today where possible exposure to Covid-19 is 30 times lower when flying by private aircraft.
Former clients of luxury commercial airlines are defecting to private jet providers for a service where luxury and reliability can be guaranteed, when flying to a luxury wellness retreat or medical spa in Europe to booking a spectacular around the world wellness trip.
11 Big Bucket List Wellness Trip
For many travellers, eager to rid themselves of the unhealthy habits picked up during lockdown, 2021 is going to be the year for a once in a lifetime bucket list wellness trip. Whist most people are just losing the timidity picked up this year, many seasoned travellers are keen for adventurous wellness getaways and weeks of lavish splendour to visit the destinations they dreamed of during lockdown.
Destinations in south east Asia have been firm favourites in previous years, for the wonderful climate and incredible scenic beauty. Bali and Thailand sport a great selection of luxury wellness retreats with on-site spas and fitness facilities, often on pristine private beaches.
12 Personal Health and Physical Fitness
As health consciousness has become more ubiquitous, we have seen a rise in the number of people pursuing travel to improve their mental and physical health. The collective health concerns of 2020 have had an impact on all other aspects of well-being, acting as a catalyst for people wanting to improve their physical fitness.
Regular exercise is a key factor in avoiding the severe symptoms of Covid-19 caused by immune system over-reactions. Informed consumers are keen to prevent getting sick by taking wellness holidays with a focus on personal health and physical fitness. More people are pursuing socially distance friendly ways of achieving their health and fitness goals.
For further advice, guidance and bookings, please visit healthandfitnesstravel.com/wellness-holidays
All images via TravMedia.
