Luxury travel trends for 2022

Although the effects of COVID-19 are still rumbling along in 2022, travel restrictions are loosening, and travel-lust is finally seeing some rebound. Our research demonstrates that in 2022 luxury travellers are seeking greater sustainability, connection and desire to support the local communities, precisely those who have suffered the most from COVID.

Discover the top trends for luxury travel in 2022:

Travelling abroad rebounds

As quarantine and other border restrictions are finally loosened up, make sure your passport is up to date, as you will need it in 2022! Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia are all expected to soon have easy access for vaccinated travellers, joining Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico. The Galapagos Islands are open, and 2022 presents an outstanding opportunity to discover these wonders practically alone.

Eco-luxury accommodation

Sustainability is rightly at the forefront of luxury travellers’ agendas, and there are spectacular new hotels for 2022 with sustainability in their DNA; my favourites include:

Cap Karoso – Sumba, Indonesia

The Homestead – Nambiti Game Reserve, South Africa

Grumeti River Lodge – Serengeti, Tanzania (relaunch)

Sommero – Oslo, Norway

Fleur de Loire – Loire Valley, France

Four Seasons Tamarindo – Jalisco, Mexico

Sustainable transport

European governments are leading the way from a regulatory perspective, for example, domestic flights in France must be cancelled if a train route to that destination can be achieved in under 2.5 hours. At the micro-level, certain travel companies offer electric vehicles for your transfers, including Teslas where possible.

From an experiential level, electric vehicles are game-changing on safari, As your jeep rolls across the savannah, you silently approach a pride of lions tearing into a buffalo carcass. The vehicle is so quiet that the cats are barely aware of your presence.

Camps offering electric safari vehicles include:

Emboo Camp – Masai Mara, Kenya

Lewa Wilderness Camp – Lewa, Kenya

Cheetah Plains – Sabi Sands, South Africa

Chobe Game Lodge – Chobe Botswana (which also offers electric boats for silent river cruising)

Sustainable food and drink

Enjoying the local gastronomy in a destination is a key aspect of the luxury travel experience. Locally sourced and organic food and drink is becoming increasingly available. Plant-based menus with a smaller eco-footprint than meat are also on the rise.

Head to Costa Rica and learn all about Fair Trade coffee production at Finca Rosa Blanca, sustainable Bean to Bar chocolate making at Copal Tree Lodge in Belize, and sustainable wine at Delaire Graff, South Africa.

The need for help is increasing

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in late 2019, 97 million more people have fallen deeper into poverty, meaning the global poverty rate is yup from 7.8 percent to 9.1 percent. Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean have been worst hit – all popular destinations for luxury travellers seeking adventure and unique areas.

This crisis is an opportunity for us to be the change and make a difference, leave a legacy and play a part in turning these poverty statistics around – sustainably. Some ideas include:

• Install eco-friendly stoves for rural families in Belize, Peru and India;
• Build homes for struggling families in Guatemala, Zambia, and Cambodia;
• Install solar panels in communities in Argentina and Morocco; and
• Build a disabled-accessible bathroom for a paraplegic in Indonesia.

These positive travel trends enable you to be part of an exciting, new way to explore this wonderful world.

Christopher Hill is Founder and CEO at Hands Up Holidays. Hands Up Holidays is an award-winning travel company specialising in tailor-made luxury family trips that combine sightseeing with hands-on service projects.

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