Kochi, Sep. 29: Consumers’ preference for environmentally sustainable practices, experiential travel, and a significant spend on self-care are the latest trends in global tourism market, noted experts at the 12th edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM). During a seminar on ‘Evolution in Tourism Trends’ at KTM 2024 at the Sagara-Samudrika Convention Centre in Willingdon Island here, they opined that efficiency and personalization matter the most to travellers.
Commenting on the emerging trends, Mr. Dipak Deva, Managing Director, SITA, said sustainable travel products will influence choices of tourists, whose spending on self-care in tourism sector is projected to quadruple by 2027. According to him, travellers will prioritize experiential travel over daily luxuries and Gen AI is going to impact areas like developer efficiencies, customer support, reputation management and performance advertising of the industry.
As per the report by research firm Markets and Markets, the global carbon offset market, which was valued $331.8 billion in 2022, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 31 per cent from 2023 to 2028, reaching $1.6 trillion.
“This growth is driven by the global pursuit of net-zero emissions and increased investments in carbon capture technologies. Europe is expected to be the largest market for carbon offsets during this period,” Mr. Deva said.
Elaborating on the global trends, he said families embrace scenic retreats over urban adventures with panoramic beaches and countryside being the top choices. The popularity of solo travel has surged with Google search for ‘Solo Travel’ doubling in 2023.
For Kerala, he suggested identifying new tourism destinations in each district to provide the vibes of experiential tourism to visitors. Recalling his nascent days in tourism sector, Cmdr. Sam, MD of Kalypso Adventure, said his company hardly had any template about the activities to be introduced in the adventure tourism sector in the state.
However, there are now myriad opportunities in the state to explore new trends in the adventure tourism sector and the local community can benefit from it, he pointed out.
Noting that Kerala has to cash in on its distinct culinary tradition, celebrity chef Siddiq Mohammed said the state has to create a comprehensive culinary guide for the tourism sector, besides incorporating gastronomic experiences into tourism activities.
“We need to develop culinary tours and water metro culinary cruises, and promote Ayurveda cuisines. Besides, traditional homes have to be promoted for providing personalized dining experiences to tourists and redefine the experience as ‘God’s Own Cuisine,” he added.
Mr. E M Najeeb, MD, Great India Tour Company, was the moderator. The expo of the September 26-29 KTM 2024, Asia’s biggest tourism sector event that attracts stakeholders from around the world, featured as many as 347 stalls from public and private entities.
