Forbes Announces Top Travel Trends for 2019

A few days ago Alexandra Talty, Senior Contributor to Forbes.com, posted an article describing her predictions for the top travel trends in 2019. 

Based on surveys and research, here (and here) are Talty’s statements:

1. The Caribbean is bouncing back in a big way.
2. Ecotourism is driving business decisions.
3. Boutique travel agencies will continue to boom, offering unique tailored trips around the world. 
4. Thanks to low-cost airlines, Hawaii will be even more accessible than before.
5. Some travellers are opting for smaller, more remote islands.
6. Solo travel continues to gain interest.

I don’t know about you, but I was certainly pleased to read all of these. 

I myself have been drawn towards ecotourism, Hawaii, remote islands, and unique travel agencies in the past year. I have been occasionally binge-watching Sailing La Vagabonde’s YouTube series about their journey sailing around the world. They are a young couple who have explored many small, remote islands and vlog about their history along with their experiences, which isn’t something I get to learn about very often.

Ecotourism is something I first cared about when I travelled to Thailand, ElephantsWorld exactly, for a student volunteer trip. It revolved around wildlife care and conservation and we were taught a lot about living and traveling in ways that reduces harm to our environment and to wildlife. It was an experience that changed my view on plastic products like bags and straws, as well as exploiting animals for entertainment and tourism purposes.

“Ecotourism is tourism to places having unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern,” says Dictionary.com.
I’m even more obsessed with saving the environment than I was back then and it can be quite fun to travel that way. I feel resourceful, conscious, and almost primal. 

I used to want to WOOFF in Hawaii, at a vegan fruit farm or something, but I’m not sure anymore that that’s where my life path will take me. I am definitely trying to explore Hawaii very soon… which is why I got excited to hear flights to HI from the East Coast could possibly dip below $500! I’m going to plant some seeds of manifestation upon that desire and see if that starts to grow this year.

Speaking of tropical places, the Caribbean is healing and continuing to grow after the last few hurricanes! This is so wonderful to hear. I went on a cruise (definitely not an eco-friendly way to travel) around the Caribbean when I was 18 and it was an unforgettable experience, so I would love to go back and spend more time on those and other islands down there. 

Of course solo travel has been my thing for a few years now (and it will continue to be)… and I know so many people who have also spontaneously ventured out on solo journeys all over the states and the world in the past couple years. It really is an ineffable experience. I would like to travel more with people I love and am very close to. It’s not something I have done a ton of, so it would be really nice to travel somewhere new with a best friend of mine (pssst Danielle!) or a sibling. At least we have the opportunity to travel through New England together in a few months for a Vegan on the Map trip! I am looking forward to that very much. 

Do you think these trends are spot on as much as I do? Are you planning to implement one or more of these trends into your 2019 travel plans? I’m curious!

Happy New Year, set those intentions and plant those seeds!

Much love, Kayla